An art work is a creative creation that has aesthetic value. It is a creation that is intended to inspire and enchant. There are many different ways to define art work, but they all share one important thing in common: aesthetic value. The following sections will discuss some common terms that are used to describe art works.
Iseminger’s definition
Art is a socially constructed construct, with a historical and cultural basis. Although it has various overlapping functions, art has an aesthetic core that is relatively stable. While some works may be on the borderline between art and non-art, it is difficult to draw clear distinctions between them. It is important to remember that one of the main assumptions in the debate about art is that it has to be aesthetically pleasing.
An artwork is a representation of an idea or emotion. The Romantic movement emphasized the expression of definite feelings, and art aimed to evoke an emotional reaction in its viewers. Artists still seek to connect with viewers through a work of art. This is one of the most important goals of art, and a key element in defining what constitutes art.
While the traditional definition of art has become the standard for aesthetics, it is not without controversy. This is partly because traditional definitions are not self-contained and are closely connected to other systems. Because of this, it is difficult to distinguish them. However, many philosophers have proposed a more rigorous definition of art, and their work has influenced aesthetics for centuries.
Stecker’s definition
Robert Stecker’s definition of art work appeals to history in explaining what constitutes a work of art. His view, which he labels historical functionalism, says that something is an art work if it fulfills the function of a central art form at a specific time and place.
The problem with Stecker’s definition is that it does not address the role of theory in aesthetics. This makes it hard to distinguish between art works and other forms of cultural production. In addition, the idea of art work is philosophically contested, and Stecker concludes that any proposed definition must capture the vagueness of the concept. Moreover, a disjunctive definition will not capture the value of art theories. Hence, a redefinition is necessary to determine the proper place of theory in the art world.
The buck-passing view, on the other hand, attempts to avoid the impasse between artwork-focused definitions and anti-aesthetic cases. Instead, Lopes argues for a shift of the focus of the definition of art away from artworks and onto other problems. By doing this, he aims to give account of the broader class of normative/appreciative kinds.
Stecker’s open concept argument
The open concept argument for art work is the idea that art can be defined by what a rational agent believes about it. Hence, it is possible to object to certain criteria if the object in question is a work of art. Moreover, this definition is consistent with anti-essentialist positions.
The book is divided into three sections: the first part discusses the basic concept of artistic value. The book also explores the relationship between artistic and moral values. In Part II, Stecker describes a test to determine whether a value is artistic. In Part III, he discusses how artistic value can be different from aesthetic value.
The book does raise many philosophical questions, but Stecker does not try to answer them all. The chapters are self-contained philosophical discussions. The arguments are well-written and persuasive.
Weitz’s definition
Artwork is an object with a meaning, function, or value. It can have multiple meanings and functions and can be defined in various ways. The main issue is what makes an object an art work. A variety of definitions are possible, and each approach has its advantages and disadvantages. Ultimately, a person’s interpretation of art work will be different than yours. But no matter what definition you prefer, the key to understanding art works is to keep your perspective open.
Macdonald also advanced anti-essentialism in his work, and he was the first philosopher to take an interest in Wittgenstein. Aestheticians argued in the 1950s that art could not be defined by using a specific set of criteria, including family resemblance.
Morris Weitz’s definition of art work focuses on the non-perceptual properties of an object. Using this concept, he argues that a work of art should not have a single common characteristic but instead be related to other objects and their creators.