thoughts on art

The value of art

This mystified and romanticized concept of the value of art. How can we untangle it and make sense of it? Doesn’t our definition depend completely on our background. I’m studying arts and culture; I have a very specific perspective on it, which is informed by having talked about these issues in class, in an academic setting. Arguably, I have more elitist views, now that my cultural capital has increased through university study. I have now understood the realm of the arts from its many sides and facets. Is my opinion now more valid, than that of any other person? This is a question of principle. If I say it is not, meaning everybody’s opinion is equally valid, then a person completely unknowing of the arts could technically state something like: "Monetary value is the only measure for the value of art". Of course, this would irritate many people. But how can we make a solid argument as to why the opinions of more knowledgeable individuals are more valid? Well, as in any discipline there are experts—people who spend much time (sometimes their entire lives) on specific issues and questions. How can we overlook the effort that has gone into arriving at the answers? I will not value arguments that are not thought through in their entirety as much. However, I do not disregard that life is a subjective experience and there are many valid opinions, worldviews, and beliefs. I am also very aware of the importance of feeling, emotion, and intuition in the appreciation of art. I’m not going to be an agent promoting ideas, as to create consensus and create a hegemonically dominant ideology. I will just try to structure my thoughts. Now back to the real issue at hand. I will give my subjective introductory account of what determines the value of art.

Firstly, I feel an attraction to the early arguments by Plato, which led to the branch of philosophy called Neo-Platonism. Here, beauty is sought after, admired, and praised as the crowning glory of God and creation. Beauty in nature has a distinct effect on conscious observers. It feels ‘meant to be’ and exactly perfect. Is it only a feeling, or are we at this very moment influenced by the idea that nature is perfect because it has been created by an overarching and super-intelligent spirit? Maybe it is both, and the second argument is not consciously thought, but rather a bodily experience that leads to the thought. Thus, I believe art that manages to resemble or mirror some of the properties of nature to be intrinsically valuable, coming more from intuition and feeling than anything else.

Now what about art and its intrinsic value? That is another argument some have promoted. Art has intrinsic value and does not require interaction with the viewer or a price tag. That goes back to the concept of "aura". However, I believe that the aura of great works is created only in context. If a piece of art has a rich history and is considered magnificent in the community of the arts it will have a different effect. If two people went to see the same painting, but only one of them knew about the context surrounding it, there would be two different experiences and evaluations of it. Now that is interesting, because who decides that one and not the other work deserves praise and admiration. It is a collaborative process that results in work evaluations and hierarchies over time. With current art it is more difficult, because works could be in ’trend’ for short periods of time, but with continued evaluation the realm of the arts could degrade them. The same process can happen in the opposite direction. Aesthetic mobility describes this process. Who are the tastemakers and opinion leaders in today's arts world? Arguably, cultural authority has become a more democratic resource, and monopolies of opinion-making have been broken up. However, it can be expected that only a few with great authority and a large following will have a strong impact on the opinions of many others. I believe, to some degree, it is valid to respect the opinions of those who have expertise. However, opinions are inevitably subjective and in some way distorted and ill-informed. Thus, make up your own mind.

Aesthetic/Artistic value

Many of the aspects that create aesthetic value are imagined, not part of the real features of an object. Aesthetic pleasure can emerge in finding something valuable and admiring it. This is a sort of double-pleasure - pleasure in perceiving an object, and pleasure in one's admiration or discovery of value in the object. The process of creting meaning happens between a person and an object. Sure, the artist might create the work with a specific intention, but as soon as it is seen by somebody else there can be very different interpretations and associations. Value is dependent of 3 factors – people, time, culture.

Nostalgia

Nostalgia is a beautiful pain. Remembering in a state of longing and ecstasy simultaneously. You feel part of yourself being pulled away from here and now. You feel the stretch in time and space, while knowing that there is no way backwards.

Subcultural art

Subcultural artists attempt to reconstruct the experiences and values – the structure of feeling, that subcultures are based on. In turn, self-esteem and identity are built through the meanings that are taken from cultural objects. Niches often form in opposition to the dominant culture, trying to open different perspectives and ways of life. Subcultures that embody deviant ideas are initially faced with many obstacles, looked down on, and made fun of. If they are truly authentic and meaningful, they will persist and reach a stage in their development, within which the public finds genuine interest and admiration in them. This will inevitably lead to some form of cultural appropriation, where some leaders of the mainstream herd start being associated with the subculture or its references. Once the taste makers of societies point towards a direction, many will follow. Once sub- and niche, cultures then loose these terminologies, and their significance to early members and adopters. Does the cycle continue until any and every subculture has been eaten up by the commercial money-making machinery?