Understanding the Misunderstood Art From Different Cultures
Art is a medium used by people world wide to express their ideas, their fears,
and their joys. The artist takes the experiences of life and translates them
into a visual object, rich in colors, shapes and sizes, for all the world to
observe. As a casual observer of art, one is able to relive the feeling or
experience the artist was trying to display, if only for a brief moment in time.
No matter what cultural background one comes from, art appreciation and
enjoyment erases the barriers and the limits, and allows cross-cultural
understanding and appraisal.
Art has always relied heavily upon universal symbols. One of the most well
known universal symbols is the cross, meaning of course, religion. Religion of
a culture is one of the most frequently misjudged and stereotyped aspects From
the prehistoric times of the cave man to present day, art has depicted religious
scenes native to a specific culture. This is where most of the cultural
boundaries lie. To one person, a smiling monkey can instill a primal feeling of
fear, while to another the first reaction is one of amusement. This difference
in reaction is based upon religious upbringing, and nothing more. To certain
culture, a smiling monkey is the scariest thing they could ever imagine, and to
another, it means laughter. A close minded person viewing an ancient religious
mask would see nothing more than nonsense, while one who wishes to understand
art would see the beauty of that culture and it's beliefs, and would try to
place themselves in a way so that they may understand the original meaning ofthe
mask, and form an educated opinion on it.
Anyone can enjoy a piece of art, but what is it that makes a piece of art
"good"? Is it the realism of the piece? Or the absolute perfectness of a
sculpture? Maybe good art is abstract, an array of shapes put together to make
a point. Or maybe good art is a classical sculpture that catches the light just
so and brings a warm smile to the viewers face. Is it a measure of
craftsmanship? A measure of mediums used? A measure of technique? Or is it
just a measure of how it affects the viewer? Is good art visually irritating or
visually pleasing? The beauty of art is impossible to define, for it's beauty
inherently lies in the eye of the beholder. As Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
said, "Beauty is the spiritual put into a form." So, in defining beauty, one is
attempting to define the spiritual beliefs behind the form.
It is art fulfilling its role in society. It is art that brings the moral issues. It is art that makes us human.
If I were to ask you what is art, and how can one find it? What would you say? Well if it were me being asked those question, I would simply say that art to me is a form of a picture; a visual painting or model of some design and it could be found all among us. You may define it differently only because art could be defined in many ways. I could simply say that art to me is a form of a picture; a visual painting or model of some design. Well according to an article written by Shelley Esaak, an art history expert she mentioned that art has a way of stimulating different parts of our brains to make us laugh or incite us to riot, with a whole gamut of emotions in between. She also mentioned that art gives us a way to be creative and express ourselves. [1]
... be a need for self expression and a desire to understand the perception of others. Whether it is a masterpiece or the simplicity of a mother nurturing a newborn babe, art is in the impact of the experience.
It is said that art is like a mirror to the soul, a way to see what
...t creations of expression is something that anyone can enjoy. Although the motivations for some pieces are so difficult to understand that one might think that there was none is not a discouraging statement. Each person is likely to find particular paintings, prints, and sculptures which speak to them personally and find others lacking. Almost like a piece of music some resonate better with different people and it should not be a deterrent when something is seen that seems beyond understanding. Standing and considering art and it's meaning can give hours of enjoyment although sometimes it seems like grasping at straws for meaning. However even the art that seems to exist without meaning is important because the harder to find, what is found is usually more interesting because of it. So I recommend to all to make their way to the local art scene. Stand. Stare. Think.
