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Ways to Understand Art?

The word art means different things to different people. For some it refers to the “fine arts,” these include the classical forms of dance, music, theatre, and visual arts.

For others it means any expressive act that is well done, well made, or skillfully created. For yet others it means any activity done well as in the art of cooking, or the art of hairstyling, or the art of speaking well. I’ve been told that teaching is an art.

When considering what art is, there are 4 approaches or paths you can follow that makes it easier to help you think about the question:

 

production, history, criticism, and aesthetics.

4 Approaches

Learn more about each of these by clicking on the links below...

Production History Criticism Aesthetics Next, Check out examples!!

BACK Production 

“People make artworks by creating images [and other works] intended to have expressive or aesthetic character. Artworks demonstrate the power of imagery to convey emotions and feelings, concepts and values and many kinds of cultural and social meaning. 

 

The creative production of new works of art involves the active manipulation of selected materials using various techniques that elicit the desired visual effects. Those persons who do such work are known as artists and they are involved in art production" p21 The DBAE Handbook

 

 

An artist working in all the various art forms, works in studios, or on site, or in production work rooms.

BACK History

"People can understand and value the contributions of art in society and culture by exploring art in a variety of historical contexts and recognizing and appreciating the singular qualities of style developed by individual artists and schools (ie groups of artists who share similar concerns or who employ similar techniques).

 

This enables art objects to be potentially understood both for the aesthetic qualities they possess and for the significant messages and values artworks carry across time and space to later generations and to other cultures. The pursuit of such study in understanding the multiple historic, cultural, and stylistic dimensions of works of art is art history."  (Dobbs, 1992, p. 21) 

 

 

 

Art historians can work in museum settings, they establish authenticity, record styles and movements, teach in universities and write books.

BACK Criticism

Critics are people who look at artworks and experience the impact of visual properties and qualities in the works. Those who cultivate this ability to look at art, analyze the forms, offer multipleinterpretations of meaning, make critical judgements, and can talk or write about what they see, think, and feel about art are doing art criticism. ( The DBAE Handbook p21)

An art critic can work for a newspaper or magazine, write their own online blog, have a segment in a news show, or generally give their opinion.

Aesthetics

People reflect upon the experience of art, its impact and meaning. Such judgments depend upon an understanding of art’s meaning and value, the nature of art objects, and the elements that make the experience of art unique. Children as well as philosophers and social scientists are curious about and raise such questions; they are studying, even if with different vocabularies, the discipline of aesthetics.

Who decides what is art?

 

Can animals make art?

 

What role does art play in culture and society?

 

What's the difference between fine art and craft?

 

What is beauty?

 

Why does art matter?

 

Is a beautiful sunset art?

 

Is a photograph of a beautiful sunset art?

BACK Aesthetics Cont'd

Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy that thinks and debates the idea of beauty and cultural importance. You most often find it in the university setting with a teacher or author leading a discussion.

 

Aesthetic theories can include, but are not limited to:

Hedonism - The most important thing about the art is that it gives the viewer pleasure.

Imitationalism / realism / Mimetic -The most important thing about a work of art is the realistic presentation of subject matter. A work is successful if it looks like and reminds us of what we see in the real world.

Formalism - The most important thing about a work of art is the effective organization of the elements of art through the arrangement of visual principles

Expressionism / emotionalism - The most important thing about a work of art is the vivid communication of moods, feelings and ideas.

Instrumentalism - The most important thing about a work of art is that it serves a function that is practical or furthers a moral religious, social or political view.

Institutionalism - The most important thing about a work of art is the context in which it exists, and in which it is validated or treated as art by the art world.

Linguistic / semiotic – The most important thing about a work of art is that it is tied to "language communities" or cultures. It depends on systems of symbols, and we understand it according to how familiar we are with the symbols that it contains.

Art and Artist Examples

Here's how it looks when considering either a specific work of art like Van Gogh's Sunflowers, or the collective work of a particular artist like Pablo Picasso. Click on each one to explore the example.

Artwork - Sunflowers

Artist - Picasso

Sunflowers Artwork

An artist came up with an alternate way to present his view of the world in his application of thick paint and frantic quick spontaneous brush strokes which was different than the calm measured approaches that other artists of his time were using.

 

Critics at the time did not like his work; it was too different, too garish and totally unsuited to what they were expecting in art.

 

Aestheticians now debate the beauty and spontaneity that is to be found and hold his work up as an exemplar, but at that time the definitions of beauty did not include what this artist was doing; they were looking back to a different time. His paintings now sell for multi-millions of dollars. 

 

Historians now look back and say that what Van Gogh did was innovative and influenced generations of artists that came after him in their use of color and artistic expression. The artist who died penniless has survived in his work and the unusual stories told about him. Many people know the story of the time he mutilated himself and cut his ear. He has become a legend of history and has had movies made of his life.

 

More information about Van Gogh can be found here

http://www.vincentvangoghart.net/#More_Artwork:

http://www.fineartregistry.com/articles/2010-10/vincent-van-gogh.php

Sunflowers, Vincent Van Gogh, Oil on canvas, c 1888

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Here’s how it looks when talking about a specific artist Pablo Picasso.

Historians still point to the innovative work of the cubist period and the influence he had on the modern art movement. 

 

Aestheticians debate whether what he did is considered art and many people do not like the fractured style he presents.

The Artist Picasso

Picasso was an artist who was very influential, creative, and was not afraid to experiment. He developed a new way of seeing the world in his cubist style.

 

Critics liked his work while he was alive and still like his way of looking at the world, though there were some during the war years who did not like what he was trying to do. 

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