What is Art?
Art, in a basic sense, is the performance of, or the physical result of purposefully arranging the elements of any type of composition in such a way as to create an effect on the senses or opinions of an audience.
Art therefore encompasses a hugely diverse range of activities, creations and expressions. For example the composition of, playing of or even dancing to the same piece of music can all be considered as different forms of art. The true meaning of art can be fully explored within the encompassing subject of aesthetics.
In a traditional sense "art" was once regarded primarily as a reference to a particular skill, or the result of such skill, but this simplistic notion has been revised over time to include everything that is deliberately performed or made which is intended to stimulate thought or emotion.
Leo Tolstoy defined art as possessing properties closer to linguistics by suggesting an artwork is created by the indirect use of various means to communicate a message between people. Others have continued to promote the more idealistic view that art is primarily an expression of emotion and the resulting work of art only really exists within the mind of the artist.
Perhaps most people would agree that the final judgement of a creation made with any artistically intended effort is purely in the eye of the individual beholder.
02.08.2010. 02:10
