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For this assignment we are asked to give various definitions of the meaning of “Art”. After we have found these different definitions to the meaning of Art we are asked to give our own definition, and then we are asked to find an example to each of the various forms of art and tell why we think they are works of art, and what definition of art does the piece of art fit? I have found three definitions to the meaning of “Art”, and have placed an example to each of the different forms of art, with a description of the art work.
Definitions of Art Art –”For numerous reasons, the most difficult word to define without starting endless argument! Many definitions have been proposed. At least art involves a degree of human involvement — through manual skills or thought — as with the word “artificial,” meaning made by humans instead of by nature. Definitions vary in how they divide all that is artificial into what is and is not art. The most common means is to rely upon the estimations of art experts and institutions. (Delahunt, 1996-2007) Art with a capital A “This is what Sir Ernst Gombrich writes in the very first sentences of his immensely popular The Story of Art, the million-selling handbook which went through sixteen editions since its first appearance in 1950: “There really is no such thing as Art. There are only artists. Once these were men who took colored earth and roughed out the forms of a bison on the wall of a cave; today some buy their paints, and design posters for the hoardings; they did and do many other things.
There is no harm in calling all these activities art as long as we keep in mind that such a word may mean very different things in different times and places, and as long as we realize that Art with a capital A has no existence For Art with a capital A has come to be something of a bogey and a fetish. “11 Art is an intrinsic part of human behavior “A long quote from Nancy Aiken’s The Biological Origins of Art where Aiken refers to Dissanayake’s Homo Aestheticus: Where Art Comes from and Why: “Art can be made by any of us.
It need not result in museum-quality work; it can be only an elaboration of an ordinary object: a hair style rather than plain hair, fashion rather than a simple covering to keep warm, decorating rather than a room with furniture. We can all dance, sing, and doodle; some just do these better than others. ” “Art is appreciated by all of us. We need no special knowledge or sensory apparatus or experience to respond to a rhythm, a tune, a series of bright colors, a monumental building, or a parade. We can all be thrilled and soothed by art. ” “Art is a species-specific behavior which can be used for social manipulation.
All of us are subject to art’s whim. Art can direct thinking, beliefs, and behavior. Art is a means to educate, subjugate, subvert, and convert. Art has this power because it can tap into and use our reflexive responses to natural, biologically relevant stimuli. We are unable to control these responses. We do not even realize what is happening. ” The origins of art Steve Mithen defines art as “Artefacts or images with symbolic meanings as a means of communication. ” “Art, in Mithen’s theory, is a product of the cognitive fluidity in the “Modern” (i. e. , Homo sapiens) Human Mind.
The three cognitive processes critical to making art were all present but still separated in the earlier Early Human Mind (e. g. , Neanderthal). These cognitive processes are 1. Interpreting “natural symbols”; such as hoof prints, (“natural history intelligence”) 2. Intentional communication (“social intelligence”); and 3. The ability to produce artefacts from mental templates, e. g. a stone hand axe (“technical intelligence”). Mithen (1996): Steven Mithen, the Prehistory of the Mind: A Search for the Origins of Art, Religion “and Science, London: Thames & Hudson, 1996. So here art is defined as symbolic images as a means of communication. In fact, according to John Fowles, author of The French Lieutenant’s Woman, art is “the best, because richest, most complex and most easily comprehensible, medium of communication between human beings. ” Fowles (1968): John Fowles, The Aristos, London: Pan Books, 1968 (1965) Albert Einstein’s famous quote “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. ” Einstein (1940): Albert Einstein, The World as I See It, London: Watts, 1940. Rosier, 2008) Art is form and content. “Art is form and content” means: All art consists of these two things. Form means (1) the elements of art, (2) the principles of design and (3) the actual, physical materials that the artist has used. Form, in this context, is concrete and fairly easily described – no matter which piece of art is under scrutiny. “Content” is idea-based and means (1) What the artist meant to portray, (2) What the artist actually did portray and (3) How we react, as individuals, to both the intended and actual messages.
