The definition of art, according to Webster’s Dictionary, is human creativity. This definition does not take into consideration our desires to analyze, understand, and accept or reject what we see in front of us. The phrase, “art is in the eye of the beholder”, is a true statement, because everyone has an opinion on what they consider art. In my opinion, art does not need to be understood or accepted to be considered art. Art needs to invoke an emotional response, be translatable to our lives, be expressive of a period in time, and be bold. In order to clearly understand my interpretation of art, I decided to compare various creative works.
Jill Greenberg, a photographer, created a series of work called End Times that captures images of children in fits of distress. The pictures are heart wrenching, but what captivates me more are the titles of each piece of work. Titles like, Four More Years, next to a child with tears and snot running down her face clearly stirs emotions for me of past political defeat. These images are evidently not like those of Anne Geddes, but I think they serve a greater purpose. The purpose of these images is to shock and generate emotion whether it is negative or positive. The works do not need to be interpreted, they express an opinion unapologetically. Greenberg uses the raw emotions of young children to invoke our opinions about the political climate of the time. For me this is creativity at its best. I understand that many would want to understand the type of process Greenberg used to create these images, and I agree that we have a moral obligation to make sure our children are not harmed in any way. This does not take away from the powerful imagery and masterful expression of our times.
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...s reflective of my personal beliefs and desires. Since I lack the aptitude to create works of art of my own, the ability for art to be translated into feelings of happiness, pain, sorrow, and a plethora of other adjectives is important for me. Many would say that misogynistic images evoke emotions, which is a criterion for my definition of art. Yes, these images are emotional, but I do not consider them bold or translatable. I can not relate to the woman in these images, because I don’t view women in that negative light. However, others would consider these images art, because it may cast a light on a subject that is of importance to them. Human creativity has no definition; no right or wrong. What I consider to be art is a personal decision that takes my experiences into consideration. In conclusion, art is not meant to have boundaries but limitless possibilities.
In “Is Art a Waste of Time?” Rhys Southan examines Effective Altruists’ (EA’s), an organization that advocates people to pursue a career that provides money for generous donations (Southan). Southan also explains how EA’s believe that it is an ethical choice in giving up one’s hobbies to increase their income for those living in extremities (Southan). Despite the EA’s view of ethical standards, there are many variations of what people consider to be right and wrong behavior. Jobs such as being a teacher, a doctor or an artist, all have related ethical principles in which could define how moral a person is in their occupation. An ethical career is one that allows a person to have integrity, compassion and passion when helping others.
Rathnasambhava, the Transcendent Buddha of the South and Madonna Enthroned are very similar images that were produced by very different cultures. Both images were produced during the 13th Century. The image of Rathnasambhava, the Transcendent Buddha of the South was produced in Tibet during an interesting period of the country’s religious history. The branch of Tibetan Buddhism is led by a religious and sometimes political leader called the Dalai Lama. It was during the 13th Century during the reign of Kublai Khan, around the time of the production of this painting, that Tibet experienced the first incarnation of the Dalai Lama. One has to wonder if this painting is somehow related to that occurrence. According to one source, the reincarnation system for the Living Buddhas is the main point distinguishing Tibetan Buddhism from other forms of Buddhism.
People can have many different opinions depending on a topic, but what is truly difficult is getting a complete level of understanding from every opinion, or understanding the point of view of each opinion. Even accepting the points of view can be difficult for some people, who believe that their opinions are right. Luckily, people can learn about the other person’s frame of reference, and at the very least understand the topic or the person a little better. This particular topic is art, which is known for its multiple possible perceptions or its many different messages that it can send a person or group of people. In this way, people can learn more about the thought processes and feelings of others. Unfortunately, with differing opinions,
The subject of feminist art is a difficult one, because of the problems defining it. Before feminist movements, women who wanted to be taken seriously as artists had to leave their gender out of their art. For too many centuries, women who've endeavored to make art have been seen as peculiar or eccentric. Being taken seriously as an artist often meant that whoever she was, could not be taken seriously as a woman. The sort of woman who did the “right” thing: managed a pleasant home for her man and then procreated like crazy.
Though most works of art have some underlying, deeper meaning attached to them, our first impression of their significance comes through our initial visual interpretation. When we first view a painting or a statue or other piece of art, we notice first the visual details – its size, its medium, its color, and its condition, for example – before we begin to ponder its greater significance. Indeed, these visual clues are just as important as any other interpretation or meaning of a work, for they allow us to understand just what that deeper meaning is. The expression on a statue’s face tells us the emotion and message that the artist is trying to convey. Its color, too, can provide clues: darker or lighter colors can play a role in how we judge a piece of art. The type of lines used in a piece can send different messages. A sculpture, for example, may have been carved with hard, rough lines or it may have been carved with smoother, more flowing lines that portray a kind of gentleness.
