Free Essay

What Makes Art Art

In: Other Topics

Submitted By krisdunn33
Words 504
Pages 3
Art is any form of self-expression. Art is something that is created that entertains, inspires, educates or makes a person feel something good, bad or unexplainable. Art is whatever the artist does or makes in which they deem to be art whether it is of value or not. There is a wide variety of art, some that people wouldn’t imagine as art, but a true artist sees art in every creation.
Art is everywhere and in everything I see. Art is not just a painting, poem, drawing or a ballet. When I think of art I think of something somebody does to release their feelings. Different people express art in various ways. For example, someone who writes a love letter because they are unable to express their feelings through touch or emotion. Is this art? Watching Michael Jordan drive down the court and slam the ball. He was recognized for his unique ways for a reason. So, is this art? Making music, any type of music whether it is appealing to your ears or not. Is this art? All of these things are art to me. Art does not have to be beautiful or make you feel good to be defined as art; it is an expression of emotion. We are all artists in my eyes because we are all able to feel and create. All of life is art to me.
When I think about art, its creator and the meaning of the creation I think the content is more important then the context. I don’t necessarily need to understand when and why it was created to form my opinion on whether or not I enjoy it. I like to find my own meaning and form my own opinion without knowing the background of the art. After I form my opinion I do like to research and find the artists meaning to see if I understood their expression without having it outlined. As an example I would like to reference Edward Keinholz's piece, History as a Planter. Before doing any research on this piece I noticed the feet which I thought represented history and movement, the sign notating war I thought about struggle, and the plant, which I was perplexed until I did a little research. The plant is a wondering Jew. So I was partially correct. From what I found out doing some light research, this piece of art is symbolic of the way the artist views the history of the Jewish struggles.
Art is everywhere you look and such a huge part of our everyday, trying to explain a true definition is almost impossible or overwhelming. There is intentional art and accidental art. There are famous artists and artists as us. Take a look around you, everything you see is art, and everything you see is designed by someone. Yes, machines make things for us, but someone designed that piece or even designed that machine used to make that piece. Now, take another look around you. What isn’t art?

Similar Documents

Free Essay

What Makes Art Art

...Graves Art Essay 1 6-20-11 What makes Art Art? I believe art can not be defined. According to the Fall 2007 Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Definition of Art, by Thomas Adajan, "the definition of art is controversial... whether art can be defined has also been a matter of controversy." I think artists can take anything and put their twist on it and what they think it is and they can call it Art. Art is all around us in many forms and fashions. Art has evolved in so many different ways and can make people feel so many different feelings. Everywhere we look today we can see some form of Art and if you really take time to enjoy it and get in touch with your feelings everyone could learn to appreciate things a lot more. Art can be a very therapeutic way to deal with emotions people may not be able to express any other way. In the sculpture The Kiss by Auguste Rodin it is a true example of expressing a feeling of love. In the sculpture they look so passionate and in love it just makes you feel good.  I think any work that touches us on an emotional level – brings us joy or anger, tears or laughter – is art. But there is a cultural aspect to it as well, particularly in how we interpret art. Georgia O’Keeffe says, “I found that I could say things with colors and shapes that I couldn’t say in any other way-things I had no words for.” I really think our book Prebles’ Artforms by Patrick Frank says it good when he says, “Not all of us regularly create works of art, but we...

Words: 521 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Branding

...Background M.A.C (Make-up Art Cosmetics) was found by Frank Toskan and Frank Angelo in 1984, Toronto, Canada. Since they were both involved in fashion photography, they soon saw the opportunity of high quality cosmetics for professional photography. The philosophy of the company was to provide high quality and innovative products of “All ages, All races, All sexes”. In its early years, M.A.C geared towards professional make-up artists. They started by giving away their products to make-up artists who works with models and actresses. The endorsement of their products by make-up artists and public figures was a huge boost for M.A.C brand image which contributed to their early success. In 1994, William Lauder, of Estee Lauder Companies, saw the potential in M.A.C as a leader in a new category of cosmetic brands. On the same year, Estee Lauder acquired 51% of the company share with the remaining 49% sold to them in 1998. M.A.C experienced rapid growth under the supervision of Estee Lauder. Today, M.A.C is one of the leading make-up artist brands within Estee Lauder’s make up category, contributing to 38.1% *(>2.9 billion) of its total revenue in FY2010. ii) Product Scope M.A.C offers a variety of professional artist qualified cosmetics, from face to eye, lip and nail makeup. Over the years, their product packaging remains consistent with a black outer case and their logo embedded in the middle with the exception of limited edition products. They also provide make-up related products...

