What art should be about, and what purposes it should fulfill
The question of “What art should be about” is misleading because it is not about contents or subjects. It is about effects, and feelings, and art’s distinguishing features in nowadays’ society and environment. Therefore, the questions of “What purpose art should fulfill” seems the most appropriate to me.
That said, the vocabulary in terms of art is tricky: art does not “serve” it doesn’t necessarily aim at specific intentions; if any, it might be overwhelming. Art is.
Accepting this as a premise makes it a lot easier to approach art. Release the pressure. I don’t need to find anything. But I will find a hundred things if I want to.
Returning to the central question, Art
Challenges perception and thought
Breaks everyday rationality
Presents new modes of feeling and thinking. Allows for feeling (instead of primarily thinking)
Fosters reflection
Causes awe, happiness, fear, shock, overwhelming [Überforderung]
Delights.
This is neither a handbook for artists nor perceivers. Artists don’t need a handbook. And art doesn’t allow for being guided. But it does allow for all different kinds of approaches.
Art is gentle. It might ask for your positioning though.
Since our everyday is so structured, and governed by rationality and efficiency, and since art – by its mystery, mysterious trade and prices, its reputation and strange ubiquity – has been put on a pedestal not easy to be approached; and since approaching art is usually neither taught, e.g. in school, nor possibly wished to be so, these remarks may act as an entrance to the realm of art for those who have not found it yet.
I cannot go wrong. And art is gentle.
The artists and works presented on this website may provide examples. Artistic judgement is subjective; but it needs argument.