Is This Art?

[Luara]

It seems like a toilet to me O.o original toilet

[Owen Macwere]

Art is so wierd that you can count this simi-picture as one.

[Zante]

Any human creation could be considered art, in my oppinion.

[fire_of_avalon]

Yes, it's art. It is an expression with subtext, meant to make the viewer think and feel something specific. Just because it's hard to get, or easy to get, doesn't mean it's not artistic.

A big part of any artistic expression is to make people step outside of themselves and question their values and beliefs.

[LunarWeaver]

I don't have a single drop of artistic interpretation ability, knowledge, or talent in me, so I tend to leech off the opinions of others with this kind of stuff and pretend I know what the smurf I'm talking about.

So sure, why not.

[rubah]

asking "What is art?" like there's some great insight in most of the junk that people that ask that put out is one of the most stuck up and snobby things in the world, I think, really. But hey, that's just me. I don't mind being blind and uncultured.

Also, see above post.

Artists aren't the only people who should ask this question. What we consider art says a lot about our culture. Sure it may be junk, but I would never call it snobby. Isn't it snobby to say its snobby? It's one thing to say you hate it... its another thing to accuse me (and you are accusing me and fellow Fine Arts individuals with elitism) without considering the possibility that I'm just another person with a degree and knowledge that I like to share with others for their contemplation. I don't feel any different from an Engineer who uses his knowledge to build a bridge... my bridge is just a philosophical/cultural/conceptual one with ideas instead of support beams.

Conclusion. It's hurtful to call us Art freaks snobs because we offer our educational experience.

So stop.

You asked what we thought, and I told you, based on what has been my experience with the people who have generally done and said these sorts of things.

I think that art should be primarily pleasing to look at, and not psychological or philosophical mind games. You're free to offer your experience in attempt to make people think, but I don't think it's art, and I think that it pretty much usually is elitism to say that it is. Perhaps you are different, I don't know, no. From what I've seen of your other posts, you do seem to have a tinge of elitism to you, but so do I, and perhaps your motives are pure in this regard. Howeve, the majority of what I've seen that has stemmed from this man's work, apparently, is an attempt to broaden the boundaries of what may be called art for that specific purpose only.

and now I think I've talked myself in a circle, so I'll stop xD

[Moon Rabbits]

It is as artistic as this post.

That's pretty damn artistic. Seriously, those birds are damn cute.

[Anaisa]

If that's art, what isn't?

[Chemical]

If that's art, what isn't?

That's the question.

I've always felt strongly that life is art.
Breathing is art, walking is art, love is art...
Everything is essentially art when you look at it the right way (or the wrong way?).


Rubah:

I just didn't like being called a snob, your oppinion is valid... but I feel violated when people say those kind of things about "artists" and art scholars because of a difference of oppinion. That's all it is, a difference of oppinion... I'm not trying to claim I'm better than you; though I am trying to persuade you that my oppinion is right, that's part of a debate or arguement but essentially you're doing the same.

And I'm not actually an artist, I create stuff... but I consider myself a student of life.

[Mitch]

Life shapes art. And all that jazz.

[Chemical]

I found this, I thought it was funny.


(not all information in this cartoon is true... the urinal wasn't exhibited until 1918)

[Miriel]

It's not art, in or out of context. Out of context it's simply a urinal. In context, it's a statement about art. But no, in my opinion that urinal itself is not a work of art.

[Chemical]

It's not art, in or out of context. Out of context it's simply a urinal. In context, it's a statement about art. But no, in my opinion that urinal itself is not a work of art.

All art is a statement about art (amongst other things).

- Rennaisance art was a response and a statement about Medeival art.
Rennaisance rejected the primitive, uneducated art of its predeccesor. It looked for truth because it accused its brother of lieing.

-Non-Secular art was a response and a statement about Rennaisance art.
Non-secular art (landscape painting, flowers, still life) rejected the religious content of Rennaisance art the sales of indulgences. It also rejected the Rennaisance art as being too upper class and allowed itself to be consumed by a growing merchant-middle class.

-Baroque art was a response and a statement about Non-Secular Art.
Baroque art accused secular art of being against God, of catering to earthly whims and desires and employed theatrical means and moving light to insight passion back into the congress that had been tempted by the Non-Secular art. Art should only exist in a church because God is the only work of Art.

-Rococco was a response and statement about Baroque, Non-Secular and Rennaisace
-Romanticism was a response and a statement about Rococco and Baroque
-Impressionism was a statement and response to Romanticism
-Cubism, Dadaism, Surrealism, Avant Garde, Fauve, Expressionism, Abstraction, Abstract Expressionism, Conceptualism, Post-Modernism... each and all have been statements and responses about the condition under which we accept and define art.

[RiseToFall]

I will create art.

1. Buy a white rug.
2. Take a big long piss on the rug.
3. Take a picture.
4. Post the pic on this site and call it art.

[Miriel]

It's not art, in or out of context. Out of context it's simply a urinal. In context, it's a statement about art. But no, in my opinion that urinal itself is not a work of art.

All art is a statement about art (amongst other things).

- Rennaisance art was a response and a statement about Medeival art.
Rennaisance rejected the primitive, uneducated art of its predeccesor. It looked for truth because it accused its brother of lieing.

-Non-Secular art was a response and a statement about Rennaisance art.
Non-secular art (landscape painting, flowers, still life) rejected the religious content of Rennaisance art the sales of indulgences. It also rejected the Rennaisance art as being too upper class and allowed itself to be consumed by a growing merchant-middle class.

-Baroque art was a response and a statement about Non-Secular Art.
Baroque art accused secular art of being against God, of catering to earthly whims and desires and employed theatrical means and moving light to insight passion back into the congress that had been tempted by the Non-Secular art. Art should only exist in a church because God is the only work of Art.

-Rococco was a response and statement about Baroque, Non-Secular and Rennaisace
-Romanticism was a response and a statement about Rococco and Baroque
-Impressionism was a statement and response to Romanticism
-Cubism, Dadaism, Surrealism, Avant Garde, Fauve, Expressionism, Abstraction, Abstract Expressionism, Conceptualism, Post-Modernism... each and all have been statements and responses about the condition under which we accept and define art.

I never ever said that art can't make a statement. I think that most GOOD art, is the kind of art that does have some sort of meaning outside just the aesthetic value of the piece. But the toilet was ONLY a statement. It wasn't a inspired piece of sculpture or a painting, or even a photograph. It was simply a toilet, and it was simply a statement. I find nothing artistic about the toilet, although I hear the statement loud and clear.

I am a Fine Arts student btw. And of course, all this is just my opinion. I qualify art a lot differently than some of my art professors. I've had a photography professor who has claimed that some of my photography work didn't qualify as art because it wasn't dark and painful enough. And according to her, art can only be something that was inspired by hurt or pain. Screw her, I say! But yeah, I don't think that toilet is art, and nothing can convince me otherwise.