Words: 835 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Art and Entertainment

...Art and entertainment The discussion what is art and what is entertainment has become quite common. Another relating topic is – do artists entertain, or do entertainers create art? The most common answer to these questions is, yes. Artists certainly create art, but art is also done for entertainment, and everything that was created by entertainers has a certain degree of artistic merit. If we go to a museum, we will see wonderful paintings and sculptures which are certainly more artistic than graffiti on the walls in the street. In a museum, we expect that we will be exposed to a certain level of art, and at the same tame, we will experience a certain level of entertainment. Whether something is artistic or not, simply depends on the opinion a person has, and this opinion is no less valuable than any other. Of course, there must be some objective attributes of art that make it art like using metaphors, symbolism, and plot devices, and similarly, entertainment has features that make it entertainment. Black Swan by Aronofsky is probably more artistic than, say, the Twilight vampire saga, but the latter one would be probably more entertaining for the common audience. Another question is, which one is better? That is again a matter of opinion. If we focus on literature, a classic novel by Hardy is generally considered more artistic than a romantic story by Danielle Steel. This comparison offers an idea that art is more superior to entertainment, but this is...

Words: 1099 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Public Art Controversy

...Public art is a topic that is widely debated and somewhat controversial. Since individual opinions on art in general can be very nuanced and subjective, it is a common problem that some part of a population has an issue with a particular piece of public art. So what happens when the disagreement is directly between the public who is observing the piece and those who put it in place? It’s never really clear-cut who is right or wrong. One might say that it should be up to the observer, but maybe the observer doesn’t put full effort into understanding the art or simply can’t understand it. Should public art reflect public opinion or should it serve to shape the public’s perception of art? These are complex questions on a topic that is very...

Words: 2092 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Contemporary Art

...Does contemporary art focus on conceptual art is important nowadays? 28 different arts make up what is called contemporary art. Some of which are Burt art, Neo Dadaism, Pop art, Op art, Minimalism, Body art, and Conceptual art among others. These popped up in the 20th century, having as a main trait their uniqueness and authenticity from what was learn or seen in the past. I’m going to focus in Conceptual art. “Conceptual Art emerged during a period of social, political and cultural upheaval in the 1960s. It was a reaction to the perceived constraints of Modernism and the increasing commodification of the art object. Artists sought the means to think beyond the medium-specific aspects of traditional art forms, such as originality, style, expression, craft, permanence, decoration and display, attributed to painting and sculpture. They used language and text to directly disseminate ideas, demystify artistic production and negate visually. Artworks took the form of written statements, declarations, definitions and invitations.” (Moran) After reading several books, I’ve learned that conceptual art is focused in the concept than in the actual object presented to you, meaning that to understand conceptual art you need to understand what the artist is trying to express, so that what you may see may not always be the true meaning of what is trying to be conveyed. “The artist has no control over the way a viewer will perceive the work. Different people will understand the same thing...

Words: 2197 - Pages: 9

Free Essay

Art and It's Purpose

...and Power of Art Art is a tool that has been used for many centuries, in different cultures over the world. Art can come in many different forms such as paintings, music, theatre etc. Art is a powerful tool that can be used to depict, to denounce or even simply to entertain. It has the ability to bring a weary soul to peace, to smooth a troubled spirit because of its beauty or to stir up a man’s heart because of its strong graphic visualization of the real world. In Allison Dorothy’s essay, This is Our World, Allison describes art as a tool that can be used as a voice for the weak. Allison believes that art is powerful enough to disturb a human’s mind by making him think deeply about the meaning of the art piece and that it can at the same time also be used as a tool to denounce the evil that exists in this world. Although Allison views on the use of art are considerable and thoughtful, they are in my opinion bias and not complete. Art is not only meant to trouble the spirit of a person to get across a message or a voice, art is shapeless and can be bent into whichever shape. It can also be used for many other different purposes, depending on the author of the art piece, whether the purpose is righteous or wicked. Allison see’s art as an unpredictable thing that should be used to force people to see things they do not wish to see “Art should surprise and astonish, and hopefully make you think something you had not though until you saw it.” (Allison 42). The Art piece should...

Words: 1373 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Jeje

...The Difference Between Art and Entertainment by Jeff Goins | 99 Comments Art, they say, is in the eye of the beholder. Which is a nice way of saying it’s whatever you want it to be. But I don’t believe that. Photo credit: Mark Heard (Creative Commons) Although I don’t have an objective perspective (nobody does), and mine is but one opinion, I believe there is such a thing as good and bad art. Maybe that’s asking too much, for us to label art “good” or “bad,” or maybe that feels too restrictive. That’s fine, I suppose; I don’t want to impose my artistic standards on someone else, nor would I appreciate having it the other way around. But what is not okay is calling something “art” when it’s not — when it is, in fact, something else. Art versus entertainment My friend Stephen pointed out recently, quoting Makoto Fujimura I think, that the difference between art and entertainment is subtle, but important: Entertainment gives you a predictable pleasure… Art leads to transformation. If that’s true, then we may have a problem, because what a lot of people call “art” isn’t changing us. At best, it’s entertaining us, dulling our senses and inebriating us to the realities of the world. Which is not the point. Art is supposed to transform: * It surprises. * It wounds. * It changes. Entertainment makes us feel good. It doesn’t surprise us; it meets our expectations. And that’s why we like entertainment: it coddles us. But the problem with entertainment is it leaves...

