Modern Art...?

By Ella Paul, 2024

Published 9/29/23

Art is arguably one of the most subjective concepts to our society. Every single person that looks at a piece of art has their own opinion. Someone’s favorite work might be regarded as trashy or basic to someone else. Someone might praise a piece while another person listens and wonders how they could possibly feel so passionate about a piece that is so bland. The point is, no two people feel the same way about a piece of art and that uniqueness is what allows it to be something so precious in our society. 

There was never a time without art. Whether it was hieroglyphics on the inside of a cave, the creation of the pyramids, a performance, or paint on a canvas, art has been an integral part of humanity. Yet recently, people have been debating whether modern art is even worthy of being called art. In my opinion, the debate is pure ridiculousness. Art is art is art is art. 

The beauty of art is that there are no limitations. It provides people the opportunity to make sense of the world in their own way. Just because some people do not feel as though modern art is beautiful does not mean it is not art, because that is simply their own opinion. 

Paint splattered on a canvas is no less art than the Mona Lisa. The Mona Lisa may have taken longer and been more famous, but it is unfair to claim that any artist's work is not art. The majority of people who attempt to devalue modern art are people who feel that the effort and meticulous detail do not compare to traditional art, but the problem lies just there. In reality, there is no such thing as traditional art. Many of the world’s most famous works were not appreciated in their time, and now are hung in the most prestigious museums. It is hard to claim a piece of art as “traditional” because art is always changing, so who gets to be the one to classify it all? Point being, the classification of art is all opinion based, just like someone’s own thoughts in regards to a single painting or ballet performance. 

A child might paint the most ugly painting of their family, but a mother still hangs it on the refrigerator with pride because it has meaning to those people. It represents youth, love, and effort, and gives the family a tangible item to remind them of those values. Art means something different to everyone who looks at it, so it is impossible to fully classify. 

It is perfectly respectable for someone to have their own opinions on a piece of art, but to claim modern art is not art takes away its value from those who create it, the parts of themselves they wanted to express, and the message they hope to share with the world, in addition to the people who relate to it and find meaning from their own life experiences.