Is Art useless? If there seems to be no practical use of art, then why some of it is so expensive?

Question

Some paintings sell in millions of dollars ! Amazes me, why?
I can understand some historical paintings which show certain peoples and their cultures, like the clothes they worn, tools they used, and courts of Kings and Princess, how they looked. But, other forms of art, why so costly, and what's their use?

Answer 1

That is far too big a question to be answered here.
You raise a lot of points and each needs to be answered fully and clearly. There is not enough space here.
However, I think the answer might be in your question.
I notice how you put a value on some pieces of art (one's that have social value). It seems that you value them.
Well then, let's suppose someone doesn't like such works. let's imagine another person likes a painting that expresses the feelings of the individual artist. Perhaps all we can say is that one person likes one thing and another likes something different.
Maybe that's where the value comes from. And how much you are willing to pay is, of course, determined by how much money you have to spend.
Personal taste, perhaps.
I realise that's a rather simple answer to our question. But I hope it will do with the space permitted.

Answer 2

Your question embeds two questions, very separate: 1) Is art useless? and 2) Why is a """great painting""" so expensive?

As to the first one, I think it is not useless. But I can't prove it. I don't really think anyone else can either. There have been 1800 pg. series of books written positing the proposition that art is anything but useless. Just take it on faith, is what you must do. If you aren't inclined to do so, fine. But a lot of people disagree with you, just so you know. I think it is agreed that the creation and consumption of art is a universal human desire, as observed in primitive cultures, and the most """modern""" parts of the world. (Note, I said "desire" not need.)

As to the second one, supply and demand control """worth""", but that is only a tiny part of the answer. A one of a kind painting will have very high ticket. That's common sense. What gets involved along the way is prestige, the statement about """good taste""" that conspicuous consumption makes. So corporations and billionaires get involved in the vying to own a Van Gogh or a Monet and the ceiling of the """worth""" rises to a truly unrealistic level. Is Van Gogh's Sunflowers worth $60M? That's not the question. --The question is, can Getty outbid Sony who may outbid Toyota who may outbid Bill Gates to own a famous painting? Those guys get to competing, and all bets are off. It gets pretty silly.

Answer 3

Different people value different things - if we were all the same, wouldn't the world be a boring place!

What is the practical value of the NBA or the NFL?

What is the practical value of a million-dollar automobile? Doesn't it just move you from point A to point B, same as a hundred-dollar used car?

If you are truly curious about the "value" of art, you might enjoy taking a philosophy course in esthetics, or an art course in history of art, or a psychology course on the urge for creative expression.

And get yourself a little notebook and pencil so you can doodle while you talk on the phone. ;-)
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Answer 4

I won't address the practicality of the million dollar painting because most of the answers already address that part of your question. However, I feel an obligation to defend art itself as an incredibly valuable (priceless) part of everyday life. Where art is taught in schools the test results in other subjects are much higher than in the schools where art is not taught. Art teaches us to see, to feel, to be more aware of the world around us. These are the tools we need to understand Maths, Science, History, Literature, and any other subject you can name. Art useless? I'd say it is the most important basic ingredient to a well-rounded education. I'd say it is an imperative! Necessary!

Answer 5

I think it is useless. I do not understand why someone can spend thousands, even millions of dollars on a painting or decoration. That amount of money can be put into a savings account, donate to third world countries, help low income folks, build schools. I'm no millionaire but I make a decent six figures and my wife goes shopping at flea markets. We look so understated that while shopping at trader joes, a retired man advised us to invest while young and what he was preaching, we already have.

My point is: value your money, if you really want to help artists, help the struggling ones. Don't let the rich gets richer, don't be a slave to what society considers fine things. It won't make you happy. You will make them happy though.

Answer 6

Art is i wide spread field . It involves so many things. How can you say that it has no practical use. Now a days animated cartoons and movies are made . the people who create these characters are artists. you see beautiful sites on the net which are made by artists. when we built our house we want to have a huge painting hung behind our bed in the wall ,this has been made by an artist.The interior designers who design our house are artists. So art is required in every field. It is not useless.

Answer 7

Art is not useless. It offers the artist an means of expression. It offers the viewer many tangibles.

Those who buy pieces of art are the ones who set the cost. It's a matter of supply and demand.

My best friend loves to go to an art museum or to galleries to feed her soul. She needs beauty to improve her mental and emotional health.

I love the fall and enjoy viewing and owning pictures of fall scenery which includes the changing colors of tree leaves.

There are so many different ways of expressing oneself that satisfy a need others have. Art will never be useless.

If you don't like to pay for it, then look at the objects on sites on the web, in galleries, and in museums.

Answer 8

Art is not useless, for its purpose lies not in practicality but in its ability to encourage expression and contemplation.

Usually, anything related to the arts is expensive.
Painting, writing, cooking, fashion design...

I believe that art becomes expensive because of the talent behind the product. You pay for the uniqueness of the art, the talent of the artist and at most cases, the name of the artist.

Answer 9

To answer ur question please think about a few of my questions first.

Do ornaments make any one look better?

Does an expensive mobile phone communicate better than a cheaper one?

Do good looking watches show a different time?


Well I hope u get my point....

Buying Art is like a process of self actualization... it has nothing to do with the value of the art...Art can be appreciated n that does not mean u need to patronize it

urs was a good question.... kind of made me think...

Answer 10

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