Words: 3683 - Pages: 15

Premium Essay

Good Art

...Good Art Even though it might not seem like it, art is a very broad topic. When talking about art there are different categories. There is the art of literature, the art of music, the art of dance, the art of theater, and the art that we are most familiar with, such as drawings, paintings, and sculptures. If a person’s writing is good enough, then their work is published in a newspaper, as a book, or in a magazine. If a person makes good music then they can join an orchestra, join a band, or make records. When a person is good in theater then they are able to direct shows or movies, or act on Broadway or in Hollywood movies. A person who can create good art, if good enough, can be shown in a gallery, art show, or museum. The complicated question always comes up of how do you know the work of art is good? To decide whether a work of art is good we can ask a few questions such as, is the art popular in society, does it have emotional power, or has it passed the test of time? Even when asking these questions, deciding whether a work of art is good or not is still an opinion and opinions can always change. After time passes by it is much easier to decide if a work of art is good. Does the work of art stand the test of time? Artist such as Mozart and Van Gogh did not get their fame until after their death. Even now years after they are gone their works of art are still alive and admired by people. The paintings of Van Gogh and the music of Mozart did not change once they died. ...

Words: 1066 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

The Defending of the Arts

...The defending of the arts 100 6/15/2015 BRENDA DURDEN The defending of the arts Recently my family went to an art gallery that had some, many different forms of art that made it so interesting. To view, many of them had much meaning, with a lot of history and culture in the mix within it. Some of the local artists came around, mingle, with the crowd, and explain their art in a more in-depth ways. An art gallery that I went to is in the location of ells square in the city market of Georgia that has a beautiful art gallery with amazing art forms. However, the art piece that stood out to me was from Irene Sainz Mayo the painting call on the lake to the composition elements description. Like the line element on the lake, two painting is curved lines, which the tree line gives off the image within the sky. Drift off towards, the sides of the canvas and the curve line show in the length within the tree line and beyond. The colors united, in the painting. Is the sky is mix with dark and light blue. Also, a combined with a yellow mix, with reddish orange the clouds look grayish black color. The tree lines in this painting are a blackish color. The lake watercolor in this painting is the dark blue mix, with light blue and blended colors of yellow, reddish orange color. The on the lake two painting movement the shape of the paint is two-dimensional space, the element in the paint are organic and geometric shapes distance within the canvas .The theme of this painting...

Words: 979 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Hum and Art

...Cielo Ann B. Salem BSTM 4Y1-2 / HUM 1 1. What is Humanities? The humanities include the stories people tell, the art and music they make, the buildings they live and work in. The word humanity comes to English from the Latin humanitas, which first shows up with the writer Cicero. He used it to describe good people, that is to say "civilized" human beings. Humane people recognize and practice concepts like "hospitality" and "justice. The humanities introduce us to people we have never met, places we have never visited, and ideas that may have never crossed our minds. By showing how others have lived and thought about life, the humanities help us decide what is important in our own lives and what we can do to make them better. 2. What is Art? The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power. 3. Different types of Art • Animation Art • Architecture • Calligraphy • Ceramics • Christian Art • Collage • Computer Art • Conceptual Art • Design (Artistic) • Drawing • Folk Art • Graffiti Art • Graphic Art • Illustration • Junk Art • Land Art • Metalwork Art • Mosaic Art • Painting • Performance Art (and Happenings) • Photography • Poster Art • Public Art • Religious Art • Sculpture • Video Art 4. Different kinds of types of Art • Animation Art 2D, 3D and Stop Motion • Architecture Neolithic...

Words: 795 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Art Essay

...How can art create different meanings, in society? An art not only enhances understanding of the world around us, but it also broadens our perspective on traditional values that we hold today in modern society. Arts give us the creativity to express ourselves and in result creating meaning and value through master pieces of art work in all shapes and sizes. All this while challenging our intellect The type of style van Gogh would like to work was as a post-impressionist painter and the reason towards this style of work was due to wanting to create art works which held noble beauty, emotional honestly and bold colour all in one. Van Gogh learned his skills and developed his ideas in his early years by looking and copying paintings which he was most interested in and reading 19th century drawing booklets. In addition he felt to be an amazing painter an artist most first master the art of pencil drawing therefore he felt it was very important to master black and white before even thinking about adding and using colour and in such when he was happy with his drawing then he would add colour. Drawing in a whole allowed van Gogh to take in light and pictures much faster than painting and this lead to van Gogh firstly drawing out his paintings instead of actually just painting them right away. One of van Gogh’s famous art works was “The starry night” and it was produced 1869. In this art work I can see a small hidden town hidden behind a large mountain in a distorted form...

