If someone defecates on a Target bag and calls it art, is it truly art? The purpose of art is to affect an audience in a way that is unknown to them. — Campbell Soutter
Many would say no. There is a common belief that the purpose of art is to entertain the viewer, and that it should portray some sort of high-level skill that would be unattainable to the common man.
I feel, however, that this is a misconception, and shows a naive and puerile viewpoint on the subject. The purpose of art is not to make us feel good, but rather just to make us feel.
Seeing that individual’s feces-filled artwork, one would swell with emotions. Rage, disgust, and sickness to name a few. And even though those may not be the most pleasurable feelings, it is still a beautiful thing.
The greatest joys of our lives are the emotions and feelings we express through our experiences. Everyone has points of indescribable happiness and points of unvanquished sadness. Those are emotions we are all familiar with, but truly great art makes us feel emotions we have never come across.
“The purpose of art is to affect an audience in a way that is unknown to them; a way that is simply unprecedented,” said senior Campbell Soutter. “We identify the greatest artists through their ability to do that very thing in work that is powerful, original and reminiscent of something meaningful.”
When Jackson Pollock erupted on the art scene with his abstract drip paintings, many felt what he was doing was incredibly pretentious. They felt that his paintings were of no substance because “anyone” can splash paint on a canvas.
But what Pollock was doing was genius simply because it was different. His sharp, abrupt, and almost disturbing splatters of paint and color evoked sentiments that had never been felt before. That is why he is considered one of the greatest modern expressionists.
The general public must become more open with art, and in turn with their complicated emotions. When looking at a painting or sculpture, be open to feeling discomforted by what you see. That just means you are experiencing something new, something different, and something beautiful.
“Not everything can be expressed with words,” said senior Jessica Chang. “That is why we have art.”
