[MD] Art as Experience

[pholden at davtv.com]

Quoting ARLO J BENSINGER JR <ajb102 at psu.edu>:

> [Steve]
> Art as experience.  I think the act of producing art helps one to appreciate
> "high-quality" art.
> 
> [Arlo]
> And I'd agree with you, Steve, albeit I'll take a moment to nitpick, because it
> sounds a bit too focused on an art "object" there at the end (which could just
> be the fault of common language). Indeed, its tough to talk about "art" without
> using the word "art" to refer to the material/visual/aural manifestations of
> human activity. But since I'm serious about pushing "art" to be revisioned not
> as the the "artifact" but as a participatory experience where an artifact can
> be see retrospectively as a catalyst, perhaps, towards breaking down static
> barriers, "art" as a synonym for "object" is something I resist.
> 
> Having said all that, I'd say that "artful behavior towards a certain activity
> can engender artful behavior towards other activities". When one paints with
> "artful engagement", one becomes respectful of "artful engagement" towards
> playing the guitar. When one tunes one's motorcycle, or builds a rotisserie,
> with "artful engagement", appreciating the work of a pianist or belly-dancer is
> much easier. 
> 
> I'm likely flogging a dead horse, but since this was a key "a ha!" point for me
> with ZMM, its one I tend to get excited about. 
> 
> [Steve]
> Therefore, instead of "lack of educated taste," people would probably appreciate
> art if they experienced how hard it is to make art themselves.
> 
> [Arlo]
> I think they would appreciate art if they experienced it period. This gets back
> to the whole ZMM thing. "Art" has become a frivolous word, applied to things
> hanging in museums, and divorced for being a meaningful part of everyday
> experience. The mechanic who approaches his motorcycle with the eyes and heart
> of a craftsman, will develop the same appreciation for art-experience as
> someone who studies how to paint or chisel marble statues. "Art" is NOT an
> elective to be applied like syrup over the syllabus (I'm not suggesting you
> imply this), "art" is an integral part of the experience of math, poetry,
> cookery, rhetoric, fixing motorcycles, building bridges and raking leaves. It
> is the "right way" of doing anything, that exhibits the beauty, harmony and
> rhythm of existence.
> 
> The "art", if you will, is not the music you create, it is the act of creating
> something that exhibits such beauty and rhythm and harmony as to facilitate a
> sort-of transcendence among all involved. And if people approached their
> everyday activity with that mindset, then appreciation for all these other
> activities would (I hope!) fall naturally into place.

Excellent! High quality both in content and expression, an artful essay that
demonstrates its subject. A keeper. Thanks. 




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