by Andrew Witherspoon

Created on: December 25, 2006   Last Updated: May 17, 2007

Artistic expression varies greatly from forms of expression in times past. One difference is the human mind. Another difference is the human experience. A third difference is the human capability for creating technology thereby increasing the forms and variations of artistic expression.

The poem below expresses just one viewpoint or understanding of the human mind in relationship to art.

"Art lies in the mind and hand of the molder.
Beauty, the thoughts and eye of the beholder."

"How can either be separated, or expressed?"
"How could they, or should they, be combined,
who decides the test?"

"Can my art be your beauty, your beauty my
art?"
"Definitive question or answer, which is the whole, which the part?"

"Beauty, art, the mind, the thought."
"Which is which, and which is naught."

Art includes such a wide range of expression because there is such variety in human experience and a seemingly limitless individual imagination. The human mind may find artistic expression in almost every endeavor. While the beauty of most art forms can be appreciated by all, it is often very difficult for people of one culture to understand art produced by another culture. Art carries meaning and communicates certain views in most cultures. In the western world where individual experience and action are so highly valued, the artist's meaning may be wholly personal Even the most individualistic artists cannot remove themselves from their culture. Socio-cultural position influences their experiences and actions, and thus affects their artistic expression as well. It is because artistic works carry meaning that the study of art is so important to understanding, or at least appreciating other cultures and societies at all points in time. The Arts are the windows to a people's cultural and social soul. Acquire some understanding of a people's art, and you will know something of their values and beliefs. It can be argued that with all of this being basically the same throughout time, that that the art of today is radiacally different from the art of yesterday. Art originiates in the mind and mindset of people. Whenever there is a radical change in that mindset, it only follows that anything affect by that mindset, (ie. art) will change as well. Not only does art change, everything associated with it does. How we communicate and understand each other, how we experience things and how we act. Some could argue that art changes as a result of these things, but I would argue that art changes each of

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