by Holly Huffstutler

Created on: April 19, 2009

One of my working definitions of art is that it is created when the intentionality to create art results in a creation that elicits a emotional response in the observer.

Since the type of emotion is not specified this claim is inclusive of whatever emotion the artist intends to elicit. For example a photograph that was taken and released with the intention to portray a horrific aspect of war and elicit the rage and empathy in the viewer. Or a piece of music that was intended to cheer its listeners by urging us to stay inside and make banana pancakes on a rainy day and "pretend that it's the weekend." The working definition presented above does not consider either one more valid artistically than the other.

My definition does not specified that the artwork has to elicit the same emotion that the artist was feeling. Therefore art that elicits an unintended emotion is included here, regardless of whether the unintended emotion is caused by an unexpected perspective or the artist's own incompetence. If a horrible play that was intended to be serious was found to be unintentionally hilarious, it doesn't stop being art, it's just starts to be bad art. My inclusion of this type of artistic failure is not meant to advocate bad art. I address it here because if one wants the good, they must learn to acknowledge the bad. Its like free speech, If you want some one to listen to your views you have to be prepared to listen to theirs.

I use the word "intentionality" in the definition to give credit to the craftsmanship involved in well thought out art. Hard work is often detectable and because of that it's appreciated. Why else would a higher market value be placed on couture evening gowns than mass produced tank tops?

I whole heartedly acknowledge that there may be a flaw in this definition. My working definition of what qualifies as art has a stated criteria of intentionality. This leaves out things like ancient tools that were meant for functionality and are seen by modern eyes as sculpture. Or a unique beautiful arrangement flowers and moss in a forest that was clearly planned by no one except God that is as visually pleasing as a Degas. These two examples fall under what is commonly referred to as "found art." But my theory stipulates that this is one definition of art, therefore found art is a subject for another time in someone else's thesis. So I give you license to fill that whole.

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