Art is the expression of the ideas, feelings, and values of a culture. It is a means of cultural appreciation, and breaks down barriers of class, race, and other forms of social, economic, and political segregation. It provides commentary and inspiration to people in other cultures. It promotes creativity, awareness, and creative thinking. It makes life more enjoyable and easier to manage.
A variety of definitions of art exist, all of which share a number of common features. Many of them are embedded in general philosophical theories that incorporate traditional metaphysics and epistemology. Some emphasize aesthetic characteristics, while others emphasize contingent cultural features. Some of these theories also attempt to define the underlying meaning of art.
Conventionalist definitions of art typically claim that a work of art is an artifact created by an artist. These definitions also typically assert that a work of art is an artifact presented to a “artworld” public. They generally hold that a work of art must stand in an art-historical context, and that a work of art is an object that achieves aesthetic goals.
Some definitions of art also emphasize the universality of art. For instance, Stephen Davies holds that something is art if it shows excellence of skill. He also suggests that an artwork is a token of kind if it presents a specific aspect of a social group. Other definitions of art emphasize continuity with other aesthetic phenomena.
One of the most influential definitions of art is that of Arthur Danto. He suggested that a work of art is a work that engages an audience with rhetorical ellipses, and that it must be contextualized in art-historical context. He also noted that art can be used to educate audiences about a variety of subjects. It can also serve as a leveled playing field for discourse. He also described art as a way of transporting cultural practices from one place to another.
A second form of conventionalist definition is historical conventionalism. It holds that an artwork must be art-historical in relation to earlier works of art. Some of these definitions also emphasize the contingent features of an artwork, such as the historical context of the artwork or the nature of the work.
Some theorists have suggested a gynocentric definition of art, which stresses the gendered nature of artistic methods. Some of these theories also suggest that different genders are equipped with a different set of artistic tools and styles.
The definition of art is a difficult one. It can be hard to understand how to define something that can encompass a wide range of human activities, such as music, dance, or painting. But if you can think about what you’re creating, you can find your own way of defining it. For example, you can write a poem or song about your creation. You can also take a field trip to an art museum, and you can even visit the packaging design of your favorite products.