Art is a group of cultural activities, primarily visual but also including music, dance, theater and literature. Art has been practiced for various reasons throughout history, some of which have become important functions in modern societies, such as eliciting emotion, providing entertainment and expressing ideas. Art is usually seen as a creative activity that requires imagination and technical skill. However, the concept of art is a matter of personal opinion and may differ widely from person to person. Moreover, the concept of art is constantly changing and expanding as new forms emerge. Defining art is a challenging task because of the diversity of its many functions, the variety of its mediums and its complex social and philosophical origins.
One approach to defining art is to try to determine the essential characteristics of art as a class. Some philosophers, such as Martin Heidegger, have argued that art is an expression of the element of truth in a culture, and that each work of art is a springboard from which “that which is” can be revealed (Heidegger 1967). This view suggests that art is more than mere recreation or imitation. Instead, it is a form of contemplation and a way to experience what is true about the world around us.
Another approach is to define art based on the aesthetic properties of works of art, in terms of their beauty or meaningfulness. For example, some philosophers such as John Rawls have argued that a work of art has to possess certain aesthetic qualities, such as beauty or meaning. This is a more pragmatic definition of art, since it leaves the interpretation of art up to the individual.
Others have tried to define art based on the functions it performs in society. For example, some philosophers have argued that art serves as a form of memorialization, by preserving and celebrating important events or people. Other philosophers have argued that art provides amusement or entertainment. Still others have argued that art can be used as propaganda to influence or inform public opinion.
Finally, there are those who have argued that the very act of creating art stimulates the brain and can help improve a person’s mental health. For instance, a 2017 study published in the journal The Arts in Psychotherapy tested participants’ brains by measuring blood flow to a part of their prefrontal cortex while they completed different types of artistic activities, such as coloring a mandala or doodling freely on a blank sheet of paper. The results showed that the blood flow to this area increased when people made art, regardless of their skill level.
Some critics of the search for a definition of art have argued that such an attempt is often unnecessarily controversial and ideological. In particular, they have complained that present definitions often rely on or presuppose a framework involving traditional metaphysics and epistemology, which are prime examples of language gone on a conceptually confused holiday (Tilghman 1984). In addition, some philosophers have pointed out that the notion of art confers ontological dignity and respectability on social phenomena that probably should be subjected to rigorous critical analysis and change.