THE END OF ART

arthur danto spoke of the end of art: 
a time of exhaustion of the possibilities of 
available expressiveness 
art has served its purpose and perhaps it's better 
to move on to other forms in which the individual can 
project himself and reinforce his individuality

is art a moment of present triumph of the artist 
plying his mind's impulses for specialization/ 
for the uniqueness of expressing what he is now and 
will in the future evolve into?

nietzsche considered art to be:
  "for us a matter of leisure, of recreation, and
   we consecrate it to the residue of our time and strength." 
he considers that there is what is regarded as great art 
and the rest- that which makes itself at home in 
that other atmosphere, an atmosphere natural for 
petty art, the art of diversion and distraction

such artists lack the eye replete with the luster 
to distinguish itself among the many pieces of 
art past and yet to come

but what constitutes great art? 
that which endures into another time period, perhaps 
another century, be it whether in print, paint, 
sculpture, or song
perhaps this greatness that we impart to a piece of art 
reflects the ever changing perception that our minds 
can and will impart to it 
if it is great it dill remain not just a work 
of someone else's past, but a commentary on our 
own needs and wants to remain contemporaneous 

so the morning of art self perpetuates itself, 
this morning of renewal, clear and bright...


Copyright: james  j nemeth     1-11-2002