Is the artist's primary function to create beauty or provoke thought? Why...?

Question

These are ideas to put towards college admissions essays...all help would be greatly appreciated...

Answer 1

I think its to be him or her self. Everyone of us is beuatiful in their own way, and everyone has something to say that provokes thought. Be yourself, and you will do both.
It's basically a way to amplify your own humanity.

Answer 2

Artist primary function is neither of those things, an artist primary function is to see things as they present themselves to the artist. then a true artist will take the subject and try an replicate not only the subject through their art work but also the feelings and thoughts it invoked in the artist. Painters are given a task paint this and they just try and draw it. A true Artist, on the otherhand paints it its subject, but does so trying to replicate the feelings and thoughts the subject had on the artist. By doing so successfully, it as a result shows the true beauty of the subject and provokes thoughts.

For instance if you were to paint a portrait of a say a woman, some people will just draw the girl and try an make it look like the woman, might as well just take a picture. that is not art. on the other hand an artist could look at the same woman, and see that the woman is a mother, that loves her children, and being a mother thats been a hardship cause maybe she is a single mother. if he can capture and convey this type of imagary of not just a woman but a struggling single mother who would do anything for her children, that is art. the best artist can convey this types of emotions through their artwork.

Answer 3

Some people are left handed. Some use their right. And these people tend to think with a different part of the brain.

And yet another class of people are ambidextrous.

I am an artist. I usually dream/ visualize about the artwork before I tackle it. But I also often incorporate a bit of research so that others may view it and understand it and feel it.

Humans brains trigger on certain scents and colors which is something that is typically taught when you are in that field. Perfect example is when you go in to a McDonalds, the walls are a certain off yellow type of color because it tends to evoke hunger in humans.

Using knowledge like this when creating a piece of art can cause those viewing the piece to have "thought provoking" moments as well as appreciating the general appearance of the artwork.

Answer 4

I would take an indirect stab at the question:
It have to say it depends on the artist. Art, by nature, is non-conformist. The gesture of creation is intrinsically rebellious. When an artist creates something new, he essentially is saying, every time: What you have to offer to the world, what your model brings us, that is not enough. There are qualities which go beyond the neat definitions which you try to impose on things and that is why I create.
Therefore, to try to put neat definitions on art as is attempted here may do well for academics, but the artists themselves will resist them. Is the artist creating beauty? Only if he/she wishes - what if the artist wants to explore the ugly side of things? Art is not limited. What is beautiful? What is ugly?
Is the artist trying to make people think then? Mathematical models make us think, so do chess problems. But art would have to be limited to a very small dimension of itself to say it makes people think. Art involves in a profound way than the verb to think can capture. Art makes us think, yes, but it can also make us feel. It may force us to look at things we dislike. It may be like a miror to us. The possibilities are endless.
Insofar as artists are eternally struggle with the process of creation, they will always escape such neat definitions as to what their role is.

Answer 5

provoking thought in my opinion. it is pointless to just paint a pretty picture if it doesn't make someone feel then it is just another picture. great art makes people respond good or bad that's the artists primary goal to make people feel. the idea of beauty is subjective, thought is an absolute.

Answer 6

Neither, he/she is to express his/herself. The reaction(s) of the audience is a matter of preference.

Some people may like one abstract peice while others may not. Both thought provokation and beauty may be in the eye of the beholder but they are forever in the heart of the artist.

Answer 7

when I do something creative,
it is for the main objective of expressing a thought or feeling I have inside for others to partake in.

now, Sometimes the person viewing only goes as far as, oh thats beautiful,
and that is the message they got,
or someone else may see some life changing truth,

My only intention was to share a thought i had, or prehaps jsut to record that thought for myself. without concern for others thinkings at all.

I think there are artists who strive for one, and others who strive for the other
I think this question is designed to not have a simple answer, so as to see you abilitly to write. to give them an idea of how well you can handle a question.

for example,
I ask people what their favorite color is and why.
anyone can say "blue"
but the why tells me how deep they are.

its pretty is not as deep as say
it reminds me of life, and of the sky.

Answer 8

neither the artists primary goal is convey a thought or emotion, a time or a place, a memory in someone's mind of something lost once long ago.

Answer 9

The beauty of it is provoking thought, therefore, the answer is both.

Answer 10

It can be said that art is like a tryst; It a place where the creator and the viewer meet to engage in thought and stimulate beauty.