Art is an expression of the human imagination. The resulting object can be anything, from a painting to a building, as long as it is intended to be appreciated for its beauty or symbolic meaning. Art is often considered to be a form of spiritual expression and provides an alternative to the written word in conveying concepts like emotion, thought and time. It can also serve as a medium for communication and as an alternative means of learning about history or different cultures.
A student’s ability to interpret an artwork and its symbolism is a key skill to develop. Many students struggle with this idea, particularly high school students. As a teacher, it is important to give your students ample practice with this concept. Each week assign one work of art and ask your students to first describe the piece, then analyze it, continue to interpret the work and then end with their judgment/evaluation. This structure helps to guide them to thoughtful responses and avoids knee-jerk reactions.
The definition of what is and isn’t art has been debated for centuries. Some argue that a work of art is only considered to be art if it has been created in an established style, while others have taken a more philosophical approach. The resemblance-to-a-paradigm theory states that something is an art if it resembles certain paradigm works that have been recognized as being of the highest quality in terms of their aesthetic and symbolic value.
An art historian may be able to determine whether an object is or is not an art, but the general public’s opinion of what is and isn’t art is more subjective than objective. A painting of a pretty landscape, for example, is likely to be seen as an art by most people, but some outsider artists have trouble getting their work taken seriously. It is also possible to use art as a form of propaganda, and this can influence the popular conceptions or mood of people. This is a more subtle way that art can influence the world than using it to sell a product, although both of these things may have positive and negative effects on society.
Lastly, some scholars believe that the concept of art is based on the idea that humans are designed to appreciate beauty. The creation of art allows us to experience our world and ourselves in new ways, and is therefore beneficial. There is a certain cynic in this view, however, as the artist’s motives in creating his or her art are not always entirely unselfish. Some art is clearly meant to be enjoyed for its own sake, while others are a way to express the artist’s thoughts and emotions and as such have a deeper significance than purely aesthetic enjoyment. Nonetheless, the study of art is a fascinating subject that gives students an opportunity to explore all aspects of culture and history through the lens of visual representation.