Quoting ARLO J BENSINGER JR <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > [Steve] > Art as experience. I think the act of producing art helps one to appreciate > "high-quality" art. > > [Arlo] > And I'd agree with you, Steve, albeit I'll take a moment to nitpick, because > it > sounds a bit too focused on an art "object" there at the end (which could just > be the fault of common language). Indeed, its tough to talk about "art" > without > using the word "art" to refer to the material/visual/aural manifestations of > human activity. But since I'm serious about pushing "art" to be revisioned not > as the the "artifact" but as a participatory experience where an artifact can > be see retrospectively as a catalyst, perhaps, towards breaking down static > barriers, "art" as a synonym for "object" is something I resist. > > Having said all that, I'd say that "artful behavior towards a certain activity > can engender artful behavior towards other activities". When one paints with > "artful engagement", one becomes respectful of "artful engagement" towards > playing the guitar. When one tunes one's motorcycle, or builds a rotisserie, > with "artful engagement", appreciating the work of a pianist or belly-dancer > is > much easier. > > I'm likely flogging a dead horse, but since this was a key "a ha!" point for > me > with ZMM, its one I tend to get excited about. > > [Steve] > Therefore, instead of "lack of educated taste," people would probably > appreciate > art if they experienced how hard it is to make art themselves. > > [Arlo] > I think they would appreciate art if they experienced it period. This gets > back > to the whole ZMM thing. "Art" has become a frivolous word, applied to things > hanging in museums, and divorced for being a meaningful part of everyday > experience. The mechanic who approaches his motorcycle with the eyes and heart > of a craftsman, will develop the same appreciation for art-experience as > someone who studies how to paint or chisel marble statues. "Art" is NOT an > elective to be applied like syrup over the syllabus (I'm not suggesting you > imply this), "art" is an integral part of the experience of math, poetry, > cookery, rhetoric, fixing motorcycles, building bridges and raking leaves. It > is the "right way" of doing anything, that exhibits the beauty, harmony and > rhythm of existence. > > The "art", if you will, is not the music you create, it is the act of creating > something that exhibits such beauty and rhythm and harmony as to facilitate a > sort-of transcendence among all involved. And if people approached their > everyday activity with that mindset, then appreciation for all these other > activities would (I hope!) fall naturally into place.
Excellent! High quality both in content and expression, an artful essay that demonstrates its subject. A keeper. Thanks. ------------------------------------------------- This mail sent through IMP: http://horde.org/imp/ moq_discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/
