1 Although art consciously and unconsciously shapes our values on a daily basis, most people feel that their appreciation of art is lacking. Each person has a right and privilege to enjoy art because art speaks to our most basic human needs. From early prehistoric times humans have expressed their need to give physical, concrete form to their inner and outer worlds. For this reason, art is not limited by age or nationality: "A great work of art is never out of date" (Dudley, Faricy, and Rice 10).
There are three languages in the arts. The primary language is a part of us by virtue of our human heritage. The secondary language consists of the traditions, styles, and conventions accrued over time. The third language is that which is about the arts, e.g., books on art criticism.
Art is experience because each person must know the work of art for himself or herself. For example, just hearing about a song is not the same as experiencing it. Art is so personal and appealing that people often dwell on particular works by quoting or alluding to them in their daily lives.
Although artists frequently use nature as a source for their works, art is not nature. Art is a representation. We do not find exactly in nature what we find in art: "The artist opens our eyes and ears so that we can see the world more clearly" (Dudley, Faricy, and Rice 21).
To interpret a work of art a person must find its meaning. Then the person must reflect on the value of that meaning in his or her personal life. The longer we expose ourselves to a work of art the more strongly it makes an impression on us.
2 The subject of art describes whatever is represented by the work, as well as its broader context. However, subject is not essential to art. For instance, literature is the art form most likely to have a subject while architecture is least likely to have a subject. Although most traditional sculpture and painting have subjects, it i...