Additionally, “content” includes ways in which works was influenced – by religion, or politics, or society in general, or even the artist’s use of hallucinogenic substances – at the time it was created. All of these factors, together, make up the “content” side of art. (Esaak, 2008) Additionally, my Idea of what art is can be described as the beauty and effort put into the piece of artwork. Although art has many definitions and has been a debate throughout history, I think that art can be portrayed as the meaning behind it, known as “content” and the reaction viewers may get from the artwork.
Also, art portrays the materials used to make the artwork represent what the artist is trying to say. Art also comes from what is happening around the artist, socially, politically, personally, mentally; in other words the environment surrounding the artist and the artwork can influence the work of art. Can the piece of work be described easily and still reveal the meaning behind it? The Many Forms of Art Painting: The Adoration of the Magi 1470-75; Tempera on panel; 111 x 134 cm; Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence (Pioch, 2006) This painting is done by Sandro Botticelli, who was an apprentice to a goldsmith and then later was a pupil of Fra Filippo Lippi. “Botticelli was an Italian Renaissance painter and although he was an individual painter he remained little known until about the 19th century when his work was rediscovered by a group of artists in England known as the pre-Raphaelites. ” (Pioch, 2006) This painting is very beautiful and realistic when looking at it closely. You can read the story that the artist is trying to tell through the color and the movement of each of the individuals in the painting.
The Adoration of the Magi, obviously a religious connection is being made here. There is much form and content in this painting and I do think that Botticelli did get the meaning across about what he is trying to say through his work. The colors come together beautifully bringing out the balance, form and the use of the elements and principles of composition has worked in nicely. The color values along with the shapes and lines blend together nicely. Sculpture: Image: Florentine Gates of Paradise … 800 x 600 – 116k Sculpture description: Lorenzo Ghiberti (Italian, 1378-1455).
Gates of Paradise, 1425-1452. Baptistery of San Giovanni Florence, Italy, Gilt bronze H. 5. 64 m (18 ft. 6 in. ). The twenty-eight panels on the doors to Gates of Paradise were artistically crafted; with Gilt bronze and molded by the famous sculptor Andrea de Pontedera, also known as Andrea Pisano. Pisano designed this set of panels in the 1330’s, for the southern portal of the Florence’s San Giovanni Baptistery. The bronze panels were depicted to tell about the life of St. John the Baptist. There is very much detail in each panel of the handcrafted sculpting.
I would have to say that the content of this artwork is religious and at the time of the early renaissance was common to for the artist to portray the meaning of their work through religious content. Architecture: The St. Louis Gateway Arch is a part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial that also consists of the Museum of Westward Expansion and the Old Courthouse of St. Louis. The Arch came about during a competition in 1947-48. This competition was nationwide and is what inspired architect Eero Saarinen’s design from a 630-foot stainless steel arch. Construction was completed after two years of work on October 28, 1965.
The arch is built to withstand earthquakes and high winds, having foundations sunk 60 feet into the ground make this possible. I believe this is considered art because of the meaning of it, which is that the arch design was chosen as a monument to the spirit of the western pioneers. (Unknown, 2008) Photographs: O’Sullivan, Timothy H. American (b. Ireland, 1840-1882) TITLE ON OBJECT: Canon de Chelle [sic], Walls of the Grand Canon, about 1200 feet in height. http://www. artlex. com/pf-pim/photography/born1825-1849 Printmaking: “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. ”
Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), Spanish artist. (Delahunt, 2008) Although the figures portrayed here are united in a warm hold, their turned heads and distant looks reveal an emotional disconnection that contrasts with their physical closeness. Picasso’s couple, with their slim, at ease bodies and telling gestures, represents a universal sense of loneliness and quiet isolation that exceeds time and place. This print is art described by definition three from above; because of the form, content and the meaning that Picasso is trying to portray. (Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2008) Conceptual Art: Creativity isn’t the monopoly of artists. “–Joseph Beuys “Actual works of art are little more than historical curiosities. “–Joseph Kosuth (Kosuth, 1997-2005) Ocean Circle 1996 Long, Richard, British, 1945 Kosuth, J (1997-2005). Pedigree & Provenance. Retrieved June11, 2008, from Biddington’s Web site: http://www. biddingtons. com/content/pedigreeconceptual. html This piece of art is made with smooth, flat rocks and was made to portray what nature tries to show us. The content of this conceptual art piece asks many questions. Depending on the person looking at this, some may see it as a pile of rock in a circle.