People can have many different opinions depending on a topic, but what is truly difficult is getting a complete level of understanding from every opinion, or understanding the point of view of each opinion. Even accepting the points of view can be difficult for some people, who believe that their opinions are right. Luckily, people can learn about the other person’s frame of reference, and at the very least understand the topic or the person a little better. This particular topic is art, which is known for its multiple possible perceptions or its many different messages that it can send a person or group of people. In this way, people can learn more about the thought processes and feelings of others. Unfortunately, with differing opinions,
So the questions become, does art impact culture or does culture impact art? Art and culture are not simple; the relationship between the two is rather abstract, which communicates an intellectual union. For example, art reflects the economic state of a union and the reason behind why the art was created may have been a result of the society or culture in which the art was created. Art motivates or lifts people up in the same way a song can lift spirits or change one’s attitude. In “Patterns of Culture” Ruth Bendicts discusses that in order to understand a culture, one must be able to understand it and look at it as a whole. Specifically, if a person can understand a culture and appreciate why societies do certain things, then this could lead them to gain more value for that culture. In the same way, this relates to art because culture shapes the wealth and symbolism of that era. The impact of art is widely treasured around the world shaping and reflecting on the works from the past such as the Taj Mahal, and the Sistine chapel. If it weren’t for the mutual appreciation between cultures, then art would not be as widely appreciated
“The business of art lies in this—to make that understood and felt which, in the form of an argument, might be incomprehensible and inaccessible.” (Tolstoy 267) It needs a purpose, this is a very utilitarian way of thinking and it is sad to see it applied to art. Not that art can’t do this, it can, but it can also be beautiful. Some people will only see it as beautiful but that doesn’t make it stop being art. Some people will think it is ugly, but that’s just their opinion and if they want to claim it is not art, that doesn’t mean it’s not art for the rest of us.
Unlike science, art is subjective. The artist leaves behind a part of himself in his work. Therefore, each piece has its own distinct perspective. Frida Kahlo’s self-portraits show her view on her life, on how she has faced so many struggles, yet managed to be a strong person. When we see or hear or read an artistic creation, it produces a mood such as calm or loud, fear or safety. For example, the Eiffel Tower gives Paris a majestic awe; everyone who passes by feels the strength of the 113-year-old grand structure. Art also has a texture. Photographs reveal much through their textures; grainy surfaces often make the picture more realistic while smooth ones seem softer. When we hear a piece of music or see a film, a rhythm carries us from one part to another. Not just true for these two genres, rhythm is present in any artistic work. These few properties are characteristic of everything we encounter in the world of art, the world of human expression. Most have other special features also. Most of the time, though, we do not think about these characteristics because we do not have enough time to pay attention to anything for more than a few seconds.
Art by definition is “the expression or application of creative skill and imagination, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power,” (Hacker, 2011).
AA theory by Clive Bell suggests the pinpoints the exact characteristic which makes a work true art. According to Bell, an artwork must produce “aesthetic emotion” (365). This aesthetic emotion is drawn from the form and formality of an artwork rather than whether or not it is aesthetically pleasing or how well it imitates what it is trying to depict. The relation of objects to each other, the colors used, and the qualities of the lines are seemingly more important than what emotion or idea the artwork is trying to provoke. Regardless of whether or not the artwork is a true imitation of certain emotions, ideals, or images, it cannot be true art unless it conjures this aesthetic emotion related to formality (367).
Art criticism is another component of art instruction. It includes showing appreciation for an artwork and its purpose. The critic uses their own knowledge of art and their own depiction of the work to make an opinionated statement on it. It requires background knowledge and a trained eye of perception to be able to make an accurate analysis of a person’s work. This includes knowledge of the physical details, design, technique and style of the work (Hurwitz 1991).
In times, we often see things, but we don't really capture what is beyond it. In some cases, there are people who are artistic and are prone to see what other's cannot visualize. Every individual has a talent which can be expressed and processed differently. Something you see can mean entirely divergent things to someone else;for example, some may see thing's that may seem simple, but in the eyes of an artist, it can be perceived with a whole new definition, dimension, and a potentially new discovery. As a photographer, my view of the world, can be skewed towards looking at everyday objects as potential art, but it wasn't always like that.
Human’s have always struggled to express themselves. Art, is considered by many to be the ultimate form of human expression. Many assume that art has a definition, but this is not the case. Art, it can be said, is “in the eye of the beholder.” This simply means that what you consider art, someone else would not. Art is part of a person’s internal emotions, which signifies why different people see art as different things. Every type of culture and era presents distinctive and unique characteristics. Different cultures all have different views of what art can, and would be, causing art itself to be universally renowned throughout the world.
Art can be defined in many ways by an individual. One can say that any creative output by a person is considered art. Others contend that art must conform to a societal standard and the basis of the creation should be understood by most intellectual people. For example, some contend that computer-generated images, such as fractals, are not art due to the large role played by a computer. E.O. Wilson states “the exclusive role of the arts is to intensify aesthetic and emotional response. Works of art communicate feeling directly from mind to mind, with no intent to explain why the impact occurs” (218). A simple definition may be that art is the physical expression of the ideals formed by the mind.