Activity 1: Defining Art

Table 1. Personal Definitions of Art

Name Answer
1. Roma Antonette S. Rivera Art is an expression
2. Marc Joseph S. Rivera Art shows beauty
3. Krissa Fea Furagganan Art is an emotional power
4. Denzell Vasco Art represent yourself

Y N
Are there similarities among the definitions you

listed?
Are there other definitions do you find yourself

agreeing with?
Are there any definitions here that you think may be

wrong?
Are all these definitions actually acceptable and

reasonable?

Table 2. Definition of art from the chapter “What is Art?” by Robert Stecker.

Personality Category Definition Problems/Limitations

This definition is far
too narrowly
circumscribed by
Collingwood. It rules
out many items
Art is an activity: that normally accepted as
of clarifying an artworks. It assumes
emotion. This that the emotion
R. G. Collingwood Art as expression clarifying is not done expressed in a work is
in a general way but always the artist’s
as particular as emotion, but it is not
possible. at all clear why a
work cannot express,
or be expressive of,
an emotion not felt
by the artist when
creating the work.
 This definition rules
Art is what has out the possibility of
significant form. an ugly work of art,
“Significant” means and picks out one
being able to important property
C. Bell Formalism evoke/show aesthetic for which we value
emotion, while art, while ignoring
“form” refers to others at the cost of
anything that has line excluding both bad
and color. and great works of
art.
This definition rules
out natural objects,
since they are not
made with the
Art is something requisite intention,
produced with the but it seems to
Beardsley Aesthetic Definitions
intention to satisfy an include many artifacts
aesthetic interest. that may not be
artworks, but are
made with
aesthetically pleasing
features.
This problem with this
definition is that it
just changes the
subject from an
Art is an artifact that
attempt to figure out
Schlesinger Aesthetic Definitions provides aesthetic
why we classify object
experience.
as art to mere
stipulation that
something is art if it is
an aesthetic object
The problems lies
with the notion that
the more one
Art is any creative
requires such
arrangement of one
“significance,” the
or more media to
Lind Aesthetic Definitions less likely it is that all
communicate a
artworks will possess
significant aesthetic
it, for we have seen
object.
that many recent
works are not
primarily concerned
 with creating a rich
aesthetic experience.

The problem lies with

the notion that if
Something can called
none are specified
art in virtue of “family
then the view is
Weitz & Ziff Antiessentialism resemblance,” or set
empty, since
of similarities to other
everything bears a
works.
similarity to
everything else.
The definition rules
out those artworks
Something is art if it that cannot satisfy
has all five things: those conditions.
subject, Aren’t many works of
attitude/point of music, architecture,
A. Danto Historical
view, meaning, an or ceramics, and even
interpretation, and a some abstract or
clear historical decorative painting,
context. examples of work of
art, which are yet
about nothing?
Something is art if it is
Conferral of
an artifact and if it
candidacy for
has a set of aspects
appreciation is
that have been
subjective (who is the
G. Dickie Institutional deemed eligible for
“authority” and what
appreciation by some
made them that);
persons or group on
leads to circularity
behalf of the art
and incompleteness
world (authority).
(1) An artwork is a The definition rules
thing that has been out the separate
seriously attended for condition to
regard-as-a-work-of- determine what
art. (2) Something is a makes first artworks
work of art because art, and a reason for
J. Levinson Historical
of a relation it bears thinking that this
to earlier works, separate account
which are in turn also won’t serve to explain
art because of the why all artworks are
relation it bears to art, obviating the
other earlier works need for a historical
 and so on. approach.
Something is art as This definition rules
long as it corresponds out those items or
R. Stecker Historical to the art forms and artworks that don’t
function of at a given belong to the central
time. art form.

Table 3. Your chosen objects/files and definitions that prove that they are art works.

Description, image, or Matching definitions from

Matching definitions from
illustration of your chosen “What is Art?” and your
Table 1.
“artwork” defense.
This mug fits Bell’s definition
Example 1: of art as having significant
form. First, it’s significant
Art is anything that is
because it is able to provide
beautiful and useful.
an aesthetic experience to me.
And it has lines and forms, so
it has form.
According to Schlesinger, art
is any artifact that provides
Example 2: aesthetic experience. Through
the melodies and lyrics of
Taylor Swift’s songs, I feel all Art is a form of expression.
sorts of emotions, from happy
to sad to inspired. Because of
this, I feel joy and find beauty
in this collection of songs.
1.

According to Beardsley, art is

something produced with the
intention to satisfy an
aesthetic interest. This
artwork satisfies my aesthetic
Art is beauty.
sense as I am fond of things
related to space and found it
fascinating. Thus this artwork,
which is galaxy – themed,
Source: makes me satisfied
https://images.app.goo.gl/pPFswm
46LFn8cRQA6
 According to Collingwood, art
is an activity: that of clarifying
2. an emotion. This clarifying is
not done in a general way but
as particular as possible. Art is an emotional power
Listening to Ed Sheeran’s
songs makes me feel love. It
makes me clearly realize and
feel what love is.
3. According to Bell, art is what
has significant form.
“Significant” means being able
to evoke/show aesthetic
emotion, while “form” refers
Art is beauty.
to anything that has line and
color. This artwork arouses
beauty, and is enthralling. It
Source:
https://images.app.goo.gl/WSfj4TQ
also has its form, those lines
VeVVW2qui8 and colors.
According to Lind, art is any
creative arrangement of one
or more media to
communicate a significant
aesthetic object. Through
listening to Taylor Swift’s
songs, I can feel different
kinds of emotions, depending
4.
on the intention of the artist.
It communicates and Art represent yourself
delivered what the artist is
projected to. Moreover,
Taylor Swift’s songs were
written according to her
experience herself thus it
makes it easier for me to feel
all its emotion and also helps
me appreciate the beauty of
the songs more.

Once you’re done with Table 3, write your answer to these four questions in the space
provided.
1. What were the challenges you encountered in filling up Table 3? How do these
challenges relate to the many problems and limitations of the definitions given in
Stecker’s “What Is Art?” chapter? 1 point
- I am confused in some of the definitions in Table 2, which makes it hard for me to
find an art work, and I am also having difficulty in matching those definitions in Table
1. Those limitations/problems in the definitions given are the reason why I am
confused and having a hard time finding artworks that may fit those said definitions.
2. Why do you think we’ve been encountering difficulties defining the word “art”, as
compared to the sciences, for instance, where we can easily define terms such as
“photosynthesis” or “water,” without sparking much debate? 1 point
- Art is broad. It is the reason why we’re encountering difficulties in defining it. Some
of our ideas clashes which results in sparking debate among us.
3. Robert Stecker concludes that art is not one thing; therefore, art cannot be defined by
just one definition. Do you agree? Explain your answer. 1 point
- Yes, as art encompasses many factors, it is only natural that art cannot be defined by
just one definition. Art is also dynamic; it changes as time pass by thus its definition
will also not stick to only one definition.
4. After this activity, would you change anything about your initial definition of the word
“art”? What would it now be? Explain your answer. 1 point
- I will not change my initial definition but I will add some more. Art, aside from being
an expression, is also an aesthetic definition. It evokes one’s aesthetic sense.