The document discusses the definitions and nature of art. It begins by looking at dictionary and TOK definitions of art, exploring questions around the origins and universality of beauty, and whether art is a culturally defined term or shares common features. It then examines art historically from cave paintings to modern media, considering art's roles in translating beliefs and making sense of the world. The document poses art as a transcendental experience, with artists portrayed as visionaries and allies who bring order to chaos through their work.

1. WHAT IS ART? A conversation about: The Visual Arts

2. Dictionary definition The disposition or modification of things by human skill, to answer the purpose intended. In this sense art stands against nature. Creative work generally, or its principles; the making and doing of things that have beauty (Websters)

3. TOK definition What is the origin and nature of a sense of beauty? Is this specific to the individual or to the culture, or is it universal? To what extent is ‘art’ a culturally relevant term? Do all the arts have features in common? What roles do the arts play in people’s lives? Are the arts a kind of knowledge, or are they a means of expressing knowledge? What are the implications of the following claim? ‘Life is very nice but it lacks form. It’s the aim of art to give it some” Anouilh

4. A Visual language Beginnings

5. Cave Painting

6. States of consciousness Waking consciousness Realistic fantasy - reverie Hypnagogic states Dreaming

7. rational states altered states of consciousness the 'irrational‘ thought of the poet the rational thought of the [laboratory] historical evolution of ideas in the real world Finally, since people are not computers, we must ask how emotional and motivational factors affect cognition.

8. Altamira

12. Art and universality Are there connections?

16. Bush Meeting Tanya Price

17. Corroboree

18. Women’s ceremony Tanya Price

22. Japanese buddha

23. Japanese painting

26. Thai Buddha

27. Islam

29. Vatican

30. Christian Icon

32. Creation of Adam

33. Balinese

35. Hindu

37. Western

38. Cezanne

40. Media and art

41. Real V Emotional

42. Goya

43. Yue Minjun

44. Tracey Emin – My Bed 1998

45. What is Art? A transcendental experience Man’s desire to make sense of his world The abstract made visual Order in chaos A desire to translate belief A means of knowing

46. Who are artists? Visionaries Seers Monastic beings Allies Protagonists Shaman

48. To what extent is ‘art’ a culturally relevant term?

49. Do all the arts have features in common?

50. What roles do the arts play in people’s lives?

51. Are the arts a kind of knowledge, or are they a means of expressing knowledge?