The following postings are a transcript of students' responses to an assignment due on the last day of class to the question "what is art?" Students responded to this question after the first day of class, and their responses here indicate how their original ideas changed after a semester of study. Student postings have not been edited in any way.

The assignment:

Message no. 12: posted by Deborah Vess (IDST_2310) on Sun Aug 20, 2000 00:09 Subject Assignment: Due on the last day of class

Hmmmm. You were interviewed on the first day of class and asked to answer the question "What is art?" Now you have had sixteen weeks of explorations, and have significantly deepened your knowledge of the world's art forms. You are making a self-portrait and trying to make your own art. As a result of your weeks of study, you have likely developed a different response to that first question. It is also now your last question. In a paragraph or two, tell me in your own words, "What is art?"

Student postings

Message no. 371: [Branch from no. 12] posted by student 10 on Fri Dec 08, 2000 22:34 Subject re: Assignment: Due on the last day of class

After having been in class my defintion of art has changed a little. I said at the beginning of class that art was painting and sculpting. Art was a creative skill only certain people had. However, now I know I was wrong. Art is anything that brings out emotions and aspects of life, nature, or even yourself. Art is all about self expression. The artist is the one making the art work and the art work is considered art when he says that it is finished. Art is something that is viewed differently by everyone. Art doesn't have to be a visual piece of art work. Art is also music and poems and literature. In this sense art can be listened to; it doesn't always have to be a material thing. Art is created by anyone that has an intention of making something creative. Art can be created by anyone that wants to make art work. If something has a special meaning to it, in your opinion, then it is considered art!! Everything is ART (to a certain extent)!!!

Message no. 378: [Branch from no. 371] posted by student 18 on Tue Dec 12, 2000 22:45 Subject re: Assignment: Due on the last day of class

You are in fact correct about my definition of art changing!!! When you first asked me to reply about what I thought about what art was I replyed that it was a way for a person to express themselves. Now I realize that this definition is only fifty percent correct. Not only is art an expression of someones feelings, it is also used in everyday life whether it be in music, sculptures, or in a acropolis or palace. Art is indeed used in every aspect of daily life, no matter what someone thinks or doesnt think is art. It is everywhere!!! By being in your class I have come to appreciate art a little more and have also come to respect people's opinions on what they think art is, too.

Message no. 375: [Branch from no. 12] posted by student 5 on Tue Dec 12, 2000 17:57 Subject re: Assignment: Due on the last day of class

What is art you ask, art to me is a self-expression of realism, idealism, and functionalism. When we listened to music, it was always surrounding a particular event that happened in that person's life or in their environment that triggered that person to write the musical piece. When we looked at visual art, it involved the same purposes as the the music. The artists saw these events of their lives as reality and they expressed that reality in different forms. The function of these arts are to express themself. This is what I think art is.

Message no. 380: [Branch from no. 12] posted by student 32 on Wed Dec 13, 2000 10:17 Subject re: Assignment: Due on the last day of class

After sixteen weeks of exploration ,explaination and theories in art I notice that my answer at the begining of the semester to this question is correct. Although it was a very vegue answer my answer is still the same with a little more detail.My first answer to the question was"Art is whatever want you want it to be",but art could be more than just a visualy pleasing painting: art could be a armless sculptures, red roses growing in the middle of the desert, a bicycle wheel through the a stool.Art could even be the process of making the actual art.Art can be auditable as well visual. Art to the blind is all non-visual so audtiable art is a more dominant form, this brings me to my point that art is all in what you preceive it to be.Art could be any thing from the keybord i used to typed this paper to one of Pablo Picasso works art is all what you make of it!!

Message no. 381: [Branch from no. 12] posted by student 14 on Wed Dec 13, 2000 10:25 Subject re: Assignment: Due on the last day of class

You're right. I think my opinion of art has probably changed a little since the beginning of the semester. I first replied that art was a way of expressing oneself and that it didn't just include the visual arts. I was right in this aspect, and I still think this is a pretty good definition of art. But I didn't realize that so many cultures see art in so many different ways. For instance, functionalism. Many things that might serve their purpose well don't really have any artistic value to me. I believe that art is what you make it and that everyone probably has a slightly different opinion of what art is. Music is one of my favorite art forms, whereas someone else may relate better to other forms of art. Also, art doesn't have to be something beautiful because something hideous or dissonant sounding may express one's feelings at a certain moment in time.

Message no. 404: [Branch from no. 12] posted by student 7 on Thu Dec 14, 2000 01:38 Subject re: Assignment: Due on the last day of class

Stevie Tabor After taking this class, art to me now is the combination of one's inner beauty tied with the exterior world's point of veiw. To be satisfied with art one must be staisfied with them selves. You have to come to an understanding and relize the beauty not only in your self, but in how you veiw things. I am more open to the different types of art and more understanding of them, too. I am glad that I took this class to realize what applied art is and realize that art is iin the eye of the beholder. Also, the world is filled old and new art. Shapes,lines and music can all be art to express your true inner soul. Poetry can also reveal a part of your inner self that you never knew existed. Art is fun and is here for our enjoyment. Life is too short not to enjoy it.

