State of the "Art"

[DavidS]

Thanks for liking my Innsmouth sketch. Yeah, maybe when I find time I will try to do more "throughout" stuff with lovecraftian lore. Would love to make a good game or see a good movie dealing with the setting. Sadly DelToro wasn`t able to finance "At the Mountains of Madness" a few years ago.

Hmmmm, I think our main difference in thinking is that we consider art on the successfull deliverance of its purpose. While you appear to be of the opinion that art that fails to get a message across and is able to influence people is not art, I am of the opinion that even unsuccesfull art or "derailed/mislead" art is still art although it failed to get its point across. Maybe it is different though.

Games might or might not be art, but I think we both can agree that there can be art found within certain games already (like certain parts of The Line or a certain creature design in an old Silent Hill game (like the bobblehead nurses that are a play on sexuality archetypes).).

I`d like to mention that "art" has also changed throughout time. Michelangelo for instance was what people today would consider a freelance designer if he would be living right now. Much like DaVinci, Rembrandt and even Mucha (whom I consider the very first "true" advertising designer). They were contract workers that are mainly known for bringing the craft to the next level, but the "message" was often quite secondary. Especially illustration was often used to portrait certain moments, religious believes or persons that are of matter in their respective times. The camera changed everything and only then was art allowed (or "forced") into a puberty that brought forward styles like expressionism or kubism. A huge feat for society as it also was about getting a certain freedom of the mind. Now art was not mainly about the craft anymore, but also much more about cultural growth. For me, that is the reason why it is perfectly acceptable that some modern art isn`t all that impressive on a mere technological level.

Oh and I agree with your statement that one has to keep an open mind. This is very true, especially as an artist or designer. But I do think it is not wrong to have some preferences. For instance I don`t "hate" goth scene music as I understand why it does exist...but given the choice between "Das Ich" ("batcave" I think?) or "Venetian Snares" (experimental electronic music) I will likely chose the later. It is part of my personality and what touches me more on an emotional level. It also puts me in a context with my social environment and allows me to "specialise" and expand on certain cultural branches that are in my interest. After all, I am a product of my environment and I don`t live forever. The reason why I am better with the pencil than with the brush.

I think I derailed my own thread now. Originally it was more about the growing ignorance toward certain parts of art history and now we`re having a one on one discussion about artistic principles. Funny how these things go.