What is Art "For"?
- theCryptofishist
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What is Art "For"?
I know where I stand on this. Art is almost as old as human. We don't see any art earlier than those ostrich shell beads, because they are made from much less durable materials. (Even petrographs have a lifespan--erosion is not their friend.) We make it in good times for fun, we make it in bad times to help us make sense of our suffering. We make it to explore the world and its meaning to us. We make it because of the awe, we make it because we love beauty. We were probably making music and dance when we got out of the trees. We told stories. If you say there's a record of a human tribe in the anthropological record that didn't make art, I'll say we didn't look hard enough, or the anthropologist that said that had some wacky ideological ideas that blinded him or her to the art, or that you are a liar.
I guess I don't think art has to be "for" anything. I certainly don't think that counting it up in an economic sense is a useful approach. (Wilde's cynic again.)
I think that art makes us human and humans make art. (And the egg came first, dammit! Even if a lizard or dinosaur hatched out!)
But I thought it might be interesting to know how other people on the board feel and think about this.
I guess I don't think art has to be "for" anything. I certainly don't think that counting it up in an economic sense is a useful approach. (Wilde's cynic again.)
I think that art makes us human and humans make art. (And the egg came first, dammit! Even if a lizard or dinosaur hatched out!)
But I thought it might be interesting to know how other people on the board feel and think about this.
The Lady with a Lamprey
"The powerful are exploiting people, art and ideas, and this leads to us plebes debating how to best ration ice.
Man, no wonder they always win....." Lonesomebri
"The powerful are exploiting people, art and ideas, and this leads to us plebes debating how to best ration ice.
Man, no wonder they always win....." Lonesomebri
- Elderberry
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What she said.
JK

http://www.mudskippercafe.com
When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle.
Then I realized that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me

http://www.mudskippercafe.com
When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle.
Then I realized that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me
- oneeyeddick
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Re: What is Art "For"?
theCryptofishist wrote:I know where I stand on this. Art is almost as old as human. We make it because of the awe, we make it because we love beauty.
Wait for it starting at the :40 second mark...
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkz83VFEk1A[/youtube]
We have an obligation to make space for everyone, we have no obligation to make that space pleasant.
- Ugly Dougly
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Re: What is Art "For"?
theCryptofishist wrote:Art is almost as old as human.
Indeed, before art, were we human at all?
- gaminwench
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- Mister Jellyfish Mister
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It's the oil painting on your driveway from the leak in someone's old car. The more pressure in the engine, the bigger the art. It's also the reason for the proliferation of "No Parking" signs.
Art cred: Georgie Boy 2011: www.mutantvehicle.com/georgie_boy.htm ; Ein Hammer 2010; Fluffer 2009; Zsu Zsu 2008; U-Me 2007; Mantis 2006; MiniMan and Pikes Of Paranoia 2005; Time Machine Mutant Vehicle 2004. www.MutantVehicle.com
- Elderberry
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I think art is more 'for' the artists' need to express themselves, and nothing more.
The effects of said expression on observers is where all the controversy lies.
The effects of said expression on observers is where all the controversy lies.
JK

http://www.mudskippercafe.com
When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle.
Then I realized that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me

http://www.mudskippercafe.com
When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle.
Then I realized that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me
- Ugly Dougly
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gaminwench wrote:I think we sang before we spoke...
I was just thinking about that the other day, GW!!!
NPR piece about the human reaction to music - how we respond emotionally to certain notes, and how babies cry in a certain harmonic scale. How you can hear someone speak in a language you don't understand and still get the gist of their emotions.
- mudpuppy000
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- Simon of the Playa
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- Simon of the Playa
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