Chapter 1 What is Art?

This chapter helps you explore the "why" of art, the things that works of art do. The following items will assist in beginning to categorize art. Remember, however, that a given work of art may do more than just one of the following.

Art creates beauty Art enhances our environment Art reveals truth Art immortalizes Art expresses religious beliefs Art expresses fantasy Art stimulates the intellect and fires the emotions Art creates order and harmony Art expresses chaos Art records and commemorates experience Art reflects the social and cultural context Art protests injustice and raises social consciousness Art elevates the commonplace

Essay Question: Define conceptual art, give an example of a conceptual piece from Understanding Art, and describe an idea that you have for a conceptual piece of your own.

--Simple one page essay. (Just answer the question) Due Sunday October 26th, 2008

1. How does the first chapter in your book try to answer the question "What Is Art"?

2. What do "creating beauty, revealing truth, and expressing religious beliefs" all have in common?

3. Give an example of how art enhances the environment.4. How did Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung influence art of the twentieth century?5. How is art used to explain social and cultural contexts and even to raise social

consciousness?6. Give four more purposes for art that are not mentioned in the7. Given all the reasons to create art suggested by both the author and yourself

(answer to question #6), which one or two are the most important to you?