Words: 2424 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Art Appreciation

...Chapter 1 What is Art? In both the sciences and the arts we strive to weave our experiences into coherent bodies of knowledge and to communicate them. Art… • enhances daily experiences. • is linked to quality of life. • touches everyone. • is all around us. The Meaning of the Word Art… • Ability - The human capacity to make things of beauty and things that stir us. • Process - The different forms of art such as drawing, painting, sculpting, architecture, and photography. • Product - The completed work Whatever the definition, it is important to know the vocabulary of art in order to understand it. Some “Truths” About Art 1. There is no agreed-upon definition of art. 2. Art does not necessarily have to be beautiful. 3. Art can be created for any number of reasons. The Philosophies About Art: Many philosophers have argued that art serves no function, that it exists for its own sake. Some have asserted that the essence of art transcends the human occupation with usefulness. Others have held that in trying to analyze art too closely, one loses sight of its beauty and wonderment. Understanding and appreciating art… The questions to ask… • “Why was this created?” • “What is its purpose?” What Are the Purposes of Art? ART AND BEAUTY • Art adds beauty to our lives by looking to nature • Art depicts both Western & Non-Western concepts of beauty “A Closer Look” A Portrait in the Flesh Sometimes artists try to improve on nature...

Words: 880 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Ancient Greek Art: The Dying Warrior

...Art personally to me has different meanings. When I think about Art, I mostly think about nature, graffiti, music, actors, etc. To me art is not only about drawing a picture, but it’s about expressing yourself through different colors, textures, patterns. For example dance could be art, or when the orange/yellow leaves fall from the tree in the month of October could also be art. Like I said before Art is not only about drawing or painting a picture, it is expressing your feelings, and being creative. What I find very interesting about Ancient Art is that it was not planned to be made. The patterns and the designs were so much different than now. For example the Cyclades that were sculptured in c. 2600-2400 BCE. Is it a very...

Words: 841 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Art 260

...Contemporary art- art that is relative to our current society. Art of the present. Artist is usually alive and making art right now. Being a flux: constantly changing. There is no unified, crystallized interpretation or theory of it. Diverse nature of issues, styles, and forms. Part of our culture and visual culture. * see a lot of mediums and diverse. * no dominate style or medium * what is considered painting is becoming blurred * New art forms appear besides traditionally recognized art forms. ex: installation art, process art, video art, digital and experimental forms *diverse and eclectic. No single medium or ideology dominates *Medium categories are broadening, boundaries are getting blurred and redefined. *referencing and sampling from contemporary popular/consumer culture. * Art becomes interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary (artist as scientists, cultural anthropologists, journalists, reports, etc.) continuation *Technologies -> new way of producing and conceptualizing art (digital culture, Internet, virtual reality) *New media potentials: video, robotics, transgenic art, etc. * new technologies create new paradigms *up until the late 1800s, what was the way to send a picture? <- painting. *what changed that? <- photography Art world goes global ( global production, reproduction, art market: global economy, dissemination) - Paris and NY ** *”About-ness” artist as social and cultural observer, critic *Artwork functions...

Words: 1962 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Paper

...(Walm)Art Imagine a world without art, a bleak and endless expanse of emotionless sorrow with no color nor feelings. War is always on the horizon, while death is an even more common occurrence than birth, A place where art is not as common an occurrence as breath filling the lungs of the oppressed. What was just explained was a form of art an image was painted in your imagination. The Parameters and standards for what we, as a society, consider art are constantly shifting and expanding. Trying to define such “art” to where it pleases all is like trying to nail water to a tree. Using mere words to describe such a magnificent human trait is an impossible task. However one may deliver a valid argument on what art is. Art is as natural to the human mind as thinking. Art is not merely a visual and physical representation of an idea; Art is mental representation of ideas and emotion. Art is what we as people, with independent minds, interpret of human ideas and Creations that display emotion. Art is not merely what the artist conveys it is what the viewer interprets the artwork to be. What you see is what you get is not the case with all art. Art is not a mere image; art is a thought and a feeling. While the Creator does have intentions and an idea on what his work should display, the way the viewer interprets the art using their current feelings and thoughts can completely redefine the artwork itself and this process in itself is an art. For example a creator may make a painting...

Words: 710 - Pages: 3