High And High Forms Of Art Essay

Culture is produced both culturally and socially to devise “high” and “low” constructions. These categories of culture have a complex and continuous hegemonic struggle amongst them. The concept of art itself remains difficult to define, however with reference to public and illegal art its subjective nature can be further understood. Art is relative, and this distinction is key to the interpretation of how “high” and “low” forms of art can be characterised. In this essay, culture is explored and how “high” and “low” distinctions are formed. Art practises, in particular; public and illegal art are examined and how these judgements are produced. The complexities of what is art are also investigated.

Culture and what can be viewed as “high” and “low” forms is subjective. This is especially relevant to art. Walton (2013:28) states that ‘what is understood as “high” and “low” is culturally constructed’. He further goes on to mention that instead of viewing these constructs as fixed, view them as continuous struggles to define the ambiguities that lay within the terms; high, low, popular, official and unofficial. Determining what is ‘high’ and ‘low’ culture is complex, and ‘cultural studies habitually theories the popular’ (Walton 2013:30), often making it difficult to define the “lower”. Thus, understanding where public and street art and falls can be, and often is problematic.

Thus, art; gallery, museum, sanctioned, is typically that of “high” culture. The urban phenomenon of street art (often called graffiti or illegal art), is becoming widely prevalent within our culture. Due to street arts often illegal nature and unwanted presence, it’s legitimacy of being art are questioned. The dualistic premise of crime or art is disputed. Consequently, illegal art is frequently viewed as vandalism and purposeful destruction to property. McAuliffe and Iveson (2011:130), suggest that ‘it might be both’ crime and