Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/12/09
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If everyone here can agree on a definition of what is art, the
definition is probably not worth the 0s and 1s with which it's written.
;-)
- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
[mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us] On Behalf Of Jim
Hemenway
Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2003 3:46 PM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: Re: [Leica] On making Art
You're right!
Form, method, technique... all the same to me.
Jim - http://www.hemenway.com
Peterson Arthur G NSSC wrote:
> Reading Phong's comment ("Art is an expression of our
feelings,
> among other things") and Jim's reply ("Art is the expression of an
> emotion through a technique"), one might at first prefer to say, "Art
> is the expression of emotion through a form"---whether that form were
> an arrangement of words in a poem or a novel, an arrangement of light
> and color in a picture, or an arrangement of sounds in a symphony or a
> sonata. But perhaps that definition should be carried a step further,
> addressing strictly what art is, without reference to what it
> (supposedly) expresses. Archibald MacLeish ended his poem "Ars
> Poetica" with the apt lines, "A poem should not mean / But be"
> [emphasis added]; and as Igor Stravinsky once explained, "Music can
> express nothing---that is my conviction---it can express only itself."
> So one might say, "A work of art is an object that expresses itself
> through its form."
>
> Art Peterson
> Alexandria, Virginia
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jim Hemenway [mailto:Jim@hemenway.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2003 11:16 AM
> To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Subject: [Leica] On making Art
>
> Hi Phong:
>
> > Art is an expression of our feelings, among other
things. <
>
> Okay so far as it goes, but consider this definition:
>
> Art is the expression of an emotion through a technique.
>
> Most would say, -through a valid technique. But what is
valid to
> one
> person may not be to another. The oil coloring
described in Tina's
> post
> must have been valid to the instructor but surely wasn't
to Tina.
>
> The technique can be drawing and painting, sculpture,
photography,
> etc.,
> but it can also be things such as dance, poetry, weaving
and in some
> cases being silly... as in a "live" installation.
>
> What makes any of it great art is acceptance as such, by
a broad
> range
> of people.
>
> Art is really "a la carte", pick what you like, try
something new,
> and/or complain about everything else... which is what
we've
> been doing.
>
> Jim - http://www.hemenway.com
>
>
>
> Phong wrote:
> >
> > Art is an expression of our feelings, among other
things. The only
> > thing I ask is that such expression be genuine (Nan
> Goldin, e.g.).
> > If such feelings is about our libido, ego,
> self-indulgence, etc.
> > should there be no place for them in art ? Should art
be
> only
> > about "good", acceptable feelings ? And I expect much
of
> art,
> > genuine art, to be incoherent, sometimes even
> incomprehensible.
> >
> > There is art, and there is the business of art. If
the
> public is
> > stupid enough to pay for the art, don't blame only the
> artist.
> > And I don't think artists would treat you as ignorant
> Philistine
> > just because you don't like their art. Just don't put
> down something
> > you don't understand. You put them down, or they
think
> you might put
> > them down, and they'll treat you as ignorant
Philistine.
> >
> > In any case, I am always suspect of successful
> professional artists,
> > going back to da Vinci. I can respect and admire
their
> talent,
> > but their art, as an genuine expression, is suspect.
> Whose art
> > is it anyway ? But hey, one has to make a living, a
good
> one if
> > possible.
> >
> > Just my narrow view on art,
> >
> > - Phong
> >
> > Whose art is it anyway ? Of course, at some point,
the
> viewer
> > assumes the work of art as an expression of his or her
> feelings too.
> >
> >
>
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