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"art n.1 a human creative skill or its application.
b work exhibiting this. 2 a (in pl.; prec.
by the) the various branches of creative activity, e.g.
painting, music, writing, considered collectively. b any
one of these branches. 3 creative activity..."
-Illustrated Oxford Dictionary, 1998
(Oxford University Press, Dorling Kindersley, Reader's Digest)
The Definition of "Art" according to Roland Koch
I don't agree with the Oxford Dictionary's definition when it arbitrarily assigns art
as the product of human activity! Nature's art, (or God's art) is actually more beautiful.
Consider the shimmering colours on the wings of the fragile butterfly;
the petals of a rose and the ubiquitous orchid. The lithe suppleness of the springbok;
the dignified majesty of the lion. Landscapes scoured by wind and water; clouds billowing
across green valleys; powerful surges of frothing waves on craggy rocks.
Are we humans not constantly guilty of copying (or plagiarising?) such obvious beauty?
"Art refers to painting, music, writing, acting and sculpting."
Does it not equally apply to the works of engineers, scientists, technicians,
artisans, chefs, architects, chemists, lawyers, inventors, et cetera?
When a technical designer cleverly creates an electronic printed circuit board, can that
not be called a work of art? I believe it does. I have designed PCBs and I know what skill
goes into it, and how some PCBs can look 'beautiful' and some 'ugly' - that must
surely fulfil a primary condition for them to be called 'works of art'.
"Art must affect our emotions."
But so does murder, rape and child abuse impinge on our feelings, to say the least.
But can we call those evil actions 'art'? Morbidly, the professional assassin might.
So when we really want to fix a satisfactory definition of the word "Art", we can become
embroiled in all kinds of intellectual, moral, spiritual, psychological and emotional
debate without arriving at a mutually agreeable answer. Try it out among your friends!.
You will find that 'Art' is simply one of those things that cannot bear exact definition.
But, stubborn as we all are in varying degrees, I too insist on giving it a shot,
however doubtful the outcome:...
"Art is the Product of Life and Life is the Product of Art." or "Art is in the Eye of the Beholder." Now argue about that! (20001126rakoch) |