Corey Johnson

Jesse Rathgeber
MUS 210
1 October 2014
What is Art?
Henry David Thoreau once said, the world is but a canvas to our imagination. This is
indeed the truth and something that this class has begun to show me in my personal journey of
discovering the true definition of art. Art is one of the most openly variant subjects in existence
due to the wide amount of interpretations of it and opinions on the age-old question: what is art?
Throughout these past weeks of class, I have found myself settling into definitions of art that I
liked or that I agreed with. However, the very next week I would find myself interested in or
agreeing with an entirely new viewpoint of art. After much digging, searching, and analyzing, I
believe myself to have found a definition I am content with. In order to understand my definition,
however, one must first understand the journey Ive taken to come to my conclusion.
For much of my life, I would consider myself to be a very artistic person. Growing up, it
would be hard not to be artistic considering my family is an incredibly musical family. My dad
mastered the piano in his mid teens and my oldest brother grew up to do the same and added
the bass and acoustic guitars, and the drums. My mom and sister are both incredibly talented
singers and picked up the basics on a few instruments as well. And then there was me. I
resisted music as much as I could for the longest time. I was forced to take piano lessons when
I was about 6, and after a few months I was overjoyed when my teacher moved away to Africa. I
also grew up in Jamaica, so the standard instrument to learn was the recorder. It was a
straightforward instrument, but my classmates also had to do it so I wasnt alone. However,
when I moved to the U.S. in 5th grade, I was thrust into an entirely new world. Just when I
thought I had gotten away from it all, my parents threw me into an audition for the Phoenix
Childrens Chorus. When I made the best group, everyone, including myself, was thoroughly

surprised. Again, at school I was forced to choose between band and choir. I figured I was
already in a choir, so I should try something different. I picked up the flute and saxophone and
stayed in band for the next several years. I had fallen in love with music and nothing would
change that from then on. Fast forward to my life now and I couldnt imagine my life without
music and the impact it has made. Music is the art form that has left a handprint on my heart. It
has served the purpose of bringing joy and meaning to my life, and given me a way to share the
same with others.
Art has served many purposes throughout time and in history. For example, sometimes
art is functionalist and is used as rugs/mats, buildings, furniture or clothing. Some art pieces
serve as reminders for specific places and times in history such as statues or portraits of rulers
or important figures. At other times art is representational or abstract and is purely for the
entertainment of those who observe the art. However, I believe that all art must at least be
deemed aesthetically pleasing, beautiful, or admired by one person. Clive Bell for example
believed that only abstract art could be aesthetically pleasing as the formal qualities of art can
be seen clearly and are free from emotional connections like through representational art.
Aristotle, on the other hand, saw true beauty in imitations of things, people, or events that had
already transpired that could express life, happiness, or misery to the observer. Therefore, what
if a purpose of all art was to be admired and thus making everything that was admired serve the
purpose of being art? This was one of the many thoughts that swirled through my mind on my
journey of art.
My journey, however, was not limited to just the analysis of art and its formal qualities or
aesthetic beauty, but transcended in my ability to experience art for myself through first hand
experiences. I had the opportunity to listen to live music, admire art in museums and institutions,
and even to create art at a makerspace for myself. Looking at art in a museum always felt like a
chore until this class. I never used to have an appreciation for things in museums because I
never understood what made visual art special. I also had a personal grudge against

institutionalists who thought they could put a urinal in a museum and call it art. However, after
being able to analyze art more carefully, and see the beauty in the small things, it has become
one of my favorite things to do. On the other hand, when it came to creating and making, I had
always loved using my hands to create something special, from building a computer to playing
guitar. However, I saw new meaning in it when I visited HeatSync Labs and was able to
experience a truly collaborative space where you can feel free to create anything your heart
desires. It was remarkable. But at the end of it all, music will continue to be the most important
thing in my life. The icing on the cake was when I saw Nickel Creek, a bluegrass folk band,
perform live and I was in love. I knew that the purpose with which I want to make art is to bring
joy into the hearts of those who observe whatever art I produce. This is just my purpose
however. How can I tell someone else what their purpose should be for creating art?
At the end of the day, I believe that art is in the eye of the beholder. Only I can define art
for myself, and anyone else for him or herself. I believe that art is an expression that comes
from your heart and can be for as many people as the world to as few people as your own self. I
believe that everyone creates art and there is beauty to be seen even in art we cannot
understand. After reflecting, I feel like I have been on my art journey since my very first piano
lesson, but I know my journey isnt close to being over. In fact, I feel it has only just begun.