What is Art

There are many different types of art. It often varies from person to person on what “counts” as art, but Google defines art as the expression of the human mind, creative skill, and imagination. That alone proves that not all art is a painting or a drawing, you can count things like music, movies, and literature, and this list could go on. With all these different art styles it can lead to arguments about what art is. See this society has deemed that art is only a painting and that those who make paintings are the “artist”. The truth behind this is art is all sorts of things, things that people don't show enough respect for.

Music is a fascinating art form: ”On their own, art and music share the common element of evoking an emotional response( Nelson 6). Nelson tries to show people music is an art by comparing them, trying to connect both items into something easier to understand. He explains music as art by saying it “evoking an emotion”. By saying that he is tieing music back to the definition of art, that being, creativity. Although many people have tried to prove that music is indeed an art there are still many people who feel differently: “There are two reasons. Firstly, it could be because a certain form of music does not fit someone’s definition of art. You’d have to ask them what they think art is. Secondly, it could be because people casually use the term “art” to add value to things they like and to put down things they don’t. If they like it, it’s art. If they don’t, it’s not art. In this case it’s got nothing to do with any intrinsic musical merit, it’s just a form of snobbery and an attempt to close the conversation"(Elliott par. 1). Elliott wrote this answer to the question “Why do most people consider one form of music “art”, and others not?”(Quora). Elliott brought up good points like how it may not “fit someone's definition of art”. He explains that art has more than just one meaning. Yes, it's creativity, but it's also how it makes others feel, and much more. Music may just not fit someone's personal view of what art truly means to them.

To dive deeper into music being a form of art one has to analyze some songs. For example, a good song to analyze is “Pumped up Kicks”, a tragic story of a devastating crime, told by a boy named Robert. This song was written by Mark Foster who was originally a jingle writer. After getting a band together, and writing a few popular songs they decided to write, “Pumped Up Kicks” terrifying lyrics being overlooked by people who don’t listen close enough:

Robert's got a quick hand

He'll look around the room, he won't tell you his plan

He's got a rolled cigarette

Hanging out his mouth, he's a cowboy kid

Yeah, he found a six-shooter gun

In his dad's closet with a box of fun things

I don't even know what

But he's coming for you, yeah, he's coming for you, wait (Pumped up kicks). After finding his father's gun he decides to take revenge on his school. At the beginning of this song, it seems as if he is going through the motions, getting ready to attack “ He’ll look around the room”. There are many ways to view those few lyrics; most see it as him being inside the school, while others may see it as him only being in his father's room looking for a weapon. People also deem it as a warning, hearing “he’s coming for you”. The start of this song alone makes different people feel different emotions, whether it be relief, worry, or anger. As stated before art expresses emotion, this song gives many different emotions to those who listen. Just another reason music fits the original definition of art.

How many humans watch a movie and don't appreciate the time it took to film and produce that film; the next piece of art is movies. A good movie is a great way to sit and relax after a long hard day of work. Movies are related to art in much the same way as music does. The creativity needed to go into making a good film, with both music and “art”, that being paintings. On “Quora” people get the opportunity to see others' perspectives too the question, “Is a film or video considered to be a piece of art? Why or why not?"(Quora). Sherrick is seen saying, “Film is the most advanced form of art so far created by man. It not only involves visual images (which is the classic term for what "art" actually meant). However, art now includes sound and movement. Which film expresses at the highest possible level.

All human art was related to imagery in some form. All examples of human art are visual. Especially from any era where writing was not available. However, writing is also visually related. Music is also an "art" but was not considered so until only the last 500 years. Even dramatic performance was not considered as high art until recently” (Sherrick par. 1). He is seen very clearly stating that “film is the most advanced form of art”. He explains with many true statements why a movie is an art, such as “sound”, “movement” and “visuals”. When you keep looking on the site there will be Juan Pablo Forero, "Art is the distribution of elements in an esthetic way so yes, of course, movies are a type of art"(par. 1). Put in much simpler terms but explain the same thing as Sherrick. How A film is no doubt a fascinating art.

