login to bmindful Sign up for your FREE bmindful account!

To get the most out of the bmindful forum, please sign up or log in!

★The evolution of art

Here’s my thought of the day: When I was in college, my English Literature tutor once asked us that traditional question “What is art?” My personal view is that asking that question is like asking the “What is the meaning of life?” question, there is no definitive answer, it is different for every one of us and is much more interesting to hear other people’s approach to it. Let’s look at art through the years. In prehistoric times, cave paintings were a form of communication and shamanic representations. Renaissance, you have Michelangelo producing devout religious architecture for Italy’s religious members and Leonardo Da Vinci produced humanist and scientific based work, along with some religious pieces. Most art was also produced for high society and wealthier individuals. We also had Impressionism, which was considered ugly and left most of the impressionists in “starving artist” lifestyles. Today, we have still have art produced for vast amounts of money (Damien Hirst, Takashi Murakami etc) and we have many talented individuals producing it online or without use of the internet to simply share it with the world. We also have art produced through multiple motivations, be it political, scientific, spiritual, religious, activist, comedic. My question to you all is where do you think art will evolve to next or will it stay in the same position as of today? I personally would like to see more of a highlighting of art as a benefit for peace and education and less of a glamorization of the art that makes millions of money and creates celebrity as I personally feel this isn’t mentally beneficial for young artists having this as the socially ideal pinnacle of success.

Great thought provoking post Harley.

I think art is like fashion ,some clothes become classics and some are popular for a limited time .Same with art ,we have paintings from so long ago that will always be admired but some newe ones that will soon be forgotten .

Hopefully the obssesion with celebrities will be replaced by admiration and respect for those who are benefiting society through their skills and talents .So often we hear about the artists like this Damain Hirst who seem to go out of their way to shock people for publicity

Young ,talented artists like yourself can be the role models for future generations .I know you would love to be able to use your art to make a difference to people and animals and I’m sure you will ,especially your beautiful drawings of leopards,dolphins etc

love flowergirl

artists who are making a differece in our world

artists helping the homeless

Claire Campbel

I tend to separate fashion and art personally, though, I guess you could view fashion as art. To me, there are a lot of things that are kind of fashiony, but to me the word fashion puts a bad taste in my mouth. Justin Bieber or Madonna – that is fashion whereas Beethoven or even Johnny Cash is art. Someone defecating on a cross or something, that isn’t art. Art doesn’t need vulgarity to say “look at me” or whatever – trash does. Gauguin or Rubens is art – Debbie does Dallas is porn. Like so many words in today’s world – “art” has been treated pretty shabbily. If we just call anything and everything art, well then nothing is art. To me there is more art in a finger-painting by a three year old than there probably is in a lot of “fashionable” art galleries in New York or Paris. I guess perspective has something to do with it. To me, also, art connotes skill mixed with emotion as opposed to playing around with a pile of clay and making an ash tray or flinging paint on a canvas and pretending you’ve done something special. I guarantee you there are comic book artists that put more art into their drawings than a lot of spaced out pot-heads or tortured, egomaniacal, pseudo-intellectuals out there selling their “art” to any tourist or nouveau riche actress eager to be parted with her money, lol. I don’t even watch the Grammys or Academy Awards anymore. I haven’t in years. It’s not about art anymore, it’s about fashion and being “in”. I’m not kidding when I say that that stuff saps my energy. It causes an almost visceral reaction when I see it. Oh, I just found the right words after all this rambling. There are lots of artists in the world, some are better than others and some might not really be all that good at all, but they are “real” – and then there are the phonies. Actually they should rename the Grammys the Phonies. Not to say that there aren’t artists who are recognized by the Grammys, there are, but it’s almost coincidental now when it happens. Same goes for the Academy Awards. I guess we could call the Academy Awards the PC Country Club Awards. Vladimir Lenin was responsible for putting more real art into the world through propaganda than pop culture has in the last decade.

It occurs to me that I didn’t answer the “where is art going” thing. I’m not sure about that. As technology progresses some things will be easier to produce – so I guess that would raise the bar for some things. If I can draw a Mona Lisa with the click of a button, well, then is that art. I’d say no, but, if you use that technology to draw a Mona Lisa and you combine that click of a button with another click of a button to produce something new an special and unique, well then it would be art. The technology is just the medium. At the same time, advances in some areas would make some old fashioned mediums more precious in some respects. There is no Leonardo Da Vinci in the world today – at least as far as I know with respect to painting. Though we have a few of his paintings – his is pretty much a lost art isn’t it. What painters today work with the skill of a Da Vinci or a Rembrandt. Did you see the portrait of that princess chick the other day? If that is the “best” we have today, well then, something has indeed been lost. I realize I’m rambling. I’ll stop. Sometimes I get a bit full of myself and blather on even when I know I’m in over my head!

Still – it would be nice to have a Grammy! A shallow, meaningless Grammy would like nice on my mantle.

I need to get a drink and rent a movie

All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.
— Gandalf, J.R.R. Tolkien
I’m Alright
Life Less Ordinary

In response to Harley Duck’s post:

There are a small group of children and some adults that are considered “Crystal or star Children” they are called this because of their need to help our planet and its people raise their vibrations to heal the Earth and bring peace to all. Here is more info:

Crystal Children

If you all could use a creative gift towards the benefit of others, what would you do and how would you enhance your creativity?

I would crochet blankets for all the orphans in Romania and other countries and I would make patchwork quilts too for them with all their names embroidered on them .

Lovely thoughtful question Harley

In response to Harley Duck’s post:

I would help those with no food who are dying needlessly. I would send them info on how to cultivate their land and show them how to plant fruits and vegetables native to their area so they can eat something natural and healthy. No pesticides either there are insects that eat those that eat your plants. I would teach them how to create water without machinery or pipes.

Water

What art offers is space – a certain breathing room for the spirit. ~John Updike

In response to flowergirl’s post:
I like that quote, it’s spot on, never heard that one before :)

I like everyone’s replies here, it’s good to here everyone’s approach to art, especially your ramble Jeff :) Don’t worry, we encourage a good ramble here in England so all rambles and rants are welcome. I like your opinion on the advancement of technology, you have some valid points there

Jump to Top ^^

To get the most out of the bmindful forum, please sign up or log in!

Related Content