Drunken Philosophy: What is Art?

## What is Art?

Sometimes it feels obvious, other times it’s completely baffling. Is art about the artist's intention, technical skill, or the way it moves us? Or could it be something deeper—maybe art shows us hidden truths about ourselves and the world?

Come relax, listen, share your own philosophical perspective, and maybe have a drink!

Discussion Questions

• Defining Art: Plato viewed art as an imitation of reality—can art even be objectively defined, or is it entirely subjective?
• Artist vs. Audience: Arthur Danto suggests art is defined by its interpretation within the "artworld." Who ultimately decides what counts as art—the creator, the critic, the viewer, or society?
• Limits of Art: Duchamp’s "Fountain" challenged our boundaries of art. Can anything—even ordinary objects or actions—become art?
• Art and Meaning: Kant argued true art should evoke "disinterested pleasure." Does art need to have a message or deeper meaning, or can it exist purely to please aesthetically?
• Art for the Masses: According to Benjamin, mass-produced art (film, photography, digital media) can democratize culture. Does widespread accessibility improve art or diminish its value?
• Art and Truth: Heidegger suggests art reveals hidden truths about existence. Has an artwork ever fundamentally changed how you understand the world? Can a work of art change the way an entire society views the world?
• Art and Emotion: Tolstoy believed the purpose of art is to transfer emotions. Must art evoke emotion to be valid?
• Cultural Impact: How do cultural backgrounds influence our definition of art? Could something be art in one culture but not in another?
• Art and Skill: Does art require technical skill or craftsmanship? Should a portrait of a crude person be painted crudely?
• Art Museums: Are museums gatekeepers of culture, preservers of history, or something else entirely? What role do art museums serve?
• NFT Art: Does art lose its value or authenticity if it only exists digitally?
• Moral Art: Should art strive to morally improve us as Plato and Tolstoy argued, or should it be free from moral duties, as Wilde proposed?
• Beauty and Meaning: Can art still be meaningful if it isn't traditionally "beautiful"? What qualities might make an artwork significant beyond aesthetic beauty?
• Rejection of New Ideas: Why do new artistic ideas often face initial rejection? Are groundbreaking works inherently challenging to accepted tastes, or is rejection more about comfort and familiarity?

## Additional Thought Experiments

### 1. The Found Object

If an artist presents an everyday object—like a urinal or a banana taped to a wall—in a gallery, does this automatically transform it into art?

### 2. AI Art

Can art created by artificial intelligence truly be considered "art"? Does the absence of human intention diminish its artistic legitimacy?

### 3. The Invisible Artwork

Imagine an exhibition showcasing an "invisible" artwork—an empty space labeled as art. Does such a piece hold artistic value or communicate meaningful ideas?

### 4. Time-Traveler’s Art

Would classical artists like Leonardo da Vinci or Michelangelo recognize modern abstract or conceptual art as meaningful, or dismiss it entirely?

### 5. Beauty vs. Innovation

Consider two artworks—one aesthetically pleasing yet conventional, another innovative but visually unpleasant. Which has greater artistic value, and why?