Art is a broad spectrum of human activities which involve artistic skill, visual imagination, an intention to communicate technical skill, beauty, emotional strength, or other intangible concepts. This is the only word in which I can safely propose to define any and all artistic manifestations, whether they are literature, music, film, art objects or computer generated graphics. The word “art” encompasses such diverse manifestations as architecture, literature, film, photography, visual arts, computer generated images, and even cuisine. The beauty of it all is that any human invention or idea can be transformed into an artwork and placed in a market and sold for a handsome profit.
However, art does have some limitations as well as its inherent ability to elicit emotional responses in the viewer. For instance, in a work of art, a single color or a chosen pattern can produce two distinctly different reactions from different people; whereas, on the other hand, if two different colors, or different patterns, are used in the same work of art, it can only evoke one common response. In order to create art that can be acceptable to a wider audience, a variety of different styles and methods of presentation are required. Each style carries its own pros and cons with specific subject matter being a determinant of its applicability.
When we speak of art, we must include all of these different styles and methods, not just the more popular ones like abstract expressionism, impressionism, realism, and cubism. Each style has its own peculiarities like color scheme, form, and purpose. A three-dimensional (or otherwise known as 3D) painting, for instance, creates an illusion by using depth and perspective to trick the viewer into viewing an object from an elevated perspective. It is said to be impossible to completely control the emotions experienced when viewing a 3D work of art, thus, it is an effective means of making a statement without overpowering the viewer. This type of art is highly experimental, and requires a level of clearness of thought and emotion to be understood.
Aesthetic taste differs greatly from person to person, but one thing that most people believe that art makes us think is calmness. According to this belief, seeing something makes us calm, while listening to something triggers feelings of inspiration, and while looking at something promotes concentration. People who do not believe that art makes us think believe that art only provides stimulation. They believe that music motivates people to perform physical actions like running, while painting evokes feelings of creativity.
A more rational view of art is that it helps people cope with their emotions. In this theory, art actually motivates us to feel good, rather than just stimulate our senses. In fact, viewing beautiful art can actually promote feelings of happiness, love, and harmony. In addition, art evokes certain internal human responses such as compassion, love, and desire, which are necessary for healthy emotional well being.
If we believe that art acts like an organism that spreads its good health among its participants, we should also believe that a work of art can encourage the development of positive feelings among its viewers. This is because an artist’s work of art, viewed in its original form, inspires us to confront our deepest feelings. The work of art stimulates our emotions, causes us to feel something new and, most importantly, it makes us want to keep on coming back to it. The existence and contagiousness of feelings are the basic foundations of the contemporary human condition.