A wide variety of creations and activities can be labeled art, from music to sculpture to movies. The meaning of art is explored in a branch of philosophy known as aesthetics.
One school of thought holds that any activity can be considered art if it is created to be beautiful or to express an emotion. Another view is that an activity can be considered art if it requires skill and knowledge of tools, theory, and practice. A work can also be considered art if it is designed to be useful, although that does not always happen. Regardless of what activity is being classified as art, it is important for people to be aware of the definitions and implications of the term, because this can help them make informed choices about what is and is not considered art.
Art is a discovery and development of elementary principles of nature into forms fit for human use. It is a means of union among men in feelings and ideas, and indispensable for the progress toward well-being of individuals and of humanity as a whole. It transcends cultural and social barriers. It allows everyone to have a voice and be heard even when they do not speak the same language or share the same culture, social standing, or political affiliation.
The idea that anyone can create something that is considered art has a long history in human culture. Many famous works of art have been created over the centuries, and some of them have become so popular that they have influenced the way we live today. Artists have made a difference in the world by creating beautiful pieces that spark emotions, and they have even managed to change how we look at the world around us.
Defining what is and is not art is not an easy task. There are many ways to approach this question, but some of the most common arguments include the following:
The first way is a Wittgensteinian one, which holds that since the concepts used in the definitions of art often involve traditional metaphysics and epistemology, they are prime examples of language gone on a conceptually confused holiday. Therefore, these definitions are flawed because they cannot explain the phenomena of art (Weitz 1956).
A second approach to defining art is a classically-flavored one that takes the contingent cultural features of the phenomenon as explanatorily fundamental, and then attempts to capture those phenomena in terms of more basic concepts, like the aesthetic or form. This type of definition, however, often fails to do a good job of explaining what makes a work of art what it is (Eagleton 1990).
A third approach to defining art includes the idea that it is defined by its function in a specific society or community, such as the role that Virgil’s epic poem, The Aeneid, played in shaping Renaissance culture. This idea allows the definition of art to be broadened to include the cultural, socio-educational, and ethical dimensions that are present in most works of art.