art and function
pronull
function (and has been named according to that function) from being
called art? this would be, of course, rejecting all architecture,
design, craft, etc. while it seems to be valid for much of the
post-duchampian art. not sure about the 'documantary' video-art that
seems to be very fashionable these days, though...
John C
Jem Raid
Take any mundane object and make an image, by any means, of it. The act
of doing this takes it away from its original surroundings, isolates it
and by so doing creates a work of art.
Jem
pronull
> Do you include giving pleasure to people as function ?
not really.. maybe i could define my use of 'function' more and less
the following way: "an object/act has a function if the
creation/initiation of it has a concrete purpose which also determines
the definition of the object/act." for example buildings are mainly
designed for being lived or worked in them and if their design starts
to prevent them to be used that way, they start to transform to
something other than 'buildings'..if chair is not seatable, it can no
longer be called a chair since its purpose of design is to be sit on.
(this could also apply the duchamp's 'fountain') the purpose of
advertisement is to impress people and make them buy it, without that
it cannot be called advertisement (same is true for any kind of
propaganda). my point is that if something has a name that is
associated with its purpose or function, i am inclined to exclude it
from being called art - art as in contemporary art.
however, this isn't as simple as it seems, as you mentioned, can we
take objects that are designed for effecting our emotions (e.g. give
pleasure) granted for art or not? i know that the line gets blurry
somewhere and this is the reason i posted this message at the first
place. the answer could be related to participatory/interactive
artworks which gives the viewer a certain degree of freedom for
determining an event or defining an art object, so the purpose of it
is constantly changing depending on the viewer/participator or just on
time..
pronull
So, the key is at 'creating an image' of the object? What I understand
by 'image' is any kind of representation of the object -that is,
because of its new context created by the artist, the object starts to
represent something other than what was originally intended. How about
an abstract (formalist) painting that claims to represent nothing but
itself?
John C
the ages that serve some religious, political, or social functions. After
all, they do take up a lot of time, effort and resources to create. The
artists would rarely find patrons, sponsors or commissions if otherwise.