search  current discussion  categories  philosophy 

what is "good art"

updated fri 1 jul 11

 

paul gerhold on tue 28 jun 11


For me one of the distinguishing characteristics of what I call "good Art"
is that I can look at it again and again and not become bored with the
piece. Usually this means either it makes me think about other things in
relation to the piece, or the piece is so slow in totally revealing itself
to me that it holds my interest.

Paul

ivor and olive lewis on wed 29 jun 11


Dear Paul Gerhold,

This discussion recycles itself on clay art with a periodicity of about 24
months. So I will say what I have said before.

Much of the discourse is subjective.

There is however one quality that distinguishes a work of art as Art. It is
Emotion. If a work of art engenders in its observer an emotion then it is
making the observer or user react, viscerally of intellectually. The
strength of this reaction, degree of an ob servers sensitivity to it can be
observed, recorded and evaluated and the particular emotions recorded.

I am sure you have met works you would wish to shred or shatter. Great Art
! ! !

Best regards,

Ivor Lewis,
REDHILL,
South Australia

James Freeman on wed 29 jun 11


On Wed, Jun 29, 2011 at 2:06 AM, ivor and olive lewis u
> wrote:

There is however one quality that distinguishes a work of art as Art. It is
Emotion. If a work of art engenders in its observer an emotion then it is
making the observer or user react, viscerally of intellectually.




I am reminded of some great words on this subject from Robert Heinlein,
which I believe I have shared before, and which comport with Ivor's stance.
They were spoken by his character Jubal Harshaw in Stranger in a Strange
Land:

"Abstract design is alright - for wall paper or linoleum. But ART is the
process of evoking pity and terror, which is not abstract at all, but very
human. What the self-styled modern artists are doing is a sort of
unemotional pseudo-intellectual masturbation... whereas creative art is
more like intercourse, in which the artist must seduce - render emotional -
his audience, each time."

All the best.

...James

James Freeman

"...outsider artists, caught in the bog of their own consciousness, too
preciously idiosyncratic to be taken seriously."

"All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice. I should
not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed."
-Michel de Montaigne

http://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesfreemanstudio/
http://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com/resources

James Freeman on thu 30 jun 11


On Thu, Jun 30, 2011 at 9:27 AM, paul gerhold wro=
te:
I believe Heinlein has defined what is "great intercourse" - not all
intercourse will live up to his definition. He probably is referring to
"love making" which is entirely separate.




Paul...

Good insight. Yes, he is indeed referring in his simile to what we now
euphemistically call "love making", a human act which transcends the purely
physical by incorporating a large or even predominant measure of the
emotional. He would compare what he terms "modern art" with animalistic
rutting, a purely physical and selfish act of which humans also partake,
often with great relish, in their more limbic moments. Grok?

All the best.

...James

James Freeman

"...outsider artists, caught in the bog of their own consciousness, too
preciously idiosyncratic to be taken seriously."

"All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice. I should
not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed."
-Michel de Montaigne

http://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesfreemanstudio/
http://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com/resources

paul gerhold on thu 30 jun 11


I believe Heinlein has defined what is "great intercourse" - not all
intercourse will live up to his definition. He probably is referring to
"love making" which is entirely separate.

Paul

On Wed, Jun 29, 2011 at 5:15 PM, James Freeman m
> wrote:

> On Wed, Jun 29, 2011 at 2:06 AM, ivor and olive lewis <
> iandol@westnet.com.au
> > wrote:
>
> There is however one quality that distinguishes a work of art as Art. It =
is
> Emotion. If a work of art engenders in its observer an emotion then it is
> making the observer or user react, viscerally of intellectually.
>
>
>
>
> I am reminded of some great words on this subject from Robert Heinlein,
> which I believe I have shared before, and which comport with Ivor's stanc=
e.
> They were spoken by his character Jubal Harshaw in Stranger in a Strange
> Land:
>
> "Abstract design is alright - for wall paper or linoleum. But ART is the
> process of evoking pity and terror, which is not abstract at all, but ver=
y
> human. What the self-styled modern artists are doing is a sort of
> unemotional pseudo-intellectual masturbation... whereas creative art is
> more like intercourse, in which the artist must seduce - render emotional=
-
> his audience, each time."
>
> All the best.
>
> ...James
>
> James Freeman
>
> "...outsider artists, caught in the bog of their own consciousness, too
> preciously idiosyncratic to be taken seriously."
>
> "All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice. I shoul=
d
> not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed."
> -Michel de Montaigne
>
> http://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesfreemanstudio/
> http://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com/resources
>

ivor and olive lewis on thu 30 jun 11


Dear James Freeman,

I have heard and read similar derogatory remarks about pretentious students
who try to impress youthful audiences.

Thank you for your example.Best regards,

Ivor Lewis,
REDHILL,
South Australia