What is art?
Out of context: Reply #35
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- Blofeldt0
I'd argue the artists intent is not the important factor in art, but the viewers interpretation.
For instance, the dog poster: to the creator it's function is to alert people to the fact they've lost their dog. They care for it and love it and miss it. The poster to them is not art. It has a practical function and was not designed to do anything more than help find their pet.
However, if the position of the poster was changed, from the street to a gallery, the meaning would alter. Now the poster isn't about finding a dog, it could be read as a comment about human animal relationships, or suburban living, or love, or any number of deeper meanings other than, lost dog.
The chances of the poster being an aesthetic work of craftsmanship in this case are low, so I'd argue it's function in art would be primarily be a conceptual one. A starting point with which to launch the viewers thoughts to areas further than Lost Dog.
To sum up. I believe that art, is the beginning of a conscious journey of the mind that will ultimately transport the viewer far away from the original work.