Another Sense in Art

Looking at my friend's new tattoo, I see how raw it looks and how much it hurt in the process. Another friend asked her if she bled a lot, which was the first time I've ever heard someone ask such a question. I never knew you could bleed when you got a tattoo. And thinking about it now, how much I badly want one I wonder if, as horrible and disgusting as it sounds, pain can be a part of art, or at least the thought of it.

There's also people that brand themselves (they prefer to use the term "scarification"). This type of body art used to be the rite of passage in the ancient times, where when one goes through this process, they become known as a real man or woman. Not to be gruesome or anything, this topic interests me. When you look as someone's tattoo, you usually look at the size first. And the first question everyone asks first is usually "Did it hurt?" And for me, I believe that the coolest looking tattoo is always the most largest and most painful-looking tattoo (on their back for example). And the thought of knowing that this person went through all that pain to get that tattoo done and finished on their very own skin makes it even more worth while to look at.

Knowing this and taking art to the next level I want to ask:
Does pain make art more interesting?

Response to Griffin's post:

"Can art truly be evil?"

To be honest with you, I am not a very religious person. When I read Griffin Thayer's post, I thought of the same thing. I thought about how people used to think of Rock & Roll music was evil, because of the mixing of "black people's" music and "white people's" music was bad; how anything to do with African Americans were bad because it said so in the bible. I guess it all depends on the time period though, to answer the question. Back then, the image of satan was evil. But now-a-days, people have satan on their arm as a tattoo. People with these tattoos would think of themselves as cool, or bad ass. As for those of you who are very religious (I apologize if I offend you), I would say that it also depends on your belief of whether or not you think a piece of art is evil.

Response to Sarah LaBaire's Questions

"Is it fair for me to say that television should have a place with art when it comes to philosophy?"

I personally don't watch TV as often as most people my age do. My parents encouraged me to do something more productive. But to answer Sarah's question, I believe television is another example of an art form. You might think that it's just something you watch and get hypnotized into the program, but don't forget to think of the production process and everything that comes with the entertainment. 

Today in class we discussed about aesthetic satisfaction in making art. When comparing this to television, I think of the producers and screenwriters who had put this television program together get the satisfaction of accomplishment and knowing that millions of people who watch this television program.

This goes along with advertising on TV also. The meaninglessness advertisements many people see in between shows and football games sometimes have that purpose of catching the audience's attention and keeping it to the end where it would leave the audience hanging as to what the advertisement had to do with the product they are selling. I actually like to watch advertisements from progressive with the sales woman named Flo. The person who created this add made it so that the point was made while still keeping the audience's attention.

I also believe that good art is something that can capture ones eye and emotionally satisfies the viewer's eyes. If this includes television and advertising, than those, too, are also a form of art.

Here is another commercial from Progressive:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPhq_gC9pZs 

Do you personally think advertising and television should be or is another form of art? Why?

Response to Kaylie Sweet: Is the Human Body Art?

A lot of people I know have piercings and tattoos. I remember in the past, reading an article about how people look at their bodies as a human canvas. There's this one guy who tattooed his whole body green with lizard-like scale designs, got his tongue split professionally to look like a lizard's tongue and who knows what else. Some people like this guy take it to the extreme or even over the line.

The Ancient Greeks made naked statues of human forms of their gods and goddesses, characters from myths and stories, or other important figures of their time. Their thought of divinity and beauty are mostly focused on the muscles in the body where the figure flexes in a contraposto pose. Even in today's society, we look at each others' figures and without knowing it, categorize one as attractive or unattractive. Some of us view our images in the mirror and criticize or comment ourselves. One could say, "I need to go to the gym" or "Damn, I look cute today" or even "Ugh, I look crappy today. Whatever, it's the weekend." The way we were our clothes could also be looked at as pretty much a decoration for our bodies, the way we evolved from togas to clothes lines from Hollister, Aeropostal, and Walmart and New Balance or Nike shoes.

Response to Amanda Olsen's Question: Do Doodles Count as Art?

Doodles do count as art, only it isn't looked at as something someone can call a masterpiece. Depending on how much effort you put into your doodle, it might be something awesome enough to be placed on your friend's dorm wall. Most doodles are small but the more you add to it or the bigger your doodle becomes, it would be noted by viewers as good art. I remember going to the store and finding bags and purses that have doodle designs on it and at Staples, you can find binders and folders with more doodle designs. If doodles can make it onto products people buy, it's proof enough that doodles can be art.