Day 11 - What is Art?
Discuss
What categories of things are considered art?
At what point does something become art?
Fine Art
Why is this considered art? What makes it “good” art?
The famous painting “Sunflowers” below is by Vincent van Gogh. He was not popular in his time and died poor and unappreciated. Now, he is considered to be one of the greatest painters of all time. Why is this art? What do you think the artist is trying to communicate?
By Vincent van Gogh - Public Domain, Sunflowers, Wikipedia Commons
Would the 6-year old’s drawing below be considered art? If it is art, is it good art? What is the difference compared to Vincent van Gogh? What makes art “good” or “bad”?
Hayden Jung, age 6 Holiday camping, pencil, crayon Winner of Art Gallery of South Wales contest
Graphic design for commercial products. Is it art? If our message is to “Buy Cheerios” is that still art?
By General Mills, Fair use, Wikipedia Commons
Are cartoons art? From newspaper comics to graphic art novels? Do things need to be serious to be considered art?
Charles Schultz, United Feature Syndicate
Are political cartoons art? Search Google for some cartoons. I find many of these cartoons to be offensive. Is that still art?
How about this, is it art?
Royal Langnickel, Paint By Numbers
Is creating realistic looking paintings, drawings, or CG graphics art? If realism is the ultimate goal, wouldn’t a photograph be the king of artists? (James McNeill Whistler)
Decorative Art
What do you decorate your room with? What does it communicate? Why is it important?
Flowers
Crafts
Posters
Applied Art
Architecture (Frank Lloyd Wright to a cookie-cutter house)
Design of things (chairs, lamps, etc.)
Can architecture be art? Let’s say that this is art. Why is it art?
Austrailian Museum of the Applied Arts
Is this also art? If it isn’t, why not? What message does this office layout convey, as opposed to the other image?
Randall Fisher Construction Co
What is the purpose of creating a building like the first one? The bottom one is cheaper, and more energy efficient. When you buy things from the bottom company, they aren’t needlessly spending their money on extra building materials like the top image.
Both of the above images are award-winning designs. The bottom one is efficient. The top isn’t.
The Carver building atrium was very controversial when it was designed. It was a lot of wasted space. Was it worth doing? Is it art? What do you think of the Kent student center atrium?
Visual/Performance Art
Theater (Acting can go from plays, Broadway, sitcoms, or even commercials)
Ballet
Poetry slams
Flash mobs?
Does art need to be a physical thing? Why would we consider this to be art?
Music
Classical music
Jazz
Rock music
Pop music (Auto-tune?)
Rap music
Country music
Music is incredibly important to people. Why? Why is it important to you?
This song was famous, mostly for all the wrong reasons. Would you consider it art? Why or why not?
Is singing in the shower/car performance art?
Why learn guitar or piano if you aren’t going to play for other people?
Why is Art Important?
From the standpoint of viewing art
From the standpoint of expressing yourself in art
From the standpoint of education
From the standpoint of understanding/persuasion
Why support art?
Why buy art?
Buy art at art fairs?
Buy tickets to movies?
Art and usage rights
NFTs
Why have public support for the arts?
Why have band, orchestra, and art at school?
Why have a “National Endowment for the Arts”?
Why force people to support art they don’t agree with?
If people want art, shouldn’t they just buy it?
How has the Internet changed everything?
Why create art?
Why is it important to not just appreciate art, but create it yourself?
Should you still do it even if you aren’t an ‘artist’?