The distinction between what is art and what isnt has been a long running argument.
Like on the last TopGear(which I missed but was told about), there was a beautifully crafted car, but the art elites wont accept it as art, even though it is exceptionally designed.
Just because something is commercially popular doesnt neccesarily make it art, but I can see the point about an artist doing his thing his way, and then for the people to pick up on it and make it blow up, I can really see that that must be very rewarding for the artist. As much as we are told that Soulja boi is a myspace phenomenon, Im not so sure I believe the hype in that respect.
We have an artist in the UK called Lilly Allen, she too is supposed to be a myspace phenomenon, but her dad is a famous movie actor, he was in "shallow grave"(great film) amongst many other films. Im sure this is what opened the doors for her and not just her myspace presence, although I really like her music and style, Im not sure it is just talent that put her where she is now.
In reality, art is creativity, good or bad. I accept that. But in an age of packaged personalities the art is in making those pre determined identities as profitable to the masses as possible. Even if that means giving equal prominence to bad art as good art because even bad art can make lots of money. I think controversy is bad art, its tabloid style money making pure and simple "SEX, DRUGS AND VIOLENCE" it sells pretty much everything these days.
But even advertising is an art, managing a business is an art, bringing up kids is an art.
There is an art to lots of things, and it really is down to interpretation of the observer.
Im just fed up of endless movie remakes and sequels with nothing much original going on an any media form.
Sure theres plenty of controversy, but is that art?
There are more boundaries to be pushed than just shocking the public.
I should probably do a follow up thread about the lack of originality in media due to the lazyness of the fat cats running the media show.
As for the photos of the savant, savants are exceptional human beings in that they can register everything that the eyes see all at once, there in-built mental filters dont function so they see the world in a much better way, the downside of this is that they lose their communication skills. Savants are truly great mathematicians, artists, musicians because they see the big picture, where we only see what our mental filters allow us to see.
Savants are truly some of the greatest artists the world has ever seen.