What is Art?

I am rigging my model for the second time after a failure of epic proportions.... must ...follow...the tutorial more closely D'= … and I am making bread..our new bread maker is wonderful ='D

Disclaimer!...All of what I am saying here is based on my own opinion.

Warning wall of text begins here....

I am taking a short break and there is another thing that has been on my mind for a while. As most of you are aware there is a lot of fuss over what is art and what isn't. People have been arguing over it for centuries. People saying the sublime isn't art, landscapes weren't art, comics weren't art and manga isn't art ^{(even though manga and comics are technically the same thing)}

I personally believe art is a deeply personal thing and it differs drastically from person to person. It can be a piece that evokes an introspective point of view on society, human nature, aesthetics, a statement, emotional, historical or focused on the future. I often hear people complain about those painting that involve merely throwing paint on a canvas. Usually its something like this "That rubbish takes absolutely no skill, I could go throw oil paint on an oversized canvas, then would I become a famous artist?".The fact that they threw paint on a canvas has nothing to do with showing their talent but more of a visual question of what's art and why can't this be art too? Its more of an outside the box idea on the constraints of what's considered art in society. I don't really want to go into a history lesson but if you have spare time and want to look it up then look for Modernist art.

Art takes the maturity to step back and question why? What does it make you feel? This is the basis behind art, and this brings me into my next point.

Art and DeviantArt.
Deviant art is no-doubt the biggest art community on the internet and has an array of different artists from all walks of life. This brings a wide range or art and a wide range of opinions and naturally opinions tend to clash and people tend to get angry. For example the whole 'that's porn not art because I say so' or 'that doesn't belong on this site therefore it isn't art'. De/motivation Posters are my pet peeve and I really really don't like them, they break the TOS (terms of service)(only if they use infringing material) for this site and they take little to no effort BUT I still think they are art. Why? Because they intent to convey an emotion or feeling. Whether it's motivation, humour or just aesthetics, in my eyes they have just as much right to be called art as Da Vinci's Mona Lisa. Porn on the other hand, you can call it trashy, tacky, cheap whatever you want and in most cases I would agree, but I still think its art. It does evoke a feeling and even if its lust, its still a feeling that it was intended to portray but and image that merely has nudity and is clearly not intended to be overtly sexual being labelled as porn is a bit ridiculous.

Warning mature content in the linked images

For example Rapture by Algenpfleger and Janaschi fav.me/d2eg1u8
Combined both of the images have around 120 dismissed reports. Why? Because the DA staff have decided this image doesn't violate TOS or is an exception. I myself had a problem with this image a year or so ago but my opinion has changed since then. I do not think it is porn but it is definitely sexual. The image is shocking to say the least but I think that is its purpose. Its bizarre, disturbing and perhaps symbolises a distorted and sin filled world remaining after a rapture. It could also just be something that the artist duo drew for their friend out of preference but either way its an interesting image to interpret. Like I said before you need to step back and question why? What does it make you feel? If its disgust? Is that what you are meant to feel? If its curiosity, awe, confusion? Is it all intentional? That is why I really like this piece. (besides the fact it's stunningly painted) I also think there is an emphasis on the contrast between the beauty of the girls and the ugliness of the bugs.

Another example is Crisis de Identidad by Angelishi angelishi.deviantart.com/art/C…
This image was awarded a DD and there was a lot of fuss over it. A lot of people had concerns that it broke Deviant Art TOS and that staff were playing favourites with deviations. I will admit it was teetering on the edge of what is allowed but DA clearly states in its TOS that it will grant  exceptions if there is grounds to do so. I am glad DA does this since they save them for works that convey a lot of meaning. This work for example shows the horrors, confusion and pain of gender crisis and gender identity. Its rigid visual style conveys a lot of emotional anguish and I feel it shows the horrors and pain people going through such an ordeal must feel.

TL;DR: Art is personal and what I consider art may not be what you consider art. Just appreciate the diversity and try not to fight so much

If you have any thoughts on this? feel free to share.