What is the purpose of Art?
What is the purpose of art? I have different answers to this question. It all depends on how you are relate to the art. In a class I took at SAIC, every day we started with philosophical discussion. The conversation I remember most was about what qualifies an image as art. We found many sticking points. Advertisements are created by someone for aesthetics and communication, but we don’t perceive them as art. But what about old portraits? Many were essentially marriage adds, but are now undoubtedly art. So, does the lack of practical purpose that makes something art? I think this is what happens; without practical purpose, it becomes a choice to experience a piece for its own value and for personal enrichment. In this regard, the purpose of art is to give the viewer something they lack: aesthetics, emotion, a viewpoint or idea. For me, and other artists, its purpose is different. We're often creating, or thinking about creating, when look at art. To me, a painting is a cumula...