To Hell In A Hand Basket

[MindGoneHaywire]

Troy:

Then why does the word "pleasing" appear in the definition of art? I think the precept of what art is got turned on it's head in the 20th century.

The attached picture is of a sculpture which I snapped a photo of at the Metropolitan Museum of Art here in NYC. To my knowledge it was created prior to the 20th Century, but if it isn't, there is certainly a substitute in that building that IS more than 104 years old. I would submit that this is one of MANY pieces of 'art' that is NOT pleasing, and was not prior to the 20th Century. I'm not sure I read that definition as saying that art HAD to be pleasing, just that it was a component that was at best recommended, not required. Surely this is pleasing to some, but keep in mind that it's a piece that shows the impending horror of a parent with mouths to feed & no way to do it. Can't remember the name or the artist; perhaps you know. All I know is that it generates in me feelings & emotions that I would in no way describe as 'pleasing,' yet I think it's art, and so does the Met. If the definition of 'art' is to be read that it HAS to be pleasing, then I've got enough of a case to disagree with it based on this one piece of sculpture alone. I see no such evidence that one could challenge the dictionary definitions of music with.