What Is Art?

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What is art? This question has plagued man for centuries. According to our book The Art Question by Nigel Warburton Philosopher Clive Bell argues that art of all ages has a common denominator which is significant form. (Warburton 10) R. G. Collingwood argues that the common core of art is its peculiar form of emotional expression. (Warburton 39) Ludwig Wittgenstein argues that art is a family resemblance term. (Warburton 67) The American philosopher George Dickie formulated the Institutional Theory that explains what works of art have in common by drawing our attention to their non-exhibited, relational qualities and stressing its context. (Warburton 90) Nigel Warburton states that the art question, when asked at the general level of “What is art?”, is probably not answerable and that we ultimately must turn back to the works themselves. (Warburton 133) ‘Found art’, also called ‘readymade art’, such as Duchamp’s urinal known as “Fountain”, has created considerable controversy over the years and forced us to ask ourselves “What is art?” because, let’s face it, how can a urinal be art? This is why we ask the question “What is art?” because it helps us to decide difficult cases, to explain retrospectively why what has been called art is art, and to tell us which objects in the world are likely to repay specific kinds of close attention. (Warburton 123)
To me, the question of “What is art?” is a difficult one, as it is for all mankind if we are honest with one another. I think that art is completely personal and should not be dictated by the masses. If you look at an object and the result is a feeling of pure aesthetic pleasure, then you must be looking at a form of art, as that is one of the many purposes of it. Other purposes of art include evoking feelings of curiosity, disbelief, possibly even feelings of anger or rage? Some art is created to make one stop and think
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