MJS_Journal Entry #1

Should art be intentional and representational to be considered art?


No, I do not think art should be intentional and representational to be considered art. Art can be intentional and representational for example when a business needs a company logo. Logos are created to represent a company and they are intentionally created for a specific company to sell that company. Now as far as “Should art be intentional and representational to be considered art,” no it does not have to be both intentional and representational. Most art is intentional but not all art for example the water worn pebble we read about in chapter one this past week in class was created originally by water warring it down over the years. Someone from the Paleolithic period might have possibly added color to the pebble, but water warring it down over the years originally created it. Is the pebble considered art? Yes, I think so because it was and is interesting and pleasing visually. It was not intentional but it was representational because it looked like a human face.

What is your personal definition of art?


My personal definition of art is when something visually pleasing is created. The technique in which it was created is not relevant in order for it to be considered art. It is good to know the technique in which it was created in order to document the technique for history purposes possible. Some artwork is created to be representational but in my opinion the best artwork is created as an abstract art with a pleasing or disturbing feel when you look at it. Or when an abstract piece of art gives some kind of message or meaning to its viewer. That would be my favorite type of art to look at because it makes me stop and think about the meanings or messages that an artwork might be trying to portray. I am a graphic designer so I work more with the intentional and representational concepts of art for example logos, flyers, etc. I have not been good at abstract art so when I see an abstract piece of art that has captured that message or feeling I really respect that artist for having accomplished that message or feeling.

Misty J. Slavens