Category:Digital Truth

Digital Truth
What is Art? Is it pleasure, perfect, objective, and/or displeasing? Do its means of lines, colors, movements, and sounds bring an external emotion that brings feelings to a viewer (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/art)? And who gives the art meaning? Is it the producer, the viewer, or both?

In all human aspects, art is everywhere: from songs to clothing to pictures and videos, and even nature. Individuals such as Michelangelo, Velazquez, Lange, Spielberg, and others have brought art to the forefront for our examination, entertainment, and enjoyment. But with social media/technology, the art of art is rapidly changing. Pictures and videos can easily be manipulated by a stroke of a key to strengthen and/or weaken propaganda and songs can be dubbed to fit the needs of a certain population (see http://ethicsinediting.wordpress.com/2009/04/01/photo-manipulation-through-history-a-timeline/).

While art can serve many purposes, the question that rises is "whom gives art meaning?" Is it the artist, the viewer, or both?" It appears that in our society, art is influenced by the historical, social, political, philosophical, and religious influences of the common day. The "Migrant Mother," by Dorothea Lange (i.e.http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/fsahtml/fachap03.html), was produced in response to the historical movement of the Great Depression. "Las Meninas" by Diego Velazquez (i.e.http://www.velazquezlasmeninas.com/), was painted to convey the European Boroque style of art in Spain. And "King Andrew the First," (i.e. http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2008661753/), an 1832 political cartoon, depicting president Andrew Jackson as a king for his abused powers of president.

So in response to the question being asked, it is my belief that the producer, the viewer, and the current agenda gives meaning to art. It is the artist, who takes in the cultural surroundings and formulates a piece of work to the community. It is then the affected viewer's responsibility to either become influenced by the work, or become repelled by it. It is the relationship, between the artist and the viewer, whom surround their thoughts, their perceptions, and their ideas around a common cultural event, that truly makes a picture worth a thousand words.