What is Art

In 1976 the Tate gallery showed a work that consisted of 120 bricks. The exhibition provoked an intense reaction from the press and the public. Could this be Art, or had the Tate wasted public money on a pile of bricks?

In the first part:
we will try to answer a question that has bothered philosophers for many years: what is art?

In thinking about this we might consider other questions: Is it possible to find a definition that includes all types of art? Can we define art that applies to all times and places? Do we need to define art?

In the second part of the evening we will use our understanding to illuminate other problems - Choose 2 or more questions in your groups:

1). How does art differ from craft?

2. What makes a work of art good or great? (What criteria should we be using?)

3). Could we have an objective standard for evaluating art or is it always in the eye of the beholder?

4). Does art always mean something?

5). How do we work out the meaning of a work of art?

6). Is it important to try to understand an artist’s intentions?

7). Do we need to understand the context of a work of art or should we try to experience the work of art in isolation from other things?

8). Is Art commodified in our culture? (has it always been?). Does this change the way we experience Art?

There is no need to prepare for this session but I found the following interview really interesting:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=PJwDiSBafIQ&is=OGITcyQuvU9uXBjw

PiPs is part of a national movement to encourage people to think about some of the 'big ideas' in life. No expertise necessary, only the desire to do what Wittgenstein described as 'untangling the knots in the way we think about things'.

It is a collective activity, not a debating club.
Everyone attending, and there is often a wide range of people present, is encouraged to listen to and engage with the topic. We hope it is fun and provides plenty of food for thought.
The organisers are trying to find ways to collect money from attendees towards the costs of running the sessions, mostly the costs of using this Meetup site. One of the organisers has something on their phone that can take payments. Suggested amount? Just a few quid now and again for regulars. For anyone turning up for the first time, it's free.

We follow the 'four C's' to manage sessions. These are -

• Caring for others, making space for their contributions
• Collaborating to get a better mutual understanding rather than scoring points
• Critically assessing what we say, clarifying what is meant and asking what reasons support assertions
• Creatively coming up with alternative perspectives, rather than dogmatically sticking to our initial positions