In DESMA class, we learned about the connections and relationships between arts, science, and technology. Though most people know the general concept of science and technology, they may not understand the meaning of art. Art has unique definition for every person. In the following blog, I define art as a way to express a feeling or to deliver a message. Moreover, it is usually aesthetically pleasing to the artist and audience. For example, a beautiful painting of sunset at seashore is not only realistic and beautiful, but it also delivers a message of sorrow. The nice day at the beach is coming to an end. People usually feel sad.

A masterpiece can be also called art if it contains only one of the requirements. For example, a portrait of a person is an art. It shows a beautifully drawn person but nothing more. It is still an art. The math rock which we heard last week is also an art. As the artist stated, the music contains no meaning or messages. By process of elimination, the only reason that it is an art is that it is pleasing to the artist’s ears. Although a portion of the audience have a different taste for music, as long as the artist enjoys the sound, the production can be considered as art to the artist. Another example of debatable art is Survival Research Laboratories. This performance art group features large machineries and their destructive, violent actions. A large amount of audience does not agree with the creators that the performance can be considered as art. It contains no meaning and dangerous. As Professor Vesna stated, SRL could deliver a message of chaos. The destructive force and explosion show the chaos and disasters.

Another debatable art is robotic painting. In this example, robots have the ability to use brush and paint to create a painting using implemented algorithm. The simple software in the robot’s CPU tells the robot where to turn and how fast to go. After a half an hour or so, the painting is done. The result is less than pleasing for even larger number of audience. The result of half hour of paint job is combination of different geometric shapes that overlapped one another. No distinct shapes or graph or object can be seen in the painting. I believe that the message is not in the painting but the painting itself. The fact that a robot has an ability to enter art world where no other machineries have ever been is very interesting. Just in this decade, a computer call Chinook has solved the checker game. These two news show the interesting aspect of robots and their exponential speed of advancement both in entertainment and in art.

Art is a way of expressing a message or feeling. It has unique definition to everyone who sees it. Since everyone has different opinion, it is likely that two people’s opinions differ. A performance seem like art to one person would be garbage to another. To me, it is not necessary to criticize another person’s masterpiece. When I see an art, I would accept it if I like it, avoid it if I do not like it.