What is Art?
Art is an influential form of expression; however it doesn’t necessarily have to be an expression of emotion but rather an expression of anything. In the world today art can be whatever anyone wants it to be and anyone can call themselves an artist and no one can tell them they’re not, because who are we to define what art is and who creates it. So much that has to do with art is an open-ended question, there are so many varying opinions that nothing can clearly define it without diminishing what art is supposed to represent. It has become something that can defy rules and be a tool for change.
Art is made for so many different reasons. To some people it’s simply a form of escape or a way to convey their feelings. People use art as a way to make something that helps them get lost for just a little while. Art allows people to travel to other places without leaving the comfort of their room. There are conflicting opinions on the value of art based off feelings and emotions. According to French film director François Truffaut, “Airing one's dirty linen never makes for a masterpiece.” In his opinion art should not be based off one's emotion and feels art made about one's suffering is not something worthy of fame. But according to Norwegian artist Edvard Munch, “Art grows out of grief and joy, but mainly grief. It is born of people’s lives.” He exemplifies the other side of this argument. To him art stems from suffering and other strong emotions. To him, without emotions where would art come from.
On the other hand though art can be used as a form of propaganda or cohesion. In history there has been many people that have used art to start wars, end wars, and make decisions. Another way art can be used is to inspire people or illuminate an idea. Artists like Banksy use art to illuminate the problems in the world. He uses graffiti to make a statement. All of his pieces include powerful messages.
According to Pablo Picasso, “ We all know that Art is not truth. Art is a lie that makes us realize truth.” Picasso is saying that art is made to see what we can’t with our eyes. To most people it’s a way to make something that wouldn’t normally be there; it’s a way to create the impossible. This correlates with artist and author James McNeill Whistler’s quote, “The imitator is a poor kind of creature. If the man who paints only the tree, or flower, or other surface he sees before him were an artist, the king of artists would be the photographer.” This artist is saying that those who try to recreate what is already there are not adding anything to our world, the ones who paint what isn’t already there are. Although it is thought art was created first and foremost to record history, maybe it was created to tell a new story. Most famous artists seem to believe that art if not a recreation of something already out there but a new interpretation of it. This statement followings the stereotype of artists being very creative and mostly right brained. Maybe its how it came about, with only the most creative prospering.
Art is an influential form of expression; however it doesn’t necessarily have to be an expression of emotion but rather an expression of anything. In the world today art can be whatever anyone wants it to be and anyone can call themselves an artist and no one can tell them they’re not, because who are we to define what art is and who creates it. So much that has to do with art is an open-ended question, there are so many varying opinions that nothing can clearly define it without diminishing what art is supposed to represent. It has become something that can defy rules and be a tool for change.
Art is made for so many different reasons. To some people it’s simply a form of escape or a way to convey their feelings. People use art as a way to make something that helps them get lost for just a little while. Art allows people to travel to other places without leaving the comfort of their room. There are conflicting opinions on the value of art based off feelings and emotions. According to French film director François Truffaut, “Airing one's dirty linen never makes for a masterpiece.” In his opinion art should not be based off one's emotion and feels art made about one's suffering is not something worthy of fame. But according to Norwegian artist Edvard Munch, “Art grows out of grief and joy, but mainly grief. It is born of people’s lives.” He exemplifies the other side of this argument. To him art stems from suffering and other strong emotions. To him, without emotions where would art come from.
On the other hand though art can be used as a form of propaganda or cohesion. In history there has been many people that have used art to start wars, end wars, and make decisions. Another way art can be used is to inspire people or illuminate an idea. Artists like Banksy use art to illuminate the problems in the world. He uses graffiti to make a statement. All of his pieces include powerful messages.
According to Pablo Picasso, “ We all know that Art is not truth. Art is a lie that makes us realize truth.” Picasso is saying that art is made to see what we can’t with our eyes. To most people it’s a way to make something that wouldn’t normally be there; it’s a way to create the impossible. This correlates with artist and author James McNeill Whistler’s quote, “The imitator is a poor kind of creature. If the man who paints only the tree, or flower, or other surface he sees before him were an artist, the king of artists would be the photographer.” This artist is saying that those who try to recreate what is already there are not adding anything to our world, the ones who paint what isn’t already there are. Although it is thought art was created first and foremost to record history, maybe it was created to tell a new story. Most famous artists seem to believe that art if not a recreation of something already out there but a new interpretation of it. This statement followings the stereotype of artists being very creative and mostly right brained. Maybe its how it came about, with only the most creative prospering.
