What is Art?
During the course of this year, my perception of art has slightly changed. I still believe that art is an expression of one's emotions that has an impact on other individuals. However I also strongly support the old phrase that “ beauty is in the eye of the beholder”, this is true of art because there is no single definition of art. This is especially true of abstract art because each individual brings their own perceptions and experiences when viewing an abstract painting. The concept of what defines art has changed over the centuries and continues to change. It is very subjective and there is often disagreement between historians and artists due to cultural and social issues. Since the beginning of time, people have been creating, visualizing, discussing, and finding pleasure in art. We can touch, listen, and be emotionally involved with art.
The word art originally meant skill. However, some people believe that interpretation has been forgotten and today we develop our own insights and ignore the original meaning of the word. I believe that because art is so subjective that we all bring our own opinions and experiences when examining a painting or a sculpture. For centuries art has always been a component of culture and has been influenced by an individual's economic and social situations.
Upon reading Philosophical Aesthetics, I learned that the role of art has changed throughout time. It also was not until I read this article that I knew what Physical Aesthetics were. The German Philosopher, Alexander Baumgarten, first discussed the use of aesthetics in the 18th century. Aesthetics is a Greek word for perception and can be determined by shapes, colors, linear relationships, and can be influenced by political or psychological factors. Aesthetics also refers to the admiration of beautiful objects or nature. But aesthetics is actually defined as a “ branch of philosophy which deals of issues of beauty and artistic taste.” For example, Aristotle used the term academic aesthetics and used this theory to explain the purging of emotions. By using tragedy, he cleansed the emotions of pity and fear.
Some of the main aesthetic topics I found interesting were proportion, light , and symbolism. Although I had read these theories during the beginning of the semester, now I realize the important role aesthetics play in transmitting ideas and feelings to the average individual.
In conclusion, my opinion is that art is not something you have to study to understand and enjoy. However, one can gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of different forms of art by gaining some knowledge of art history. Art is something that captures your eye and although some people disagree, I don't think art always has to be beautiful. Even works of art that communicate unpleasant or distasteful scenes can generate strong emotions. An example of this would be The Scream, by Munch. Art can be very primitive like ancient cave paintings at Lascaux, or very sophisticated paintings by Dali. Art can be a modern structure like the Getty Museum or a treasure like Notre Dame in Paris. It can also be temporary artworks by Christos and Jeanne-Claude. These are all examples that motivate and inspire people. I have now gained a new understanding that the role art plays in the life of the average individual and has made me more open to new ideas of what art really means.
During the course of this year, my perception of art has slightly changed. I still believe that art is an expression of one's emotions that has an impact on other individuals. However I also strongly support the old phrase that “ beauty is in the eye of the beholder”, this is true of art because there is no single definition of art. This is especially true of abstract art because each individual brings their own perceptions and experiences when viewing an abstract painting. The concept of what defines art has changed over the centuries and continues to change. It is very subjective and there is often disagreement between historians and artists due to cultural and social issues. Since the beginning of time, people have been creating, visualizing, discussing, and finding pleasure in art. We can touch, listen, and be emotionally involved with art.
The word art originally meant skill. However, some people believe that interpretation has been forgotten and today we develop our own insights and ignore the original meaning of the word. I believe that because art is so subjective that we all bring our own opinions and experiences when examining a painting or a sculpture. For centuries art has always been a component of culture and has been influenced by an individual's economic and social situations.
Upon reading Philosophical Aesthetics, I learned that the role of art has changed throughout time. It also was not until I read this article that I knew what Physical Aesthetics were. The German Philosopher, Alexander Baumgarten, first discussed the use of aesthetics in the 18th century. Aesthetics is a Greek word for perception and can be determined by shapes, colors, linear relationships, and can be influenced by political or psychological factors. Aesthetics also refers to the admiration of beautiful objects or nature. But aesthetics is actually defined as a “ branch of philosophy which deals of issues of beauty and artistic taste.” For example, Aristotle used the term academic aesthetics and used this theory to explain the purging of emotions. By using tragedy, he cleansed the emotions of pity and fear.
Some of the main aesthetic topics I found interesting were proportion, light , and symbolism. Although I had read these theories during the beginning of the semester, now I realize the important role aesthetics play in transmitting ideas and feelings to the average individual.
In conclusion, my opinion is that art is not something you have to study to understand and enjoy. However, one can gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of different forms of art by gaining some knowledge of art history. Art is something that captures your eye and although some people disagree, I don't think art always has to be beautiful. Even works of art that communicate unpleasant or distasteful scenes can generate strong emotions. An example of this would be The Scream, by Munch. Art can be very primitive like ancient cave paintings at Lascaux, or very sophisticated paintings by Dali. Art can be a modern structure like the Getty Museum or a treasure like Notre Dame in Paris. It can also be temporary artworks by Christos and Jeanne-Claude. These are all examples that motivate and inspire people. I have now gained a new understanding that the role art plays in the life of the average individual and has made me more open to new ideas of what art really means.