I think you don't realize that creating something *is* expressing an idea. Someone had an idea for a bolt, and they made it. Just because it's practical and useful and there are billions of them doesn't mean that it isn't an idea that has been made manifest. Art may be beautiful, but it doesn't have to be. Art may be functionless, but it doesn't have to be. Art may be a unique piece, but it doesn't have to be.
Let me refine my definition. Art is not just expressing an idea. There must be an implicit intention to express something. The bolt-creator is not expressing anything. He needed a fastener, brainstormed, came up with the bolt, and made it. He did not have the implicit intention of expressing a feeling he has about his life or human life in general.
Here's the part of my response where I undermine everything I've written:
Of course, Marcel Duchamp said that art is whatever people say is art. To an extent this is true. People have the power to label anything they want as art. So perhaps there is no universal definition of what art is. However, just because this is the case, I still feel it is worthwhile for me to express my definition of art. Therefore, a bolt is not art.
Then why are cave paintings considered art ? After all, they were meant for a practical purpose - ensuring good hunting luck by magick - and not to express the painters view of the world. For that matter, if I draw a picture of an orc, it can't be art by your definition since orcs don't exist, and my drawing therefore doesn't show any aspect of the world.
But tell me, if the bolt-creator polishes his bolts to a mirror finish, is he an artist then ? After all, the shine doesn't help the bolts fastening power any, it just looks good.
I don't think that art can be defined. Any definition leads to conflicts and nonsensical results. It's simply too subjective matter.
My original post answers your questions. Your picture of an orc is not art, though not because orc's do not exist. Your picture of an orc is not art because it does not express anything. Art is about expression. If you drew a picture of an orc pillaging a house then perhaps you could argue that the orc is a metaphor for crime, or something. At least, then, you'd be expressing some idea.
I don't think cave paintings are art. They're historical artifacts, but they do not satisfy my definition of art.
The bolt-shiner is not an artist either. Everyone can be a master bolt-shiner and that doesn't make them artists. They're good bolt-shiners, but not artists. You're confusing creating something with expressing an idea.
No. Everything is not art. A bolt, for example, is not a piece of art. It is useful for securing screws, but the creator of the bolt did not design it with art in mind. The purpose of art is for an artist to share his view about some aspect of the world. The bolt-creator may have wanted to express the idea that bolts are useful for fastening, but that is not an artistic idea, just a useful one.
I usually smoke marijuana and drink prior to playing a violent game. Or any game. Or any activity. Like sleeping, or eating, or going to school, or masturbating. In fact, I usually smoke marijuana and drink prior to smoking marijuana and drinking.
Also, drinking may lead to violent behavior, but it's unlikely that marijuana leads to violent behavior. A high person (not me, of course) is more likely to play GTA, though in the game a high person is more likely to drive around and listen to the radio. Therefore, smoking marijuana won't even lead to simulated violence.
It's a strange idea people have that they must own the game. Don't pay 50 dollars for a new game, rent it. At my local Blockbuster it costs 5.99 (+ tax) to rent a game, and I get it for a week. Even if I rent it 4 times in a row, it only costs half of what the game costs to own.
I also refuse to spend more than 20 dollars on any game. So that keeps the "not completing it" guilt trip to a minimum.
I wait a year or two anyway. I convinced myself that 50 dollars for a new game is too expensive. Now I never pay more than 20. And I still have a blast playing NBA Jam on my Sega Genesis emulator:)
Slashdot Mirror
"What Is Art?"
Here's the part of my response where I undermine everything I've written:
Of course, Marcel Duchamp said that art is whatever people say is art. To an extent this is true. People have the power to label anything they want as art. So perhaps there is no universal definition of what art is. However, just because this is the case, I still feel it is worthwhile for me to express my definition of art. Therefore, a bolt is not art.
No. Everything is not art. A bolt, for example, is not a piece of art. It is useful for securing screws, but the creator of the bolt did not design it with art in mind. The purpose of art is for an artist to share his view about some aspect of the world. The bolt-creator may have wanted to express the idea that bolts are useful for fastening, but that is not an artistic idea, just a useful one.
I usually smoke marijuana and drink prior to playing a violent game. Or any game. Or any activity. Like sleeping, or eating, or going to school, or masturbating. In fact, I usually smoke marijuana and drink prior to smoking marijuana and drinking. Also, drinking may lead to violent behavior, but it's unlikely that marijuana leads to violent behavior. A high person (not me, of course) is more likely to play GTA, though in the game a high person is more likely to drive around and listen to the radio. Therefore, smoking marijuana won't even lead to simulated violence.
but were the hell is Team Fortress 2?!
I also refuse to spend more than 20 dollars on any game. So that keeps the "not completing it" guilt trip to a minimum.
Yes, the overdone fight scene in "They Live" is great and it lasts ten minutes.
However, you left out the most important detail: why were they fighting?
Because one of them wanted the other to try on some sunglasses and the other refused!
I wait a year or two anyway. I convinced myself that 50 dollars for a new game is too expensive. Now I never pay more than 20. And I still have a blast playing NBA Jam on my Sega Genesis emulator :)