i bear wittness

so, we have to write this blog this week.
I tried to think about everything or anything I could write about.

the main question posed to each one of us was how do you define art?

we all tried to approach this in different ways

some say art is defined by what is aesthetically pleasing, beautiful, and good.

some say art is anything.

I have explored different areas of this. what is art how can we define art.

and at the moment, my thoughts are that you can not define it as one thing. or say what it is not. there is not a true definition for art. I suppose the word art is already an attempt to define something created.

I would say do a way with the word. but then as humans, this would cause chaos. as it is, almost as if we need to define things so we can understand and control things.

maybe a broad statement.

however

looking at it from a Christian point of view


God is the creator. we are created in his image. therefore, we are creative.

however, to each individual that looks different. from each background, it will come out different.

for me it is not something that is necessarily beautiful, because I think creativity comes from an overflow of what is within us. its usually done through experiences in life, or thoughts. it is a medium to express ones self. how that looks could vary.

it could be showing pain, tragedy in someone’s life. that may not be beautiful. but how can you say its not art. if art is an expression. if its part of who we are. pain is part of who we are also.

is art good or evil?

can it not be used for both?

again coming from a Christian point of view, I would want art…creation…to be used to glorify God. to be used for good not for evil. However, just because I want that does not mean it is. and it doesn’t mean I can say that it is not art.

we for some reason have this thing built within us saying that the word ‘art’ means good. but it doesn’t. ‘art’ is not from the bible. God never said he used art to create the world. he simply created the world.

when you look at different cultures, you see things that are held up as culturally accepted art. however, the Indonesian dance and costumes may not be beautiful or aesthetically pleasing, in comparison to ballet from a European stance, however both are still artistic.

so here is the thing.

why are definitions so important to us?