I have chosen a few artworks that help to represent art as pleasure. My collection features various works of art in a number of forms in order to more accurately depict my point that art is not dictated by what it is made, but by how pleasurable it is found by an individual. I have included some unconventional works of art such as cartoons, and childish sketches, along with the more conventional aspects such as paintings and music. The theme of my gallery is to find art in what most people do not believe is art. On the contrary, I have included what people do consider art in order to further make my point. Pleasure is art, this does not mark down artworks that are considered art for other reasons; because, these artworks, in my opinion, are considered art when they are pleasurable.
My basis for selecting which artworks were by how pleasurable I found them, if I found pleasure in it, I felt it belonged in my gallery. From my point of view, everyone might not find these same works pleasurable so, I made sure to include a contrasting art work. Some people will find this gallery to be pleasurable, some will not. Some may even find some aspects of this gallery to be pleasurable, some might not care for it at all. I find that this view, artwork as a pleasure, can best describe the attraction that people personally have with art and why they take such interest in some works.
My gallery includes a multitude of different vehicles of art that deliver pleasure, thus found to be valuable in my eyes. There are 15 different artworks that help to deliver my theory of art as a pleasure. There are two sketches, one drawn by a child, another drawn by my friend, Vicki Peatross. These sketches differ from the norm of what is considered a good piece of art. However, there is pleasure to be found within them. I enjoy watching how a child’s mind functions, so I enjoy that sketch. I also know the story behind the sketch that my friend drew, so I find pleasure in that. I have also included a meme, because it makes me laugh, which I find pleasurable. I have also included two paintings that are a bit abstract. They are not perfect, nor completely original; however, I find pleasure by looking at them because I enjoy the work that was put behind them. A photograph of my vacation in the Bahamas and of an NCAA basketball game have also been included. Although these photos may not look all that spectacular, the stories behind them give me pleasure. Architect was also featured in my blog. In order to further get my point, an episode of one of my favorite animes, Sailor Moon, is included. Some may find this show to be bizarre and therefore, may claim that it is a piece of garbage, not art. This could also be said for another one of the arts I included my gallery, a clip of Skye Ferreira’s Everything is Embarrassing. I find that I can relate to this song and it stimulates pleasure for me. One of the most peculiar works of art that I have decided to put into my gallery is a videogame, Final Fantasy. This game is very whimsical and is often called odd. However, this game takes a lot of time to complete and involves a lot of strategic thinking. In fact, the first time that I had played this game, I had made it to the boss level only to discover that I had not properly equipped or developed all of my characters. I could not just go back, so I had to start over and do it right. I find pleasure in this achievement. In order to counteract the idea that only odd things can be art in this view, I have made sure to include a classic that I find pleasure in, Monet’s Starry Night. Sure, this is an artwork that is considered a great piece of art because it is a class. While I do not find it to be exceptionally great, I do find pleasure in it, and therefore, it is a valuable work of art none the less. Anything that can be presented, which is essentially everything, and be found pleasurable, then I view it as a work of art.
Pleasure is not to be confused with evoking emotions, that theory is a different argument entirely. Artworks as pleasure are not valued because they cause an audience to feel something, such as happiness, sadness, or even anger. My theory is also not to be confused with art as a form of entertainment. Although entertainment is found to be pleasurable, pleasure is not always necessarily a form of entertainment. Another idea is that people base the value of an artwork in its beauty. I find this view to be untrue. Beauty, although it is also subjective, can be uninteresting and unappealing in that sense. Anything can be beautiful, that does not mean there is pleasure to be found in it. There are a ton of artworks that are beautifully made by a skilled artist, but they are not valued.
In “Philosophy of the Arts” by Gordon Graham, Graham refers to this view as aesthetic hedonism he states, “…art is a source of pleasure or enjoyment (3).” This means that as long as it is pleasurable, it is art. This places art in a very subjective view, which I find to be the correct view. Everyone does not look at art and say or think the same thing. They either like it (find pleasure in it) or they don’t for one reason or another, or for no reason at all. “…aesthetic preferences are expression of the taste of the observer, not statements about the object (Graham 4)”. He then goes on to state, “The fact that a feeling is shared by many people does not make it obligatory for everyone to feel the same (4)” He is not denouncing classic art works, but instead is saying that just because an artwork is supposed to be liked, doesn’t mean it will. Viewing art is completely subjective to the individual and this opens room for many different works to be considered as art.