Message no. 415: [Branch from no. 12] posted by student 20 on Thu Dec 14, 2000 15:39 Subject re: Assignment: Due on the last day of class

Art to me is in the eye of the beholder. When asked "what is art?" I automatically want to answer the question "what do you consider art?" I believe that art is something that is beautiful. Both beautiful in nature and in objects. Paintings, music, ceremonial rituals, cave paintings, sculptures, and so on are all considered art to me. Art is something that is created by mistake or with intent. Art can sometimes be overwhelming, especially when creating it. Art is something that the artist does to express some type of feelings or emotions. Whether it be happy or sad, someone that sees it later will relate and it will make their lives different in some way. My defintion of art has changed from "well, art is in a museum" to what I just described in this paragraph. Definitely a drastic change, don't you think?

Message no. 417: [Branch from no. 12] posted by student 16 on Thu Dec 14, 2000 15:59 Subject re: Assignment: Due on the last day of class

At the beginning of the semester when I was asked what art was, I really didn't know how to respond. I had never been introduced to art in any way through all my years of schooling. My first thought was that art was probably just whatever somebody called an artist slaped on a piece of canvas. Since the beginning of the semester through all our class sessions, my definition of art has changed dramatically. I know realize that to me, art is whatever can express one's feelings. Art comes in many shapes, such as music, paintings, sculptures, etc. I know now view art on many different levels. This class has really been a great influence on me and how I know view the world, and the things around me.

Message no. 420: [Branch from no. 12] posted by student 25 on Thu Dec 14, 2000 22:10 Subject re: Assignment: Due on the last day of class

dr vess, i responded to what is art. it is under the original heading we responded it under on the first day of class. It should be the very last one in the list and have the posting date of December 14. Sorry Da

Message no. 421: [Branch from no. 12] posted by student 15 on Fri Dec 15, 2000 12:48 Subject re: Assignment: Due on the last day of class

Art is anything you want it to be. Rather if it is a painting music of writing. Art is how you take it. Some people think one thing is art and I think it isn't. Tha tis thebeauty of art. It can be anything.

Message no. 422: [Branch from no. 12] posted by student 3 on Fri Dec 15, 2000 14:49 Subject re: Assignment: Due on the last day of class

After reading my initial response to the question "What is art?", I find that my opinion has not changed much. Art is basically whatever you can imagine it being, and doesn't have to be visual. I have taken other humanities courses and have explored that question, therefore I was somewhat prepared for it. Art can evoke emotion, can be as simple as a picture of a flower, or can be a complex musical composition. These are just a few examples. I don't think that I can put a concrete definition to the question; art is many things to different people. Answering that question with all of the possible examples would be exhaustive and would never end. But that's the point of art isn't it - to not be able to pin it down??

Message no. 425: [Branch from no. 12] posted by student 24 on Fri Dec 15, 2000 18:49 Subject re: Assignment: Due on the last day of class

What is art? well when i first started this class I thought that art was piantings, sculptures, murals anthing that involved using your hands. After this class i realize that art is much more than that. Art is a feeling that grows inside of you. It's the way that you express yourself whether it's painting or singing. I'm glad that i took this class because it has opened up my mind to new things. Until recently i really thought that i could never be an artist but now i know that even though i may not be able to paint i still have artistic ways to express myself.

Message no. 427: [Branch from no. 12] posted by student 22 on Sat Dec 16, 2000 13:00 Subject re: Assignment: Due on the last day of class

My definition of art has clearly change since I began taking this course. I believe that art is a way of expressing many things. Art can be defined by expressing one moment in time, like a sunset. Art can also be seen as a way of showing one's religious beliefs, like a prayer shaw. The realm of art can also be used to describe yourself or emotions towards a certain subject. The expression of emotion is seen through self portraits or poetry. Art can be as broad as an artist wants it to be. I have also come to know that anyone can be an artist.

Message no. 431: [Branch from no. 12] posted by student 29 on Sat Dec 16, 2000 22:25 Subject re: Assignment: Due on the last day of class

Actually, my answer remains the same. I still view art as simply any form of expression. I don't believe it needs any greater purpose than that. It is there to be enjoied and express the artists desires. I did this in my self portrait as I have in all my drawings whether I made them for myself of for a class grade.

Message no. 400: posted by student 9 on Thu Dec 14, 2000 01:03 Subject Assignment due on the last day of class

What is art? Wow, my view of art has drastically change since the first day of class. Art has become more than just a painting on a canvas. Art is an expression of each individual. Through my self-portriat I have seen that art is a very real part of my life. The colors I used express my personality as well as the shapes, lines, and textures show my character. I have truly seen that everyone is an artist in there own way!!

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