What is Art: Article Reaction I

It seems that everyone has an opinion on art no matter how old they are or where they come from. Though there is a definition of art found in the dictionary it still can’t tell you if its art or not it but instead leaves it to personal interpretation.

While trying to define art two approaches that I have read are from these two links

http://www.artrenewal.org/articles/2005/abstract/ross1.asp

http://books.google.com/books?id=N5yfxzOr4j8C&pg=PA23&lpg=PA23&dq=Towards+a+New+Laoco%C3%B6n+by+Clement+Greenberg&source=bl&ots=8EApAHuN8w&sig=8jaEuHLXQe_Q52XkEQhHdAUtd-I&hl=en&ei=0YuqSp3MKsrTlAenhLXmBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10#v=onepage&q=&f=false

One of the two articles takes the approach that only traditional paintings and status like “Liberty Leading the People” by Euegene Delacroix, which is described below, can be considered art. It explains that traditional art focused on people’s real observations and emotions that anyone that saw this art could relate to. I find that this approach is a good way to differentiate between what is and isn’t art. This idea of art encompasses what I personally feel is art because art should compel the ideas of the artists and this allows the viewer to feel and relate to the artwork. This can be true in the case of the “Liberty Leading the People” by Euegene Delacroix but not in the case of “The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living” by Damien Hirst.


This sculpture found above is a tiger shark that has been treated with preservatives and but in a tank. I feel that this piece can be called art because it illustrates the natural beauty found in the natural world, which is the theme that the artist wanted to portray. You could argue that natural beauty is something that everyone can relate to and is an emotion everyone feels but this piece still remains controversial.

The second of the two articles is “Towards a Newer Laocoon”, by Clement Greenberg. In this he describes the history and development of art over the past centuries. He describes that each movement developed off the one before it like stepping stones or building blocks. He describes that over time a new movement will gain momentum and look in at itself to try and describe art.

Each author would agree that the classical paintings like the ones found in the Sistine Chapel would be considered art. But Clement Greenberg would argue that even abstract art would become art because the artist look within the art itself to find the definition of what is art.