Art is a form of expression that transcends time, culture and language. It can help people understand each other and create a bond between cultures and nations. As the world becomes more globalized, art plays an important role in reducing intolerance of different cultures and helping to eliminate racism and other forms of unjust societal segregation. Art can also be used as a tool to educate people about other cultures and the historical events that led to the creation of these art works.
What is considered art depends on the individual, as there are many opinions regarding what qualifies as art. However, most people agree that a work of art must have some sort of visual appeal. In addition, a piece of art must evoke an emotional response from the viewer. This can be achieved through the use of color, shape or line movement. A work of art should also be well-crafted and show a high level of skill.
Another criteria for art is that it must possess a moral value. Although it is difficult to determine the exact moral value of a piece of art, most artists strive for their work to have a positive impact on the viewers. For example, a work of art that depicts the suffering of children in war-torn countries is likely to elicit feelings of compassion and concern from viewers. A work of art that shows the beauty and fragility of a bird may inspire awe and wonder in viewers.
Artists have often been considered to be mavericks and outsiders. For example, Pablo Picasso was known for his revolutionary paintings of nude women and Jackson Pollock was a hard-drinking and eccentric painter. In addition, art is often baffling to people who are not familiar with the creative process. For example, the idea of a painting or sculpture representing a group of nude prostitutes would have been utterly foreign to previous generations.
For many people, art is a way to share their innermost thoughts and feelings with others. In addition, some works of art are intended to educate and inform the public about historical events or political figures. In other cases, art is used to entertain or to spark discussion.
To achieve these goals, art must be able to connect with people on a personal level. Therefore, a work of art must be unique and original. A work of art that reaches people from all walks of life and brings them together is likely to be considered the best art.
A person who is interested in the study of art may pursue a master’s degree in the field or a doctoral degree. A master’s degree typically takes two years to complete and focuses on advanced seminar classes and independent research. A doctoral degree requires extensive research and a dissertation, which is an academic paper that summarizes the research you’ve conducted in the field of art history. Some art historians choose to focus on a specific period of history or region in their studies, while others have a broad range of interests.