The Definition of Art (SEP)
The definition of art is controversial in contemporary philosophy. Whether art can be defined has also been a matter of controversy. The philosophical usefulness of a definition of art has also been debated.
There is also disagreement, at a second-order level, about how to classify definitions of art. For present purposes, contemporary definitions can be classified with respect to the dimensions of art they emphasize. One distinctively modern, conventionalist, sort of definition focuses on art’s institutional features, emphasizing the way art changes over time, modern works that appear to break radically with all traditional art, the relational properties of artworks that depend on works’ relations to art history, art genres, etc. – more broadly, on the undeniable heterogeneity of the class of artworks. The more traditional, less conventionalist sort of definition defended in contemporary philosophy makes use of a broader, more traditional concept of aesthetic properties that includes more than art-relational ones, and puts more emphasis on art’s pan-cultural and trans-historical characteristics – in sum, on commonalities across the class of artworks. Hybrid definitions aim to do justice to both the traditional aesthetic dimension as well as to the institutional and art-historical dimensions of art, while privileging neither.
Read the rest here: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/art-definition/
Chatbot
There is no single, agreed definition of art. That is a fact, not a problem.
In philosophy, “art” is usually defined functionally or institutionally. Functionally, art is a human-made object or activity intended to produce aesthetic experience, meaning, or reflection, rather than to serve a purely practical purpose. Institutionally (after George Dickie), something is art if it is presented and accepted as such within the artworld: artists, critics, curators, and related practices.
Historically, definitions have shifted. Classical theories tied art to imitation (mimesis). Modern theories emphasized expression of emotion or inner states. Contemporary views often stress interpretation, context, and intention rather than beauty or skill.
A minimal working definition that avoids most confusion is this:
Art is an artifact or performance intentionally offered for interpretation as having aesthetic, expressive, or symbolic significance.
This definition excludes natural objects, allows bad art, and explains why explanation-heavy conceptual works still count as art—even if you dislike them.
Wikipedia
Art is a diverse range of cultural activity centered around works utilizing creative or imaginative talents, which are expected to evoke a worthwhile experience, generally through an expression of emotional power, conceptual ideas, technical proficiency, or beauty.
There is no generally agreed definition of what constitutes art, and its interpretation has varied greatly throughout history and across cultures. In the Western tradition, the three classical branches of visual art are painting, sculpture, and architecture. Theatre, dance, and other performing arts, as well as literature, music, film and other media such as interactive media, are included in a broader definition of “the arts”. Until the 17th century, art referred to any skill or mastery and was not differentiated from crafts or sciences. In modern usage after the 17th century, where aesthetic considerations are paramount, the fine arts are separated and distinguished from acquired skills in general, such as the decorative or applied arts.
The nature of art and related concepts, such as creativity and interpretation, are explored in a branch of philosophy known as aesthetics. The resulting artworks are studied in the professional fields of art criticism and the history of art.
Read the rest here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art
Nochrisis 