Category · 14 questions
Art
From cave paintings to NFTs — what counts as art, who decides, and why people fight about it.
In this section
14 entriesAre anime and cartoons the same thing?
For as long as they have existed there has been a debate about whether or not anime and cartoons are the same thing. Are they truly as similar as people believe, or are there key differences that separate them into two distinct categories?
Are video games art?
The debate over what counts as art has raged for centuries. Famous artists we know today were once under scrutiny for their art. Today the debate now includes a new art form: video games. So are critics right to say that video games are not art, or is there more to them than meets the eye?
Is cinema art?
Ever since cinema began its debut in the late 1800s, it has captured the awe and imagination of audiences worldwide. While it is no question that cinema is entertainment, many people also wonder whether or not cinema is an art form. So the debate continues here: Is cinema art?
Is conceptual art valid?
Art involves skill. Conceptual art does not. Therefore conceptual art is worthless. Alternatively, thinking involves skill; thought can be a medium for art. Therefore conceptual art has validity.
Is Shakespeare's writing universal and timeless?
Ben Jonson described Shakespeare as being "for all time" - that is, his works resonate with all time periods and peoples. His body of work spans poetry and plays, many of which are the most praised, quoted and performed still today. Is the work of Shakespeare truly this universal and timeless?
Is the Elbe Philharmonic Hall (Hamburg, Germany) ugly?
The new glossy construction in Hamburg resembles a hoisted sail, water wave, iceberg or quartz crystal. It sits on a top of an old warehouse building near the historical Speicherstadt. It was officially inaugurated with concerts on January 11, 2017.
Is there a language that is most difficult to learn?
Many languages are notoriously difficult for English speakers to learn. Linguists have claimed that some languages are objectively more complex than others, while other linguists claimed that all languages are equally complex or complex in their own way, with their writing systems, grammar structures, number of possible syllables, pronunciation, and more. Are languages objectively or relatively difficult to learn?
Should we consume the art or products of people accused of sexual abuse?
With the rise of the #MeToo movement, more and more victims of sexual assault have come forward accusing prominent figures. From Harvey Weinstein to Michael Jackson to R. Kelly, consumers of art are now faced with an important moral question: should we continue to consume the art of immoral people?
What is cultural appropriation?
Cultural appropriation, the adoption of aspects of another culture by members of a dominant culture, is not a new phenomenon. Today, wearing an insensitive Halloween costume or sporting a certain hairstyle can draw accusations of cultural appropriation. But what is cultural appropriation? A form of neo-colonialism? Racism? Cultural theft? Political correctness gone too far? Or is cultural appropriation actually cultural appreciation?
What is the purpose of abstract art?
What is abstract art for? This entry sets out the positions on its purpose — that it lets the artist perceive beyond the tangible world, and that it represents an emancipation of the mind from representation.
What is the purpose of art?
What is art for? This entry maps the competing accounts of art's purpose — that it exists for self-expression, for communication, for entertainment and self-improvement, and to serve practical, functional ends.
What's the best debate format?
Competitive debating has become one of the most popular extracurricular activities for both high school and university students. Around the world, people engage in many different formats of debating, from the formal, cooperate Model United Nations format to the rapid-fire, argumentative Policy format. Out of so many formats, what exactly is the best?
Which are best: Shakespeare's comedies, tragedies, or histories?
Shakespeare's plays are the most famous in the western canon, and are regularly performed both by theatre companies and amateurs. His plays are typically split into three genres: comedies, histories, and tragedies. For many modern audiences, the comedies are the most enduring and enjoyable, but tragedies are widely studied academically, and Hamlet, generally seen as Shakespeare's greatest work, is a tragedy. Histories, dealing often with the lives of kings, are less popular with the public but provide a hugely important historical and historiographical resource, and can often contain both tragic and comedic elements. So, which are the best?
Who was Shakespeare?
"What's in a name?" one of Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers asked. When it comes to the identity of the greatest writer in the English language, a great deal. That mantle has long been bestowed on a glover's son from Stratford-Upon-Avon. But since the 19th century, there have been doubts over William Shakespeare's identity as the writer of the works attributed to the playwright. Was the Bard from Stratford a front for another writer? Was he just one participant in a collective group of writers? Or was he a she?