What is Art?

The word culture can be defined as that which is excellent in the arts. But what exactly is art? In our society, defining art is an on-going discussion and the exact definition will never be absolute. Defining art is challenging as it is very personal, and it is open to interpretation. Luckily, our culture is open to different types of art and the varying definitions for the word. For the purpose of this essay, the definition of art will be defined as a creative and/or imaginative piece of work that evokes emotion, causes controversy (at times), and is cherished by one or more persons.

Art is more than an image, written word, performance, or song; art is anything that evokes raw emotion. No one knows exactly why art evokes such emotions from human beings, but a beautiful piece of art can reduce the strongest man to tears. Every person is different and has experiences that are just as unique as they are; therefore the interpretation of art is open. Psychiatrists have been using art as a therapy technique for patients to express their pain and heal their emotional wounds. The American Art Therapy Association (AATA) defines art therapy as "a human service profession that utilizes art media, images, a creative art process, and patient/client responses to the created products as reflections of an individual's development, abilities, personality, interests, concerns, and conflicts." Children and adults, who have been exposed to unspeakable trauma, as well as those suffering from depression, anxiety, and other serious mental illnesses, can benefit from art therapy. Art therapy uses paint, paper, images, and colors to symbolically express the depth and intensity of a patient’s emotional pain.

The great artist Salvatore Dali used his art to symbolize the depth and intensity of his emotions; however Dali was very misunderstood as an artist. He had many critics; some call the painting The Persistence of Memory -- the “crazy” landscape with the droopy clocks. However, Dali is revered as one of the most influential artists during the surreal movement. He was often ridiculed and called insane, but Dali himself declared, "The only difference between myself and a madman, is that I am not mad! The world will admire me. Perhaps I'll be despised and misunderstood, but I'll be a great genius, I'm certain of it." Dali was often declared controversial as thought his art was pornographic, but it is still considered art.

Music and its performers are not exempt from controversy within the art world. In 1956, Elvis Presley was heavily criticized for his performance when he danced to the rhythm and beat of his own music. This form of artistic dance was viewed as vulgar and his music and live performances were banned from the public airwaves. Presley was a true artist and did not shy away from his craft or the controversy. He set the standard for rock and roll in our society; allowing other musical artists to follow in his footsteps. Ozzy Osborne was nicknamed “the Prince of Darkness” due a performance stunt where he bit the head off of a live bird during a meeting regarding his music publication. Madonna was publicly ostracized when her video for “Like a Prayer” debuted on MTV; causing one of the largest musical controversies in the network’s history. She went on to defend herself by stating, ““I stand for freedom of expression, doing what you believe in, and going after your dreams. I am my own experiment. I am my own work of art.” Her expression of freedom and her devotion to art has made her one of the most powerful, one of the most recognized, and one of the wealthiest artists in the world.

One does not need to be famous to have their art recognized however; creating art cannot be done without original thought and imagination. It is a creative reflection of a person’s life regardless of age or station. A two-year old can take three crayons and make a masterpiece that will be cherished by his mother for years to come. His imagination and thought process is reflected in the wax and on the paper, ultimately reflecting his personality. Although he may not be able to communicate verbally what his creation means, his creation is still a masterpiece that can never be duplicated. That same child may write a poem for his mother when he turns five or compose a symphony when he is 50. A person does not have to be trained to produce art. Natural skill must be instilled in artist, so they can begin the process of perfecting their craft. Developing an artistic craft can be self taught, but it can also be developed through practice, professional instruction, and life experience. Each creative piece of work that a person develops can be defined as art regardless of their skill level or station in life.