Where should the line be drawn for ART and WHAT IS?

[bomekked]

I mean a lightbulb going on and off???? cmawwwn, If that is art then I must rate higher than Edvard Munch.

[jenstar]

I think part of the image problem that "modern art" has, stems from the fact that it doesn't translate weel into other media. People read a description of the lights going on and off, or see a clip on TV, and feel that they are then qualified to judge the work on that basis. You might as well judge the taste of a meal from a photo. Most people don't have much interest in art anyway - they go "what a load of rubbish" at a newspaper report on the Turner Prize once a year and completely ignore it the rest of the time. At least something like Martin Creed's room with the lights going on and off is engaging people's interest, even if it's just a knee-jerk reaction of "I could do that!". Yes, you could - but you didn't.

[espoir noir]

Art is the artists perception of what they see, a sunset is't art but a painting of one is. If some artist out there saw a lightbulb switching on and off then who are we to say his/her perseptio of it isn't art......but when it comes to art never judge, if you don't like it, don't look.

[beenee]

The funniest thing is checking someone out while they are looking at a piece of modern/pointless 'art'. You'll recognise the oh-this-is-so-obscure-and-beautiful-and-I-sooo-understand-it look on their faces!

[Cpt Black]

Actually going to a gallery and experiancing a piece of modern "controversial" art is I think the best way to get an idea of whether there is actually any merit to it. It gives one the first hand experiance and also a sense of context, although it is still an entirely subjective experience. I accept however that there are some artists who argue that art should not be placed in galleries at all. If you don't believe me go to Tate Modern and visit the Damian Hirst Pharmacy, I don't know why it is good but it is....

[DavidUK]

I'm sure that I wouldn't be able to sell a "work of art" that consisted of a room with the lights going on and off because I'm not an "artist". What really irritates me is that they can make bucket loads of money selling such tosh when I can't - I have to work for a living. It's the Emperors Clothes isn't it. Jenstar's argument that they thought of it but we didn't just doesn't wash. I have just created a work of art - it consists of a room with a desk that is empty except for a telephone. The telephone rings for 10 secs. every minute. I have got hundreds of works of art like that inside my head - why can't I make millions of pounds from them?