Art is a language of its own and with out he proper understanding, people are like expression goes “left on the outside looking in”. In other words, people without the proper understanding of art, technique and form as well as other elements can’t appreciate a work of art as much as when you understand why an artist painted in the way they did and what they are trying to get across to his audience. Despite artists attempts to try and make their works as viewer friendly as possible, without the understanding and knowledge gained from an art class as this one people will never fully understand the a work of art as it is meant to be.
However only as individuals can we really determine our own definitions of art; it is subjective to each individual to understand their own meanings and interpretations. Leo Tolstoy says it best “Art is not, as the metaphysicians say, the manifestation of some mysterious idea of beauty or God; it is not, as the aesthetic physiologists say, a game in which man lets off his excess of stored-up energy; it is not the expression of man’s emotions by external signs; it is not the production of pleasing objects; and, above all, it is not pleasure; but it is a means of union among men, joining them together in the same feelings, and indispensable for the life and progress toward safety of individuals and of humanity.” There will always be art, however it is only appreciated if it is understood, and accessible to
According to Webster’s Dictionary, art is “human expression of objects by painting, etc” (10). The words “human experience” adds meaning to art. Artists reveal their inner thoughts and feelings through their work. When we study a painting by Salvador Dali, the strange objects and the surrealist background portrays the eccentricity of the painter. Some ideas cannot be explained verbally. They can only be shown via a medium. We can get across what is in our minds or our hearts by a stroke of a brush, a drop of paint, a row of words, or something else. But to express ourselves, we do not need to limit what we call art.
If I were to ask you what is art, and how can one find it? What would you say? Well if it were me being asked those question, I would simply say that art to me is a form of a picture; a visual painting or model of some design and it could be found all among us. You may define it differently only because art could be defined in many ways. I could simply say that art to me is a form of a picture; a visual painting or model of some design. Well according to an article written by Shelley Esaak, an art history expert she mentioned that art has a way of stimulating different parts of our brains to make us laugh or incite us to riot, with a whole gamut of emotions in between. She also mentioned that art gives us a way to be creative and express ourselves. [1]
...er vision they choose to without worrying about perfection. The person viewing these paintings is free to see whatever they choose to as well. For example, many critics have viewed Women I as a demented, evil creature that must be feared. However, when I look at that painting, I see a strong, dominant woman who is able to stand up to others and face anything, without fear of ridicule or judgment. I see that this woman prevailed against all odds and continues to be confident in her own skin. Other people might look at this painting and just see an ugly or crazy person on the canvas or not have any strong opinion about it at all, while I, on the other hand, view a beautiful, independent woman. Each person viewing abstract art can have his or her own creative opinion regarding the work, which is why art such as Women I during this period is so appealing to me.
So to answer the question you need to think what is art? To me art is a form of representing a person’s ideas which can be in any form of media whether it be a painting, a film, or a song, a novel or a photograph. For it to be classed as art though it must provoke emotion or thought and show signs of creativity.
Human’s have always struggled to express themselves. Art, is considered by many to be the ultimate form of human expression. Many assume that art has a definition, but this is not the case. Art, it can be said, is “in the eye of the beholder.” This simply means that what you consider art, someone else would not. Art is part of a person’s internal emotions, which signifies why different people see art as different things. Every type of culture and era presents distinctive and unique characteristics. Different cultures all have different views of what art can, and would be, causing art itself to be universally renowned throughout the world.
The arts have influenced my life in amazing ways. Throughout my life, art has been the place I run to and my escape from the world. As I’ve grown older, art has become so much more than that. Every piece of art I create is a journey into my soul. It’s a priceless way to deal with my emotions and my struggles. I create art not only because I enjoy it and because I want to, but because I have to. Somewhere deep inside there is a driving force, urging me to put my heart down on paper. I become emotionally attached to each of my pieces because they are like dashes on the wall marking my growth. Each one is the solution to a problem I have dealt with and overcome.
Art can be defined in many ways by an individual. One can say that any creative output by a person is considered art. Others contend that art must conform to a societal standard and the basis of the creation should be understood by most intellectual people. For example, some contend that computer-generated images, such as fractals, are not art due to the large role played by a computer. E.O. Wilson states “the exclusive role of the arts is to intensify aesthetic and emotional response. Works of art communicate feeling directly from mind to mind, with no intent to explain why the impact occurs” (218). A simple definition may be that art is the physical expression of the ideals formed by the mind.
Personally, my culture did not play a big role when I was in the midst