What is Art?

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Fine Art, Folk Art or Mass Art?
What are the differences?

Fine Art

What is fine art?

• Fine art of the fine arts encompass art forms developed primarily for aesthetics and/or concept rather than practical application.
  
• Art is often a synonym for fine art, as employed in the term ‘art gallery’
  

What are its characteristics?

• Academic training
  
• aesthetic/ no function aside from communication
  
• Historical comparisons are important
  
• Intent of artist is important
  
• Reproductions are not as valuable as the original
  
• Method and technology used in its creation varies wildly
  
• Who mis it for→ elite, knowledgeable audience
  

Folk Art

What is folk art?

• Folk art encompasses art produced from an indigenous culture or by peasants or other laboring tradespeople.
  
• In contrast to fine art, folk art is primarily utilitarian and decorative rather than purely aesthetic
  

What are its characteristics?

• Traditional or no training
  
• Historical
  
• Functional
  
• Aesthetic
  
• Low-tech
  
• Noncommercial
  
• Personal expression
  

Mass Art

What is Mass Art (Media)?

• Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies, including the Internet, Television, newspaper, film and radio, which are used for mass communications and to the organizations which control these technologies
  

What are its characteristics?

• Reproducible
  
• Distributed to an audience through technology
  
• Lack of historical comparison
  
• High technology used in its creation
  
• Performers and producers may or may not have academic training
  

Assignment 1 - What Is Art?

Digital Response to What is Art Lecture - Using Sounds, Images, Video and Text make a film that explores your understanding of art, its uses and your relationship to it. We will discuss the specifics in class.

How Facebook Defines Art