I felt that by using artworks that I believe to be pleasurable, but might not even be considered art by some people, I am able to clearly get my point across. I have taken the eccentric method when choosing what art I would present. My theme is clear, my gallery is made in order to please a person, not to display or show off artworks. One may say that pleasure doesn’t matter, but that is the deciding factor in deciding if one truly likes the artwork, not because they think they should or it just looks nice. What’s important is not the small details of an artwork, it is the bigger picture. The audience is not supposed to look at the artworks to find its flaws and faults, but instead to find if they like it or not.
My basis for selecting which artworks were by how pleasurable I found them, if I found pleasure in it, I felt it belonged in my gallery. From my point of view, everyone might not find these same works pleasurable so, I made sure to include a contrasting art work. Some people will find this gallery to be pleasurable, some will not. Some may even find some aspects of this gallery to be pleasurable, some might not care for it at all. I find that this view, artwork as a pleasure, can best describe the attraction that people personally have with art and why they take such interest in some works.
My gallery includes a multitude of different vehicles of art that deliver pleasure, thus found to be valuable in my eyes. There are 15 different artworks that help to deliver my theory of art as a pleasure. There are two sketches, one drawn by a child, another drawn by my friend, Vicki Peatross. These sketches differ from the norm of what is considered a good piece of art. However, there is pleasure to be found within them. I enjoy watching how a child’s mind functions, so I enjoy that sketch. I also know the story behind the sketch that my friend drew, so I find pleasure in that. I have also included a meme, because it makes me laugh, which I find pleasurable. I have also included two paintings that are a bit abstract. They are not perfect, nor completely original; however, I find pleasure by looking at them because I enjoy the work that was put behind them. A photograph of my vacation in the Bahamas and of an NCAA basketball game have also been included. Although these photos may not look all that spectacular, the stories behind them give me pleasure. Architect was also featured in my blog. In order to further get my point, an episode of one of my favorite animes, Sailor Moon, is included. Some may find this show to be bizarre and therefore, may claim that it is a piece of garbage, not art. This could also be said for another one of the arts I included my gallery, a clip of Skye Ferreira’s Everything is Embarrassing. I find that I can relate to this song and it stimulates pleasure for me. One of the most peculiar works of art that I have decided to put into my gallery is a videogame, Final Fantasy. This game is very whimsical and is often called odd. However, this game takes a lot of time to complete and involves a lot of strategic thinking. In fact, the first time that I had played this game, I had made it to the boss level only to discover that I had not properly equipped or developed all of my characters. I could not just go back, so I had to start over and do it right. I find pleasure in this achievement. In order to counteract the idea that only odd things can be art in this view, I have made sure to include a classic that I find pleasure in, Monet’s Starry Night. Sure, this is an artwork that is considered a great piece of art because it is a class. While I do not find it to be exceptionally great, I do find pleasure in it, and therefore, it is a valuable work of art none the less. Anything that can be presented, which is essentially everything, and be found pleasurable, then I view it as a work of art.
Pleasure is not to be confused with evoking emotions, that theory is a different argument entirely. Artworks as pleasure are not valued because they cause an audience to feel something, such as happiness, sadness, or even anger. My theory is also not to be confused with art as a form of entertainment. Although entertainment is found to be pleasurable, pleasure is not always necessarily a form of entertainment. Another idea is that people base the value of an artwork in its beauty. I find this view to be untrue. Beauty, although it is also subjective, can be uninteresting and unappealing in that sense. Anything can be beautiful, that does not mean there is pleasure to be found in it. There are a ton of artworks that are beautifully made by a skilled artist, but they are not valued.
In “Philosophy of the Arts” by Gordon Graham, Graham refers to this view as aesthetic hedonism he states, “…art is a source of pleasure or enjoyment (3).” This means that as long as it is pleasurable, it is art. This places art in a very subjective view, which I find to be the correct view. Everyone does not look at art and say or think the same thing. They either like it (find pleasure in it) or they don’t for one reason or another, or for no reason at all. “…aesthetic preferences are expression of the taste of the observer, not statements about the object (Graham 4)”. He then goes on to state, “The fact that a feeling is shared by many people does not make it obligatory for everyone to feel the same (4)” He is not denouncing classic art works, but instead is saying that just because an artwork is supposed to be liked, doesn’t mean it will. Viewing art is completely subjective to the individual and this opens room for many different works to be considered as art.
I felt that by using artworks that I believe to be pleasurable, but might not even be considered art by some people, I am able to clearly get my point across. I have taken the eccentric method when choosing what art I would present. My theme is clear, my gallery is made in order to please a person, not to display or show off artworks. One may say that pleasure doesn’t matter, but that is the deciding factor in deciding if one truly likes the artwork, not because they think they should or it just looks nice. What’s important is not the small details of an artwork, it is the bigger picture. The audience is not supposed to look at the artworks to find its flaws and faults, but instead to find if they like it or not.