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04/09/2004 09:02:11 AM · #1
I just received a comment saying that they liked my photo, looked like an ad but wasn't art. How do you define what art is? I think its art.
04/09/2004 11:06:51 AM · #2
interesting you asked that today -- just a couple of days ago, I had a discussion with a friend's wife about just that exact topic. She was raggin' on a sculpture that appeared to be some industrial scrap welded together, and she said "that's not art", to which I took umbrage. (how's that for a $5 word?)

Anyway, I said that my definition of art is anything that is done on *on purpose* specifically to ellicit an *emotional response* when the thing is experienced. A photo, drawing or painting is experienced by viewing. A piece of music is experienced by listening -- you get it...

So, the conversation continues and we agree that, under this definition, there can be no such thing as "good art or bad art" only "pleasing-to-me art" or "not-pleasing-to-me art'. In other words, that it IS art is accepted from the beginning, and the only thing open for discussion is how the piece of art relates to one's own perception and experience with the artwork.

Here's where the conversation got freaky: if you really take that definition to the extreme, you can say that acts of terrorism are politically-motivated art. I totally don't agree with that interpretation, so don't phlame me -- it's just an interesting interpretation.

Anyway, the comment about "advertising" should be taken as a compliment -- advertising is designed to appeal to as many people as possible! Just because your shot might not be all blurry and taken from a funny angle doesn't mean it's not art.
04/09/2004 01:09:00 PM · #3
Well said, alanbataar. And while a bit disturbing, I would agree with your statement about terrorism.
04/09/2004 01:48:28 PM · #4
Art is any object that represents one person's interpretation of some aspect of reality. Scrap welded together is art - not very interesting to some, but hey - some people feel that paintings of soup cans make interesting art. It's all relative.
04/09/2004 02:08:46 PM · #5
Originally posted by eostyles:

I just received a comment saying that they liked my photo, looked like an ad but wasn't art. How do you define what art is? I think its art.


It's not my comment, but I think it's to easy to dismiss comments that are poorly worded. Think about what they author was trying to tell you. Perhaps what he/she meant was that they didn't find that it had pleasing aesthetics.

On a soapbox, while I understand how some people can be offended by critical comments, and while I also understand that comments can be hastily or poorly worded leading to offense being taken, if a comment isn't rude, I think it's wrong to "dis" them in the forums. All you do is discourage further comments.

Think about what they might be trying to tell you. Even if you are wrong, chances are you might discover you knew what could be improved in that photo all along but it didn't come to you until you tried to interpret it through others eyes.

My two cents, offer to you for free ;)
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