One last example of art, to prove the point, art is not just a painting it is so much more, is literature. Knowing literature being a form of art is much more accepted than one might think. When thinking about it as an art most people would think about poems and Novels, short stories, plays, and more; that is completely correct. In a painting, oftentimes the artist wants to convey a meaning, they want to show the viewer something they might not be expecting. The same goes for writing, an author wants to portray a meaning in their writing. They correlate in other ways too. For instance, without art, we may not have some amazing pieces of writing. An article explains, “Art and literature are bonded together in several ways. Great works of art. Have inspired great works of literature, great works of literature. Have inspired art, and together. Art and literature have simultaneously represented similar movements. Art and literature can be seen weaving around each other, influencing one and another, and being used as a tool to teach students about liberal arts and humanity" (“Art and Literature” 1). This site shows the importance of both of these forms of art. The writer says “bonded together” giving greater meaning to how important both art and literature are needed in society. They explain how without art we may not have writing, and without writing we may not have art. Showing Literature is an important form of art. Although some may think differently, here are examples of art pieces that were inspired by literature: “‘This 19th century painting by Millais depicts Ophelia, a character from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Driven mad when her father is murdered by her disturbed lover Hamlet, she is captured here singing shortly before she drowns. Millais’s work is admired for the realism of its landscape and is one of many portrayals of the ill-fated damsel.

‘Fell in the weeping Brook, her clothes spread wide,

And Mermaid-like, a while they bore her up,

Which time she chanted snatches of old tunes,

[…]

Till that her garments, heavy with her drink,

Pul’d the poor wretch from her melodious lay,

To muddy death’”(Rea 2). This is an amazing painting portraying a mad character after the murder of their father. This piece would have never been created if not for Shakespeare’s writing. Goes to show that the art of painting can not be finished without other art, in this case, the art of literature.

Art is seen too much as only paintings or drawings when in reality it is so much more. It is the showing of human creativity, in the ability to convey emotion. A child could put a stick in a pile of mud, making their town, with only those two items; and one could consider that as art. While an adult can do the same thing, but on a bigger scale. They can create a blueprint and build a whole town out of brick, concrete, and any other needed materials; it would also be considered art. Overall art is seen too much as one thing when there are all these creative minds not getting the correct recognition they deserve.

Work Cited

“Art and Literature.” Google Arts & Culture, artsandculture.google.com/incognito/usergallery/art-and-literature/fgISN4p7GWxoKw.

Gowans, Alan, and Roger Scruton. “Architecture | Definition, Techniques, & Theory.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 23 Aug. 2018, www.britannica.com/topic/architecture.

“Is a Film or Video Considered to Be a Piece of Art? Why or Why Not?” Quora, www.quora.com/Is-a-film-or-video-considered-to-be-a-piece-of-art-Why-or-why-not#:~:text=Art%20is%20the%20distribution%20of. Accessed 31 May 2023.

Mark, Joshua. “Ancient Egyptian Art.” World History Encyclopedia, 26 May 2017, www.worldhistory.org/Egyptian_Art/.

“Pumped up Kicks.” Genius, 14 Oct. 2010, genius.com/Foster-the-people-pumped-up-kicks-lyrics.

Rea, Naomi. “10 Art Works Inspired by Great Literature for Your Summer Reading List.” Artnet News, artnet News, 20 July 2016, news.artnet.com/art-world/art-inspired-literature-559481.

rlnstudios. “Connection between Art and Music.” Robert Lyn Nelson, 13 Apr. 2022, robertlynnelson.com/connection-between-art-and-music/#:~:text=Art%20and%20Music%3A%20Influencing%20Each.

“Why Do Most People Consider One Form of Music “Art”, and Others Not?” Quora, www.quora.com/Why-do-most-people-consider-one-form-of-music-art-and-others-not. Accessed 31 May 2023.