My feelings on Art.

Over the last few weeks I have been asking anyone who will listen to me (a list which is increasingly decreasing), what their feelings on art are.
The original interest stemmed from my hatred of photography (more on this later), but it has been rekindled by other events, such as my recent apartment purchase and the internet argument of whether or not games can be art.

My opinion is that art is manifestation of an expression of an artist. So what falls under that rather broad description? Dance, acting, painting, drawing, singing, types of construction, tv shows, movies and games. Having said that, not all works of the above types are art. The distinction is a personal one. I find artistic merit in the tv show Deadwood, I find none in Two and a Half Men. As I said, it is purely my opinion which is art.

Which hits upon, what I think is the very heart of the matter. Art is what you want it to be. To define it, to set criteria for it, to try and compress it to fit a single idea is against its very nature. I don't believe photography to be art. I know many people who would disagree with me, however since it is not a manifestation of an expression, it falls outside my idea of what art is. If someone else has a different description, one that allows photos to be art, then good for them. I don't begrudge them, but I do disagree.