Do you have to "know" art to have an opinion?

Who can say if art is good or bad?

Photo by Alina Grubnyak on Unsplash

I had a discussion the other day with a coworker.

She said, "I don't know anything about art!"

That made me so frustrated and a bit angry.

What the world has done to us.

We have "to know" to have an opinion.

An elitist way of looking at the world.

And don't think she is alone in that opinion.

And it is a bit sad.

First of all, what is the definition of art?

To use https://www.britannica.com/art/visual-arts is the definition:

art, also called (to distinguish it from other art forms) visual art, a visual object or experience consciously created through an expression of skill or imagination. The term art encompasses diverse media such as painting, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, decorative arts, photography, and installation.

So now you know that, at least.

I was curious to see what chatGPT would answer to the question, "What is the definition of good art" and here is the answer:

Defining "good" art is subjective and varies depending on personal tastes, cultural and social contexts, and the purpose of the artwork. However, there are some common qualities that are often associated with good art, including:

Originality: Good art is often characterized by its uniqueness and originality. It may offer a new perspective on a topic or challenge the norms and conventions of its genre.

Skill: Good art often requires technical skill and expertise, whether it's in the use of a medium or the execution of a particular style or technique.

Emotional Impact: Good art often evokes an emotional response from the viewer or listener. It may inspire awe, wonder, joy, sadness, or other feelings.

Meaningful Content: Good art often has a message or idea that is communicated through the work. It may tell a story, convey a moral or political message, or offer a commentary on society or culture.

Relevance: Good art is often relevant to its time and place, reflecting the concerns and issues of the society in which it was created.

Ultimately, what constitutes "good" art is subjective and depends on the individual viewer's experience and interpretation. However, these qualities are often associated with works that are widely regarded as masterpieces or culturally significant.

I don't like the painting Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci (britannica uses a photo of that painting), it is true, I don't, and it is one of the most famous paintings in the world!

It doesn't appeal to me at all, I think it is quite boring, a portrait of a "mysterious" smiling woman. I don't say it is bad or not art, but it is not appealing to me at all.

Then it has an interesting history, but that is history, not art, or to be clearer it is art history.

Leonardo da Vinci does not give me much vibes at all, Michelangelo I like a lot on the other hand. They lived almost the same period, but for me they paint in a very different style.

Still it is my opinion, not the truth.

Art has to do with emotions, whether you like it or not, to make it simple.

You can't know anything about the intention the artist has unless you ask him or her. Often people read something into an artwork, that is nice and ok, but that is their feeling and thinking about the artwork.

Not always the intention the artist had, but it gives that person a certain feeling.

And that's enough.

You can learn to think in a way, by reading about it, but that isn't your feelings. It is the writer's feeling.

You can learn to " think right".

But something is missing, though.

Your feeling.

There is nothing like good or bad art.

You don't have to be an expert to like something or not.

Even if you don't like it, you still have your feelings, and that is something.

No one can say, that is art, that is not art.

But you can say, I like it, I don't like it, neither is wrong.

Art is only about your feelings and emotions. Nothing else.

Not others' feelings about art pieces.

That is learning, and something else.

So never say you don't know anything about art as long as you have feelings.

As long as it triggers something inside you, you "know art". At least your feelings about it.

But never, I can't say it enough, NEVER say that is art, that is not art.

No one can.

Art isn't about the price tag.

That is about investment.

Not art.

Often that money doesn't end at the artist.

Who perhaps needs them most, to survive.

The money the art piece is selling for isn't always a definition of "good" art, but rather a speculation of art made by a named artist.

We, humans, have the ability and need to be experts at something, even in art and music and books or whatever.

Someone gives a review of what is good or bad in a paper about those subjects, and sometimes that becomes the truth in everyone's mouths.

But one person's feelings or emotions can't be yours.

So to respond to the title of this article, no one can say what is bad or good art.

Only you.