Others who may have a more opened mind may look at this and see what Richard Long; the British artist was trying to say. If I myself were to look at this before this course I would see it as just a pile of rock laid out in a circle, but now after learning the terminology of art and the true meaning of art; I would have to say that after learning the intentions behind this piece it is a true work of art. Installation Art: Robert Filliou (French, 1926-1987), 7 Childlike Uses of Warlike Material, 1970, installation of wood, metal, broken glass, various objects, tools, clothing, 182 x 400 x 90 cm, Georges Pompidou Center, Paris. Delahunt, 2008) Delahunt, Michael (2008, June 19). Artlex on Installation art. Retrieved June 30, 2008, from Artlex Art Dictionary Web site: http://www. artlex. com What makes this display of objects art is the purpose Filliou put behind it the 7 childlike uses of warlike materials. These seven objects represent warlike materials that one may use during their childhood. These objects are an expression of innocence and yet to some point violence is a factor being that they are warlike materials. The clothing represents what the warrior went through the fighting and ruggedness of the clothes.
The broken glass could be a representation of breaking a window to fight or defend their selves. The tools could represent what was used to defend their selves or make their weapons. The wood on the wall was possibly used to board up a window after the war; the upside down chair was possibly used to hide behind. This is considered art because of the form and content that is used. The content is representational because each piece has a meaning behind it. The form of this installation art is the actual materials used by Robert Filliou in 1970. Sidewalk art: By: Julian Beever and Kurt Weener
When looking at this piece of art it is hard to believe this is a two-dimensional drawing. The artists’ Julian Beever and Kurt Weener use linear perspective to make this coke bottle look three-dimensional. As far as what definition of art I would choose for this I would definitely say it is unique, and I would have to go with definition one from above. The art piece exemplifies the definition of art because of the uniqueness, the style, and the intention of the artists’. The message I believe they are trying to say with this piece of work is anything can become art it is just how it is portrayed or put out by the artist.
References: Delahunt, M (1996-2007). Art, What is art? Retrieved June 18, 2008, from Artlex Art Dictionary Web site: http://www. artlex. com/ Delahunt, Michael (2008, June 19). Artlex on Installation art. Retrieved June 30, 2008, from Artlex Art Dictionary Web site: http://www. artlex. com Des Moines art center (1999). Collection. Retrieved June 30, 2008, from The Gallery of Collections Web site: http://www. desmoinesartcenter. org/dreampics/index. php? fuseaction=gallery. viewPhotos&exhibition_id=8&pageNumber=15 Esaak, S (2008). What is Art?. Retrieved June11, 2008, from About. com: Art History Web site: http://arthistory. bout. com/cs/reference/f/what_is_art. htm Kosuth, J (1997-2005). Pedigree& Provenance. Retrieved June11, 2008, from Biddington’s Web site: http://www. biddingtons. com/content/pedigreeconceptual. html Metropolitan Museum of Art (2008). Works of Art. Retrieved June 30, 2008, from Met Museum Web site: http://www. metmuseum. org Le Repas Frugal, Pablo Picasso) Pioch, N (2006, June 19). Botticelli, Sandro. Retrieved June11,2008, from WebMuseum, Paris Web site: http://www. ibiblio. org/wm/paint/auth/botticelli/ Rosier, B (2008, March 7). What is Art? Retrieved June 18, 2008, from geocities Web site: http://www. eocities. com/SoHo/Coffeehouse/6831/whatsart. html Sabin-Wilson, Lisa (2006, March 9). Amazing 3D sidewalk art. Retrieved June 11, 2008, from Impact lab Web site: http://www. impactlab. com/2006/03/09/amazing-3d-sidewalk-art-photos/ Unknown, K (2008, June 20). Image: The Gates of Paradise. Retrieved June 30, 2008, from Wikimedia Commons Web site: http://commons. wikimedia. org/wiki/Image:The_Gates_of_Paradise-General_view. JPG#filelinks Unknown, unknown (2008). NPS. Gov. Retrieved June 10, 2008, from Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Web site: http://www. nps. gov/jeff/