A question about art...

[paulmrich]

After an argument will an in law, I would like to pose the following
questions:

1) Has all art been done?
2) Can an artist have an original idea?

He (the artist) believes yes and no respectivly.
I (the philosopher) believes no and yes respectivly.
I hope this is the place for some thoughtful answers.

Regards
Paul

[kathyv]

I think these are questions that have been asked all through history and not just with art; science, inventions, foods, stories, music. . . most things in our lives can seem to run their course.

However, humanity is constantly growing and adapting and I believe our abilities are doing the same.

Language, for example. 50 years ago there was no need for a word like 'blog'. It would have been a nonsense word or you would have been corrected to say blob or something the culture understood, {in the USA anyway}, no one would have understood it. Today it's rare to find someone who doesn't know what it means, how it came about or who would argue it's use.

I think art is like that as well. As long as your culture is evolving and new experiences and ideas are available, as long as education is happening, there will be new arts and new ideas for art. Would the Old Masters have understood or accepted Minimalists? Will Minimalists understand or accept the next progression in art development?

So I guess I believe No and Yes: there IS more art out there, (I may not know it's art yet)! and yes, man can have an original idea, be he artist, scientist, or philosopher.

[Five-Finger Man]

Originally Posted by paulmrich

1) Has all art been done?
2) Can an artist have an original idea?

He (the artist) believes yes and no respectivly.
I (the philosopher) believes no and yes respectivly.
I hope this is the place for some thoughtful answers.

1) no, art is a critique of life and as such finds new inspiration while there is still life to critique.

2) no, as a critique of life there are no truly original ideas only a presentation of a particular view of what is so.