Art thrives and suffers on one very unique aspect. There is no singular way to full sit down and say ‘this is art because of this.’ Art is so subjective, and every aspect of it is perceived based on the individual viewers perspective. This lends itself to the amazing fact that five different people can view a singular piece of art, and when asked for a description of the ‘art’ in question, you will receive 5 completely different answers. What is even more perplexing is that every answer will be 100% correct.
Now there are elements to art that can be defined and can be used to help describe the potential feelings and ideas behind the work that is being discussed. Often times, these elements are linked to specific periods in time when art carried through it unique ideas and themes. The idea though of what art is, is not limited to simply the artistic paintings and sculptures. In today’s world, art comes in multiple forms including dance, music, books and even film. Each of these different facets of our world, each contain unique elements within themselves that help define what I believe art to be. Art is a physical and tangible form showing the world feelings.
I do not believe that ‘art’ is something can be graded. Two students may draw a person, but their ability to do so does not stipulate that one’s art is better than the other, thusly deserving a higher grade. However, what can be graded is the element that is meant to be incorporated into the art piece. If the instructor says that each student must draw a person, but they must incorporate an element of cubism, then each student needs to incorporate that element of design. If they do not, then they can be graded lower. It is these elements that we must look at within each facet that enhances and makes something art.
With paintings, there is a wide range of styles and periods that history has given to us. Cubism is a fine example of this. Artists used cubism in an attempt at revamping and revitalizing paintings as a form of art (Taggart, J.) Specifically there was a strong emphasis placed on the forms of painting i.e. perspective. Now taking this idea account, an artist can create a painting that can convey a feeling of chaos or disorder, panic and stress. With these emotions coming through, that piece of art is now elevated to a new level of understanding and appreciation. Where it was Art before, it is now on another level of art.
Shifting mediums, dance is perhaps the easiest form of artistic expression that can be viewed with the human eye. When people perform, they are always performing. Any person can dance while they are having a good time at the club or celebrating at a wedding. That is not art though. The pieces that are put on display for competitions and for performances carry with them stories that are told through the dance. Some are cute and clever little girls, stealing a jewel to the tune of The Pink Panther, and some are emotionally driven and powerful with modern and contemporary dance pieces. Pieces of dance that are more focused on the individual’s personal interpretation of the movements and the meanings behind the music. Each style of dance carries it’s own unique elements. Ballet is very poised and proper, meant to show off elegance and grace. Hip Hop is energetic and fun, breaking away from the norms of dance structure to bring it’s own personality to the dance (Bedinghaus, T.).
Even taking a look at the hundreds upon hundreds of novels that line the shelves of bookstores across the world. When you sit down to read a book, curled up on the couch, warmed by a blanket and you completely disappear into the words on the page, that is when it has become a piece of art. To take simple words, to put them upon a page, and to draw feelings of anger, hatred, sadness, and joy transcends the piece to another level. To pull tears from reader’s eyes shows that the author has crafted a scene so pure and pristine, that you believe every moment is occurring right before you very eyes. This element of visual writing is a form that truly focusing on the entirety of the scene that has been created within the readers mind. Drawing from things such as true to life characters, engaging dramatic themes, and actions are honest and reveal aspects of the characters are all important pieces of the whole (Cole, D.).
Music is yet another facet that carries with it, the means to express an emotional output of some sort. The soft, flowing sounds of violins as they slowly play a melancholy tune instantly begins to draw forth the feelings of depression and sorrow. Loud, quick paced, upbeat orchestral pieces create a sense of exhilaration and excitement. By taking into account the key elements of music: sound, duration, pitch, rhythm, and harmony, each of these elements can be changed and tweaked and shifted to craft a musical score that soars with emotions and makes people feel something inside of them. A heavy focus can be placed on the instrumentation element. It’s all about the setup of the orchestra’s soundscape or style that they are creating. Ranging from acoustic to electric, every aspect embraces a new emotion (Feist, J.).
Looking at the myriad of examples previous, each facet of the world that contains and artistic element, is specially crafted from differing elements within which produce pieces that I believe to be considered art. Pieces that are able to put into physical form, the emotions of the world that we can only feel internally. Art is the physical representation of all those feelings and emotions, presented in a medium that is tangible and visible.
RESOURCES
Bedinghaus, Treva. "All About Hip-Hop Dancing." About.com Home. N.p., 1 Feb. 2016.
Web. 19 Apr. 2016.
http://dance.about.com/od/typesofdance/p/Hip_Hop.htm
Bedinghaus, Treva. "Everything You Need to Know About Modern Dance." About.com
Home. N.p., 29 Feb. 2016. Web. 20 Apr. 2016.
http://dance.about.com/od/solodancestyles/p/Modern_Dance.htm
Cole, Dorian Scott. "What Is Visual Writing?" What Is Visual Writing. N.p., 1996. Web.
20 Apr. 2016.
http://www.visualwriter.com/ScriptDr/Advanced/WhatIsVis.htm
Feist, Jonathon. "How to Evoke a Musical Style." About.com Education. N.p., 29 Apr.
2015. Web. 20 Apr. 2016.
http://musiced.about.com/od/musictheory/fl/Elements-of-Musical-Style.htm
Taggart, John. "Cubism." - the First Abstract Style of Modern Art. N.p., 2016. Web. 19
Apr. 2016.
http://www.artyfactory.com/art_appreciation/art_movements/cubism.htm
