Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines talent as: a special often creative or artistic aptitude, or: general intelligence or mental power. The internet is opening up new opportunities for expression, which require new types of skills. Therefore, the internet is allowing new talents to flourish. Whereas before, talent might be seen as the inborn ability to paint, sing, or dance, we must now include all types of digital creation. As we saw in class, Lasse Gjertsen is certainly musically talented, but not in a traditional way. Technology enabled him to create music, even though he could not play an instrument. There are so many possibilities with computers; basically if you can think it up, you can find the tool to help you bring it into reality! As educators, I think it is important that we teach students the skills they need in order to express their talents. As digital natives, they may feel more comfortable expressing themselves in these untraditional ways. Technology is bringing about new art forms, which we must acknowledge. There is certainly a lot of junk available on the internet, but we must reconsider what art is. Art is defined as the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects, and works so produced. Creating a video or website certainly requires skill and creativity, but the aesthetics of the end result are highly subjective. I‘d love to hear some opinions on this subject- what do you think art is?
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Lindsay Millar Said:
on June 14, 2008 at 8:48 pm
I’ve thought about this question a lot. I have viewed the possibilities of what is art and what isn’t, and have discovered it is hard to create a difference between the two sometimes. But I do have a theory. I believe that art is one of the biggest influences in our lives, whether we realize it or not. Art is essential to our development as human beings. The word art spans many genres and abilities, as the internet displays. I believe that our schools, our lives and our ways of education would be incomplete without art. All the media we view on tv, on commercials, in ads is a product of artistic vision. Music that plays in every store, on our ipods, basically everywhere is art. Without art, we lose a part of enjoyment. I think that there are other subject areas that fulfill similar purposes, but everyone has been touched and involved in art at some point.
When I look at how do we categorize art, I think about where art comes from, which is an inspiration, a spark. I think about the possibilities of that spark, while talent sometimes lends itself in art practices, talent is not necessarily needed to create powerful art. I think it is more about acquiring the skills for the task, just like we learn to count and read. We have to teach art and teach students to think artistically to help generate the spark or inspiration. Art is objective and subjective, unfortunately, in answer to your question, there is not one box I can put art into, and that is what I love about it. I have views on it, but I do not believe my views are the only way.
Good post!
Sarah Said:
on June 18, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Hey…good thoughts. Actually, if you ever get a chance, take a class from denis morrison….shes AWESOME! and she does some work with aesthetic experience, and what art exactly is. I look at art in a few ways… art can be a traditional strand (dance, visual art, music, etc) and is done in both formal and informal ways, it is more like a noun in this sense. I also look at art as a sensation. Does it make you appreciate beauty, or in some case, extreme ugliness….what even is beauty ( in the eye of the beholder, right???) So, in saying this….anything could be art! If you’ve ever watched a meteor shower on a cloudless night…that could be art. Or watched a baby stare in wonder at something…that can be beauty. So, I think it is hard to put a definition on what art is….I agree with Lindsay in what she says about art being all around us…whether we realize it or not. Art can be a release, or a creation, or simply an appreciation….it makes it hard to define, but I think we spend too much time trying to define black and white anyways….
Great thought provoking post!