Definition Essay-How Does Art Evolve?

2695 Words11 Pages

“Baby you’re a firework, come on let your colors burst!” When we think of art, we think of Beethoven and Picasso, not of Katy Perry and movies like World War Z. It seems like in today’s society, many of the things that fall into the category of art, such as music and film, are just a shallow veneer designed for the masses and seeking to create the most profit. However, as I contemplated this, I wondered if art was simply evolving. Rap music and violent movies, two examples of an art form, can perhaps be seen as reflections of our society. I think that art is supposed to communicate something to an audience and if rap music describes a certain time in history then shouldn’t it make sense that rapping is a form of true art? I thought of Picasso …show more content…

For instance, while we can certainly say that everyone who originates from the continent of Asia is Asian, this is not technically accurate and has been known to offend people. The problem gets worse the more specific you attempt to be and the same is true of art. I began to wonder how it is that the definition of art has changed so much over a relatively short period of the world’s history. Was there a specific cause for this change or was it a collection of things? My next step was to ask the question, “How does art …show more content…

If Jirousek had attempted to show how the idea of art as a whole has evolved, it would have created a much more powerful message. However, I understand why she did not because it was written for the purpose of educating college art students. On the other hand, even without including other art forms, I think that her points can be applied to them as well. Music, for example, has throughout history evolved with the times and has sought to surprise people with shocking phrases and tunes. Music has shifted its actual style innumerous times over the past one hundred years alone in addition to evolving as new technologies are developed.
As I explored this text, I found several things interesting. The world has a tendency of fighting back against anything that does not fit under the specified guidelines put into place. Why do the majority of people rebuke new ideas before they even consider them? Reading about how critics often judge art and decide what is worthy or not caused me to wonder what makes art good or