What is art for?
The essay of ‘what is art for?’ explains the general trends and meanings of art. In separate eras, art has been depicted to give messages or express artists’ views on some events or world. In short, the art is an idea of expression. According to the essay, the author states 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” (page 18). The author states that the art is universal. This explanation is true that the art is not involved in specific trends. Even people who use different languages understand and interpret the piece of art. The interpretation could be a reflection of knowledge but in postmodernism, the art is viewed as truth and reality. Since every person has different values and interpret the art according to their beliefs. Art has been expression ideology, interpretation and life sakes over years.
Art delivers special emotions to people in forms of object or ceremonies. Sometimes, people stare at one point without any facial expression. Every one of us has experienced the moment. I used to feel the moment when I see incredible views. Art is defined an artificial work. However, if a view or some object gives a message to people, is that included in the category of art?
3 Responses to 'What is art for?'
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on July 25th, 2014 at 6:34 pm
I like your conclusion of the article, especially the special emotion part. I have also talk about the special, personal understanding of art. Although art is universal, everyone can appreciate artworks regardless of nationality, region, age, gender and so on, each people will have different understanding of the same piece of artwork. “Disinterest” offer people the ability to interpret artworks while people give the artwork different interpretations. In my opinion, sometimes we can feel the emotion contained in the artwork, especially when we have similar experience in our lives. I think that is how “art for life’s sake” (p. 7).
Your question at the end is a worthy topic to discuss. As far as I am concerned, the view and message is also meaningful. As long as the reflection of the understanding of the view or message is expressed by human beings, even though the message and view themselves look like objective, the expression is the creation of art because human beings will view things in their own way, the special way based on their experience, values, education, status and so on. According to Dissanayake, the creation of art “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.8).
on July 26th, 2014 at 8:21 pm
Thanks for your comment! I also agree with you. As Dissanayake explained, the art can be defined in a way that people care deeply about some outcomes. If we adjust the definition into normal life, everything we see can be an art. However, all messages or views expressed by not only human being but also fierce natures would be a form of art. It would be important to categorized the art. There might be natural arts such as Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls and Everest Mt. We cannot disrespect those creatures. Obviously, arts created by human have impacted messages but nature arts as well. What we have to think is that an art creates an emotional messages and offers a time gap for people to think about it.
on July 29th, 2014 at 7:12 pm
You make many good points about the readings this week. I especially like the points you made at the end of your post. Art has such a unique reality in the world. I have heard a saying that says beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Meaning that something is only beautiful if the person looking at it decides that it is in fact beautiful. I think that this is especially true of the art world. Like you said if there is something that gives a message to others that see it is that really art? I think that it can be art as long as the person seeing the message choose for it to be. I think that this was one of the important points of postmodernism, that art is in the interpretation.