Art Will Always be Diverse

The definition of art has always been a wondering question throughout the centuries. Even our discussions in class lead back to the meaning of art and the individual viewer. The author Cynthia Freeland in But Is It Art? reviews and examines the diversity of both art theory and art. Most of the theories she examined from the different eras and cultures fell short. None of the theories were successful in defining the definition of art. Cynthia states, “Art enhances our awareness of both ourselves and our world. Unlike scientific theories, a theory of art does not predict what artists are going to do next. Art theory as I have described in this book is still an explanatory enterprise. Art is something special (Freeland 208). Cynthia Freeland realizes she cannot categorize art, but believes that art will always be diverse!
Cynthia starts the introduction by explaining a theory is not only a definition. She writes, “A theory should help things make sense rather than create obscurity through weighty words. It should systematically unify and organize a set of observations, building from basic principles” (Freeland xvii). The problem though is that art is so varied that it seems overwhelming to try to combine and explain art, especially modern art. Modern art challenges us to figure out why and how it could count as art through the different theories. Cynthia brings to attention the diversity of art. She also explains why it is too difficult to categorize art through each theory.
A theory is expected to decide whether or not something is art. If one theory states that art cannot have certain qualities or must have certain qualities and we still consider it to be art, than the theory is rejected. Each of these theori...

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...els and appreciates something different. This is why there is no correct way to interpret art. The only true fact from both these theories is that art communicates different things to diverse people. This in detail is wonderful.
I believe Cynthia Freeland wrote this book creatively and accurately. People from around the world with different cultural and ethnic backgrounds appreciate, value, and passionately pursue the creation and assortments of art (Freeland 208). There will never be a ‘correct’ way in defining art. Art will continue to branch further through new media. Artists will continue to expand awareness and explore or find new ways to either shock us or entrance us with beauty in both sight and sound (Freeland 209).

REFERENCE

• Freeland, Cynthia A. But is it art?: an introduction to art theory. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001. Print.