Artifact #3: What is Art?
Objectives
- Consider the origins of art
- Explore a brief history of Western Art
- Examine multiple perspectives for evaluating art
Original Post
WHAT IS ART FOR? ESSAY ASSIGNMENT:
- Ellen Dissanayake coined the term “paleoanthropsychobiological” in the article -What is art for. (1991). She gave the definition of paleoanthropsychobiological and stated: “First, that the idea of art encompasses all of human history; second, that it include all human societies; and third, that it accounts for the fact that art is a psychological or emotional need and has psychological or emotional effects”(p. 15) she describe what is art and a basis outline of art. We can decompose the word into paleoanthropology, psychology, and biological. Paleoanthropology means the scientific study of ancient human. Psychology means study human mind and behavior. Biological means living things. So, it literally can be defined as learning the ancient human’s mind and life. Author want to use this combined word to explain the art deeper and the original of art.
- Dissanayake mentions that “Among these tendencies, I claim, is also the behavior or propensity to ‘make special,’ particularly things that one cares deeply about or activities whose outcome has strong personal significance.” (P. 22) That means human created the art and it’s unique. Art is something to make thing special. For example, if a painting can resonate people and show its own unique feature to people, the painting is not just a painting is art. Making special in art relates to personal creativity and personal special mind. In the human history, human through various forms of art (language, performance, behavior, etc.) stimulate the development of the society and humane can survive in the society through their innovation of art. Human society is becoming stronger and stronger and human get survival.
- I can point out 3 different periods of art throughout Western European history. Renaissance, (in the 14th century), Modernism (in the 18th century), and Postmodernism (in the 20th century). Renaissance artists “replace God-centered with man-centered, but their works continued to portray a recognizable world” and they just “represent the subject matter”. (p. 16) The next periods Modernism focus on aesthetics. Art become more clear and abstract. She mention that “There is a special frame of mind for approaching works of art- a disinterested attitude that is separate from one’s own personal interest in the object, its utility, or its social or religious ramifications.”(p.18) The third is Postmodernism. She stated that “rather than assuming that art reflects a unique and privileged kind of knowledge, postmodernists point out that any ‘truth’ or ‘reality’ is only a point of view- a representation that comes to us mediated and conditioned by our language, our social institutions,”(p.20) In this era, art can be defined broadly and interpret base on personal perspective.
The original blog post can be viewed here.
This topic helps me to know more about the western art and what is the original art is. I start to consider the art after reading the article wrote by Ellen Dissanayake. I have some definition about the art concept from art history Renaissance, (in the 14th century), Modernism (in the 18th century), and Postmodernism (in the 20th century) in the above artifact. Ellen Dissanayake coined the term “paleoanthropsychobiological” in the article. I think this word can be explained to learn the ancient human’s mind and life. In my artifact, I have discussed what is the original art and I start to have some idea about it. Dissanayake argues that “(Art is a) kind of behavior that developed as they evolved, to help them survive”(P.16). I think art comes from personal inspiration and constantly change for surviving. In the art history, the art was presented in various forms. The innovation helps the art surviving and inspires other people.
Dissanayake mention that “a special frame of mind for appreciating works of art — a ‘disinterested’ attitude” (P.3). This is a really strong point. He also claim that “Disinterest implied that viewers could appreciate any art, even the artwork of eras or cultures far removed from their own, whether or not they understood the meaning the works had for the people who made and used them.” (P.18). The two pictures that I use in above are a child’s deign of the Google search page. Even though these work can’t be seem as an artwork, those are an inspiration of a child and also an original of a piece of art. Who can assure that no child can become an artist? We should view the artwork with disinterested attitude and no bias. There are not aesthetical standard toward art and every people have own perspective. However, the disinterested attitude can help use to explore more valuable art.
Future Goals
In the future, I will take more time to appreciate the artwork. For example, I will go the art museum around the Eugene or Portland. Also, when I go to travel, I will take some time to visit the local famous artwork. I live in USA now. As a Chinese, I can compare the western art and Asian art use my own perspective and culture. I will try to create some painting after appreciating this famous artwork.
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