This was going off topic somewhere else, so I put it here. What is art to you and why is it so?

Actually AMV's are an art form. Like all art forms they have a theme and just like sculptures that are made from stone, metal or even trash, AMV's are made from anime clips which needs creativity.

I also see AMV's like collage - which is a work of formal art, made from an assemblage of different forms, thus creating a new whole.

Art is subjective - there is no point in arguing what is art and what isn't. What is art depends entirely on the viewer. I don't believe AMV's are art, because it doesn't require the amount of artistic ability I believe something is needed to create art. Some people may feel that art is anything creative, whether it's your own work or not - or simply the message portrayed. Everyone sees things differently, but saying that AMVs are on a par with a sculpture is not something I agree with - portraits and sculptures, when done to a certain artistic level require a lot more talent than a well executed AMV does, in my opinion.

In any case, I think all our questions have been answered as far as they will be. They said their 'click' with Japan is not solely based on entertainment, and when I asked her what it is based on, she simply said she does not know her self. So what is the point in questioning her further if she doesn't know the answer?

I will leave this topic open in case other users want to comment on their interest or link with Japan, but let's not keep hitting our heads against brick walls with this.

Art is art, it doesn't really matter about ability. Isn't a child's scribbles and stick men called art? I'm sure those children don't spend more then three seconds deciding what color they should color a stick man's hair, and probably even less amount of their artistic ability =P

You're right, art depends on the viewer. But ability should never matter when it comes right down to it.

I mean like, a work of art~ It supposed to be good or meaningful, I mean a kiddie drawing is like art but it isn't ART. I don't believe a drawing is a work of art if there is no thought behind it and it's not meaningful or correct. Sure you could argue AMVs have thought behind it but really all it is is sticking clips together in the right places. Anyone can do an AMV, but art is something special and unique to that person. They require ZERO talent or creative process, to be honest. Video editing and media is a different story - you have to think about camera angles, lighting, dialogue - AMVs don't require much of your own work. Film editing is also different because cutting in a film is crucial, in an AMV it's not. Just like someone said - it's like a collage. A collage to me isn't art, it's a collection of ideas that aren't yours.

AMV isn't a socially accepted art, if anything it's copyright infringement. Let's come to a compromise and call it a hobby.

That's what I see it as... something to do when your bored or something. It's a cheap rip off to call it art when someone spends so much time and effort into a sculpture or painting.

I was actually going to say that myself. You beat me to it, I suppose.

Yeah, don't want threads to go off the rails. In my art lesson we were debating what was art and it's pretty deep stuff so I thought it deserved it's own thread :p