What is Art?
Since the beginning of human history there has been one question that can never be answered: What is art? From the Apollo 11 Stones to one of Banksy’s new works, art is a controversial form of expression that can take many forms. It’s controversy arises from the ease with which one can interpret it both positively and negatively. Art is interpreted in many ways and brings emotions to light. Art and its many forms can be interpreted in a multitude of different ways. That’s what art is: a mystifying medium for artists to express themselves and evoke emotion while cultivating thought and controversy in others.
Take the Mona Lisa, for example. Da Vinci’s magnum opus is maybe the most famous piece of artwork in the world. Many art historians, critics, and regular people alike have voiced their opinion on it. The most contested part of this artwork is why Mona Lisa is smiling. Whether you think that her smile is innocent and inviting or scared and disgusted, nobody truly knows the meaning. Leonardo Da Vinci intentionally left the piece up for interpretation and now the simple piece of a semi-smiling woman is the one of the most famous paintings in the world. Another piece of art that is known for its controversy in its interpretation is The Scream. Edvard Munch’s piece of a person looking frightened and screaming has been subject to many pop culture references and satires. One question that is known to come up is to why the man is screaming. Is the man who is screaming exclaiming at somebody or something out of frame of the painting, or is it something internalized making him scream out in agony? We can never tell. Art’s ability to be interpreted many different ways is part of its definition.
Art evokes emotions in us that we didn’t even know we could feel. Take for instance, Salvador Dali’s paintings. The surrealist artist painted things that we could only imagine. In his painting, The Persistence of Memory, Dali shows us a surreal look at time and space. It makes some feel a sense of wonder and amazement but also makes some think about the universe as a whole. Another painter who evokes emotions out of people is Vincent Van Gogh. This famous painter had a wide range of styles and painted many different mediums. In his painting the Old Man In Sorrow On the Threshold of Eternity, Van Gogh evokes sadness with his portrait of a man crying. This is a reflection of his own sadness and can bring up that emotions in others. This is why art is such a powerful thing. It makes you feel things that you didn’t want to feel. It helps you cope with traumatic events and also bring some tragic events to light. Art is a powerful creation that evokes emotions.
From the first cave paintings depicting straightforward images of daily life to today’s confusing modern art that might take years to find the meaning, everything on this spectrum is art because art is a mystifying medium for artists to express themselves and evoke emotion while cultivating thought and controversy in others.
Art is something that is an outlet for self expression and something that the culture around can shape. Art is something that can be anything that you think could be art and generates a response, whether positive or negative. Art can bring an issue to light and help exemplify what needs to be done. Art allows freedom to do what you want and be shown with acceptance. Art allows people to be themselves.
Since the beginning of human history there has been one question that can never be answered: What is art? From the Apollo 11 Stones to one of Banksy’s new works, art is a controversial form of expression that can take many forms. It’s controversy arises from the ease with which one can interpret it both positively and negatively. Art is interpreted in many ways and brings emotions to light. Art and its many forms can be interpreted in a multitude of different ways. That’s what art is: a mystifying medium for artists to express themselves and evoke emotion while cultivating thought and controversy in others.
Take the Mona Lisa, for example. Da Vinci’s magnum opus is maybe the most famous piece of artwork in the world. Many art historians, critics, and regular people alike have voiced their opinion on it. The most contested part of this artwork is why Mona Lisa is smiling. Whether you think that her smile is innocent and inviting or scared and disgusted, nobody truly knows the meaning. Leonardo Da Vinci intentionally left the piece up for interpretation and now the simple piece of a semi-smiling woman is the one of the most famous paintings in the world. Another piece of art that is known for its controversy in its interpretation is The Scream. Edvard Munch’s piece of a person looking frightened and screaming has been subject to many pop culture references and satires. One question that is known to come up is to why the man is screaming. Is the man who is screaming exclaiming at somebody or something out of frame of the painting, or is it something internalized making him scream out in agony? We can never tell. Art’s ability to be interpreted many different ways is part of its definition.
Art evokes emotions in us that we didn’t even know we could feel. Take for instance, Salvador Dali’s paintings. The surrealist artist painted things that we could only imagine. In his painting, The Persistence of Memory, Dali shows us a surreal look at time and space. It makes some feel a sense of wonder and amazement but also makes some think about the universe as a whole. Another painter who evokes emotions out of people is Vincent Van Gogh. This famous painter had a wide range of styles and painted many different mediums. In his painting the Old Man In Sorrow On the Threshold of Eternity, Van Gogh evokes sadness with his portrait of a man crying. This is a reflection of his own sadness and can bring up that emotions in others. This is why art is such a powerful thing. It makes you feel things that you didn’t want to feel. It helps you cope with traumatic events and also bring some tragic events to light. Art is a powerful creation that evokes emotions.
From the first cave paintings depicting straightforward images of daily life to today’s confusing modern art that might take years to find the meaning, everything on this spectrum is art because art is a mystifying medium for artists to express themselves and evoke emotion while cultivating thought and controversy in others.
Art is something that is an outlet for self expression and something that the culture around can shape. Art is something that can be anything that you think could be art and generates a response, whether positive or negative. Art can bring an issue to light and help exemplify what needs to be done. Art allows freedom to do what you want and be shown with acceptance. Art allows people to be themselves.
