Whats your definition of art?

[tzimize]

since the recently painful mass effect 3 retake movment, and art being used a lot there I ask a question for everyone. What is your definition of art, what do you view art as?

For me, I see as art as something that imspires emotion in people, it can be any emotion, such as excitement in the transformers moveies (ugh, its only a example chill down.) Or sadness when a character dies, or puzzlement when a character says a phase that makes you think of some moral, value, or other thing. For me that is what art means, emotion.

Whats your meaning of art?

Its not very precise but to me, art has to be special. That sounds stupid I guess, but I'll try to elaborate.

It usually has to be at the front of its field in some way, and excel to heights not reached by "normal" products in its field.

For example, I consider the Discworld (books) art. Terry Pratchett has a way to bend language that I have not seen anywhere else, and that makes his literary works art, to me.

I consider Mirrors Edge (game) art, because of the striking visual style and the intense sound effects.

I consider Dogville (movie) art, because of the unusual experience of a movie filmed on a stage with only chalk marks as scenery.

I consider the opening track of Hybris (an old amiga game) art because its so fucking awesome.

Art can be a lot of things, I can also use the word art to describe pretentious crap. Shocking stuff can often be argued to be art, I could take a shit on the last supper and put it on display. Is that art? Fuck no. Just because you are shocking doesnt mean you have talent, for anything else than spotting what is not accepted socially.

Art can be positive or negative.
Used in the positive sense I mean the best of its field, products that make you feel something.
Uses in the negative sense I mean just pretentious shit.

 

[ElPatron]

Different from yours, I bet.

/thread anyone? Simply considering your own work art doesn't mean it will be bought by a mirron dorrars.

 

[rduck1]

I don't think art should be considered a category like it often is. I don't know if I even agree with the usage of the word 'art' as a noun.

Art seems to be more a property than a 'thing' really, an object(or performance) can have an art-like quality to it, but no thing exists primarily as art - the Mona Lisa is a painting that has an artistic quality to it, not an artwork that was painted. What this quality would be defined as is a more difficult matter, however.

It could also be considered a function, an object used mainly for display not in a decorative sense, but to be actively looked at and pondered. Just look at the sculpture 'Fountain' by Duchamp - it used to be a urinal when it was used primarily for urinating in, but became considered art as it was placed in a gallery for active viewing.

I do also believe that the creators intentions factor into it, but I'm not exactly sure how. Maybe it has to do with the will to express or just the idea of making something you feel should exist but doesn't.


In any case, it's one of those eternal mysteries that won't be solved with any number of forum topics.