Artifact II: What is Art?
Topic: What is Art?
Learning Unit Objectives
- Consider the origins of art
- Explore a brief history of Western Art
- Examine multiple perspectives for evaluating art
- Describe the term paleoanthropsychobiological. Who coined this term?
The term paleoanthropsychobiological is coined by Ellen Dissanayake to suggest several things of his point of view about the history of Western art. There are three main parts in this adjective word. “First is that the idea of art encompasses all of human history; second is that it include all human societies; third is that it accounts for the fact that art is a psychological or emotional need and has psychological or emotional effects” (Dissanayake, 15). She use this word as view to describe that art must be viewed as a inherent universal trait of the human beings.
- What does Dissanayake mean by the phrase “making special”? How does it relate to art and to human survival?
Dissanayake use the term “making special” to illustrate the behavior or propensity to ‘make special’, particularly things that one cares deeply about or activities whose outcomes has strong personal significance” (Dissanayake, 22). Also, she point out that the special is not mundane, and it can take something ordinary into extraordinary. Moreover, a behavior of art is not only stands for recognizing the special, but also to make something special with your ability. By the way, “artmaking and experiencing as a human behavior” (Dissanayake, 22) and “art as a kind of behavior that developed as they evolved to help them survived” (Dissanayake, 16) is also states the relationship between making special, art and human survival. In order to prove this point, she use the example how an animal’s behavior to survival to tell people how to make ordinary behavior become special with unusual behavior of art. This special ability could take on a significance in terms of human beings’ behaviors like thinking, making a plan, and using intelligent minds etc, which not only simply presents people know how to make ordinary behavior become an art and survival, but also stands for they have this artmaking ability to make their life complete and meaningful. For instance, human beings made of ritual ceremonies which make these normal behaviors as a form of art with special meaning.
- Dissanayake identifies many different theories/movement/periods of art throughout western european history. Name three different theories of art that Dissanayake mentions in her essay. Identify the time period when each theory developed and was prominent. Provide a brief description of the philosophies and ideas that define each theory/movement/period of art. Support your answer with quotes from the reading.
Medieval times–the arts are not regarded “aesthetically”, and it serves for the religion and God. In the Renaissance period, artistes use man-centered concerns replace the God-centered (Dissanayake, 16). Although there are something changes with art, these artistes still focus on a recognized world and the normal standards of beauty, harmony and excellence still exist to stands for that period’s art.
Modernism–during the 18th century, art as ideology and began to be called “aesthetics”-“a concern with elucidating principles such as taste and beauty that govern all the art and indeed make them simply not paintings or statues” (Dissanayake, 17). However, there is special frame of mind to appreciate works of art like according to people’s preference, and it’s utility, social and religious etc. Moreover, art had become an ideology, which needs some educated people to acquire them, and not everyone can get the meaning of this.
Postmodernism—during the mid-twentieth century, art as Interpretation, The artists in this period believe art is not reflect some kinds of knowledge, and art can be interpreted by anyone according their unique thoughts and cultural sensibilities (Dissanayake, 19). Also, artistes encourage individuals to ignore the standards of appreciating art and mold themselves with their own ones without restriction of religion and knowledge, each individual can interpret works as they like.
Reflection:
Before I read this article “What is Art for?” by Ellen Dissanayake, I am not very sure what can be called art, and in my mind, if something can be displayed in the museum or something has collectable value which can be called as a form of art. Also, I always appreciate art in a special form and it is not necessary for everyone to know how to appreciate art objectively.Then, Ellen helps me to figure out the concept of art and where it stems from through reading the article. Besides, I learned many art theories through the different ages like Medieval times, Modernism and Postmodernism etc. Art is developed through the human history from the god-centered art to man-centered concerns.
Also, he pointed out that “art is a normal and necessary behavior of human beings that like talking, exercising, playing, working, socializing, learning, loving and nurturing should be encouraged and developed in everyone” (Dissanayake, 11). I believe his view is correct and we need know art as a kind of behavior that developed as they evolved along with the history with psychological or emotional effects on people. Many things can be considered as art only if it has his own meaning and can move people. The picture below presents that the art’ features which need artist have creativity, innovation, sharing and responding etc. I believe these conditions are the criteria to evaluate a piece of art according to different people’s eyes.
Learning Goals for the Future:
In my future life, I want not only use my camera to record beautiful scenery, and I will use what I have learned to evaluate them objectively. Also, I would like to become more observant to discover the beauty of our lives and challenge myself to explore more the art evolvement because it can benefit me to know more the aesthetical values of art.
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