How Does Art Define Beauty?
Art is a broad collection of human actions involving creative expression, physical skill, aesthetic beauty, imagination, or creative power, to express intellectual awareness, spiritual belief, or social commentary. It includes visual art, sculptural art, decorative art, paintings, pottery, and architecture. Art has been the object of both personal and communal interest throughout history. In recent years, interest in art has generally focused on issues of contemporary concern, such as freedom of expression and social responsibility. As such, there has been a parallel growth in the interest and appreciation for art across many different cultures and periods.
Defining art is a very difficult task because art is a vague term open to interpretation by several different people with varying interests and opinions. The connotations of art in society tend to vary widely between cultures and times. For example, in some societies and histories, artistic beauty is associated with virtue and intellect, while in other societies and histories, artistic beauty is often associated with lust and materialism. This can create a wide gap in understanding how art affects society at large.
The history of Western society has contributed greatly to the modern interpretation of the definition of art. For example, art scholars debate whether or not paintings truly represent abstract thoughts or are true representations of actual human works of art. Many people believe that paintings are real and should not be categorized as ‘merely’ art. Others believe that only modern art can be valid while others look to the works of ancient artists such as the ancient Greeks and Egyptians to determine the genre of art that is truly modern. Other people think that any work of art that contains human interaction, movement, and interaction with other people should be considered art because these types of artistic encounters have been documented and can be seen by all.
The most common definition of art has been derived from the work of Swiss artist Michelangelo. According to this definition, art can be defined as an artistic experience in which the output is a functional creation that has aesthetic interest. Other people define art as the result of a creative genius, while still others consider art to be merely a form of communication that entertains and satisfies an aesthetic interest. Regardless of the common definition of art, most people have some sort of aesthetic interest in the creations of other cultures and individuals.
In order to determine if a piece of artwork is actually art, it is important to look at the work of many different artists who have produced the same type of artwork over time. If one compares artwork from the Renaissance period to the modern period, it will be easier to see the progression of art from its primitive beginnings to its present day manifestation. Many people think that fine art has lost its unique qualities in modern art, but this is simply not true.
The definition of art should be examined within the context of the history of mankind as a whole. Art in general has always been in existence and was used for the purpose of communicating and connecting people. As we continue to grow and evolve into a more technologically advanced culture, there is an increasing importance placed upon the creation of artwork and other forms of artistic expression. The history of mankind is full of examples of people using artistic expressions to communicate, bond with others, and express their emotions. Therefore, it is safe to say that the definition of art cannot be changed and should be understood within the context of the evolution of mankind as a whole.