Inosab
Shadowolf
Well, I've written this before, including for an essay once, haha, so it won't be a dictionary definition, but is mostly philosophical:
Like ItsRainbowRaver says, art (to me) is anything meant to trigger an emotional or intellectual response.
It is also nothing of nature: the human body, trees, etc... in themselves, aren't really art for they exist as they are - but rather, it is the human
interpretation of these natural phenomenons that is art (and that can be as much a photograph to being used as found object installation art, to a dance inspired and utilizing all potentials of the human form, etc).
Ah, so it's better, but longer, and harder to understand (and no now that I look at it it was not intended at all as a sexual innuendo. In spanish we just say "sin albur", and everybody understands).
Is it the human interpretation of the natural phenomena or the expression of this interpretation?
Could this expressed interpretation be limited or transformed in anyway? say by level of technique, an accident, or another interpretation (an interpretation of the interpretation)?
Don't you consider a human act as a natural phenomenon?
Or you say then that a dog cannot "feel" a city (art) just as a human cannot "feel" an anthill (not-art)?
Or that a bird cannot "feel" a butterflie's wings just as a human cannot "taste" this knit sweater (sorry you can't see it but I hop you get the pint)?
3nodding
A good question! I'd say that this aspect, in-depth from the initial point, is more subjectively my own interpretation (whereas I have a more matter-of-factual "objective" viewpoint with the previous straightforward statement):
Well, I'd mostly say it's the expression, because the interpretation often needs to be translated into a medium to show, even if it is simply taken as a found object, or improvised spoken or written piece of description.
So with that in mind, I'm personally not too against the idea of the immediate interpretation to be art too, if there were a way to somehow translate those raw ideas into a medium capable of exterior experience beyond raw thoughts/emotions.
I think art and interpretation is limitless, and even today, we create new artistic mediums. Last century alone, we created installation art, electric powered instruments and music recording, film (based off photography and theater), the graphic novel, animation, and towards the end of the century, video games. Some of these mediums have gone into very experimental routes in themselves to explore their potentials.
And yes, y'know what they say of "happy accidents" in art. An interpretation of an interpretation is art too... it's a response to another art, however it is done (such as sampling).
It's certainly arguable about human nature to be a part of natural phenomenon... including our ability to think and create... our curiosity; but I think for the sake of art's definition at least, if it involves human intervention and hands with motivation beyond raw instincts, it is not really "natural".
I'm reminded of a scene in
The Walking Dead tv show, where one of the characters discusses art, which I agree with: "Art isn’t about survival. It’s transcendence. Being more than animals. Rising above."
I think there's truth to that. Although objects and tools of ergonomic function are often debated as not art (one I won't get into), it is commonly agreed that art has no real physical, ergonomic purpose. Art is proof that we as sentient beings exist, are self-aware, and react emotionally to life, death, and the world around us... transcendence.
My ideas are mostly inspired by a well-regarded dialogue from Ray Bradbury's interpretation of art, from
The Martian Chronicles:
"[The Martians] blended religion and art and science because, at base,
science is no more than an investigation of a miracle we can never explain, and art is an interpretation of that miracle. They never let science crush the aesthetic and the beautiful. It’s all simply a matter of degree. An Earth Man thinks: ‘In that picture, color does not exist, really. A scientist can prove that color is only the way the cells are placed in a certain material to reflect light. Therefore, color is not really an actual part of things I happen to see.’ A Martian, far cleverer, would say: ‘This is a fine picture. It came from the hand and the mind of a man inspired. Its idea and its color are from life. This thing is good.’ "