Art is Emotion: “What Is Art?” Essay
Art can be defined in many ways. People judge it based on medium, context, and historical importance. However, I believe that what makes something art is that it makes the viewer feel something. Often, the artworks that stick with people the most are the ones that conjure the strongest emotions inside of them, or the ones that they feel a personal connection to. Technical excellence and historical relevance are definitely impressive, but if I look back on all the art I’ve seen, the ones I remember the strongest are the ones that made me feel something. The emotion caused by the artwork can be positive or negative to have a strong effect on the viewer. Additionally, the artwork does not necessarily have to be beautiful, nor does the viewer have to “like” it. The meaning of the art is determined by how people view it, and how it makes them feel. Furthermore, the emotion caused by an artwork does not have to be clear-cut, such as happiness or sadness. Artwork can cause these emotions, but it can also cause more complex and even indescribable feelings. For example, I recently got the amazing opportunity to see Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room—The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away, and I find it difficult to even describe the experience. It was an experience that I will never forget, partially because of the unidentifiable emotions it caused me to have. I cannot assign a certain emotion to the experience, but I know that I will always remember exactly how it made me feel. Artworks can cause different viewers to feel vastly different things, depending on their backgrounds or cultural and political views. For example, a propaganda poster for Bernie Sanders will likely cause his supporters to feel prideful and cause his critics to become infuriated and start pinpointing its flaws. Some people may also relate to a piece of art, and feel a unique connection to it. Even though an artwork is made for the masses, it can spark an individual connection with each person. All artwork can be relatable to different people since they have experienced and perceived life in their own unique way.
It has been a while since I originally formed this definition, and throughout this academic year I have learned lots of new information about art and its cultural importance. However, my view at the beginning of the year has only been strengthened by what I have learned in AP Art History. We learned over two hundred artworks throughout the year, and I will admit that it is difficult to remember them all. However, there are a few that have always stuck out in my mind, without me even having to study or review them. When I look back over the artworks that left an impact on me, they all caused me to feel an emotion or make a personal connection. This is why I think that the response of the viewer is one of the most important parts of an artwork. Although many other factors may contribute to the value of an artwork, its true meaning lies in how it makes people feel. Art can be a reflection of a society, but ultimately it is the society that reflects upon the artwork. A beautiful thing about art is that any given viewer who looks at it can have a different reaction, or even assign a totally unique meaning to the work. This is where the true art lies. It is the opinions and emotions that the art instills in the viewers that make it what it is.
Art can be defined in many ways. People judge it based on medium, context, and historical importance. However, I believe that what makes something art is that it makes the viewer feel something. Often, the artworks that stick with people the most are the ones that conjure the strongest emotions inside of them, or the ones that they feel a personal connection to. Technical excellence and historical relevance are definitely impressive, but if I look back on all the art I’ve seen, the ones I remember the strongest are the ones that made me feel something. The emotion caused by the artwork can be positive or negative to have a strong effect on the viewer. Additionally, the artwork does not necessarily have to be beautiful, nor does the viewer have to “like” it. The meaning of the art is determined by how people view it, and how it makes them feel. Furthermore, the emotion caused by an artwork does not have to be clear-cut, such as happiness or sadness. Artwork can cause these emotions, but it can also cause more complex and even indescribable feelings. For example, I recently got the amazing opportunity to see Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room—The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away, and I find it difficult to even describe the experience. It was an experience that I will never forget, partially because of the unidentifiable emotions it caused me to have. I cannot assign a certain emotion to the experience, but I know that I will always remember exactly how it made me feel. Artworks can cause different viewers to feel vastly different things, depending on their backgrounds or cultural and political views. For example, a propaganda poster for Bernie Sanders will likely cause his supporters to feel prideful and cause his critics to become infuriated and start pinpointing its flaws. Some people may also relate to a piece of art, and feel a unique connection to it. Even though an artwork is made for the masses, it can spark an individual connection with each person. All artwork can be relatable to different people since they have experienced and perceived life in their own unique way.
It has been a while since I originally formed this definition, and throughout this academic year I have learned lots of new information about art and its cultural importance. However, my view at the beginning of the year has only been strengthened by what I have learned in AP Art History. We learned over two hundred artworks throughout the year, and I will admit that it is difficult to remember them all. However, there are a few that have always stuck out in my mind, without me even having to study or review them. When I look back over the artworks that left an impact on me, they all caused me to feel an emotion or make a personal connection. This is why I think that the response of the viewer is one of the most important parts of an artwork. Although many other factors may contribute to the value of an artwork, its true meaning lies in how it makes people feel. Art can be a reflection of a society, but ultimately it is the society that reflects upon the artwork. A beautiful thing about art is that any given viewer who looks at it can have a different reaction, or even assign a totally unique meaning to the work. This is where the true art lies. It is the opinions and emotions that the art instills in the viewers that make it what it is.
