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Appreciating contemporary art
A new conception of ‘art’
Art is about narrative, not beauty
Summary: The traditional conception of art is about sensual beauty and refined taste; modern art on the other hand has introduced an entirely unexpected dimension to the visual arts, namely that of ‘revelatory narrative’. Classical art aspires to present works which can be appreciated as sensually beautiful; modern art, when it succeeds, presents us instead with the unsettling narrative. This radical difference in artistic purpose is something relatively new, and not yet fully appreciated or understood.
What is art ? Art is popularly believed to be any example of ‘creative crafting’, from flower arranging in the home, to classical oil paintings in museums. Anything crafted with a touch of creative flair is considered ‘art’, and this is contrasted with mere skilled technique and mere practiced craftsmanship. For ‘art’ to lift itself above mere ‘craft’ — in an everyday sense — the crafting has to be flavoured with something like a dash of stylish magic.
Though when it comes to classical artworks — of the sort we encounter in museums — we are not so much looking for creative flair as for evidence of classical technique, meaning the kind of fine workmanship possessed only by those of exceptional talent. And the more we…
