I feel that it is best to start my first blog by stating that Honors 205 is the very first art class I’ve taken, and therefore, have never had to analyze or read critically texts concerned with the field. That being said, Johanna Drucker’s Conceptual Art, the Idea of Idea, and the Information Paradigm proved to be both a difficult and interesting read. Drucker discussed many topics, aspects, and types of art. After looking over everyone else’s blogs, I’ve found that I got something a little different from the text than my colleagues.
Throughout the text, Drucker stresses the challenges that fine art faced over the years. The reasons for fine art’s challenges vary from the mass media to society in general. However, no matter the challenge that art faced, Drucker laid out the underline theme of “art as idea as idea” (254). To emphasize this concept, Drucker mentioned Plato and the concept of the chair. What I got out of this part of the essay was that art is anything that sparks an idea. Drucker himself references Kosuth when he states that the idea is “a machine that makes the art” (255). That is, ideas are defined as a thought, concept, or notion. This would be its dictionary definition, but what of the concept of an idea? An idea can be seen as an individual’s creativity. It is here that Drucker creates a link that connects art with the concept of the idea and thus, creativity. Art is something that sparks creativity. This can be seen in the various types of art that Drucker mentions throughout his essay; minimalism, conceptual, modern, and abstract art, being a few examples. What I got from this essay is that while art can be seen as what it is in its physical form and how society defines it, it also contains deeper layers within it that has the ability to spark ideas, emotions, and various other types of reactions from its viewers. Whether it be a word or an object, if it sparks an idea, it is art.
Here's the url to my picture:
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=conceptual+art%5C&hl=en&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=IQ6dO4b5zB330M:&imgrefurl=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2009/03/post-2.html&docid=nTh7gMk-rRWDkM&w=500&h=321&ei=Dr1uTtCfL9GfsQKIw8mACg&zoom=1&biw=1366&bih=616&iact=rc&dur=297&page=5&tbnh=118&tbnw=161&start=88&ndsp=23&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:88&tx=116&ty=52
I totally agree with your comment that art is anything that sparks interest. I always think of a good work of art as a good conversation piece. A truly amazing work of art is one that can be discussed constantly, even after the display of the work is over. Works of art that are strong are discussed and debated for as long as people can remember the work.
ReplyDeleteLike Mallory, I agree with your comment. Art is anything that brings forth conversation whether that be positive or negative. The best art, in my opinion, is art that is deemed controversial because the best conversation comes from it.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with the point you made about art sparking creativity. This is very true especially from the viewer's point of view. Every viewers interpretation of a work of art is creative and unique.
I think you stated perfectly what makes something art: "something that sparks creativity." I believe that people lose sight of the definition of art and think that art is sculpture or oil on canvas. In my opinion, really anything can be art, as long as it can inspire creativity. Words can be art for a reader. Numbers can be art for a mathematician. Chemicals can be art for a chemist.
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