JAMES: We are going to do artistic experiments in writing together. We will co-create something, like a compendium. Don’t worry about word counts, focus on telling your story; stories from your life and ancestry are something only you yourself can tell. We will revisit dialogues, add parts and subtract sections where we are verbose. Acknowledging diverse forms is a strength: this experiment is an adaptation of a philosophy class pedagogical experiment by Professor David Kishik at Emerson College. As your words are also related to others lets acknowledge our sources especially while revising here.
The title of this class is Contemporary Art Theory. First question: What isn’t art?
SHUNTARO: I think mathematics or physics are not art. Because they’re too scientific. Not art.
TAKESHI: I think something you’re aware of is art. Because there are people who say banana (Nishiki, 2026) just pasted on wall is art and urinal is even art (Duchamp 1923). Everything can be art so something we are not aware of is not art. I believe that art fundamentally relies on human awareness. For instance, even a banana taped to a wall can be considered art, just as a common urinal was historically recognized as a masterpiece (Duchamp, 1917). This shows that context and perception are key. Therefore, while almost anything has the potential to be art, an object cannot truly become art unless someone is aware of it and perceives it as such. Without our awareness and intention, they are just ordinary objects.
KOUSUKE: What people can change or control only could become arts. For example, we cannot change atom such as hydrogen anymore. We can’t turn mere hydrogen into another thing. So, in my opinion we shouldn’t recognize it as art. If we called that kind of things as arts, we can’t control the word, art.
YU: I think art needs to be equal and peaceful. So what is not art is destructive or discriminative works.Such as discrimination or invasion history. In the world.
KONO: I think common things that is in daily, we use or do, like air, or hair. I think that is not art, because if they can say it is art, everything will be an art in this world. Also, after hearing everyone’s opinions, I came to the idea that art might be something that involves modifying a material object.In addition to this idea, I believe that art is something created through interaction between humans, animals, or even objects. This is similar to my previous point, because I think it is a bit too bold to say that something is art without any intervention. I believe that art only comes into being when different elements influence one another.
MAYUKO: I’m similar to Shuntaro’s idea. The things that cannot express in many ways is not art, I think. For example, calculation. If I say 5 - 2, there is only one result :3, not more or less than three. So I guess, science or physics is not art.
ANN: I think people is not art. I mean, people themselves can be a part of an artwork, or people can join into some artworks for experience, but situation where there is a space and person or people is there, does not signify art. Mediation such as reasons, ideas or history should be exsisted.
ASHWI: I don’t think there’s anything that’s not art, because even if you can’t control or modify an object or concept, people have the freedom to interpret it however they like. The concept in question It can be any mundane interest and includes everything beyond human perception. Even if the concept cannot be modified by man in its natural form, it can be observed and described which is how the art of poetry, lyricism, and literature came to be.
KAI: I partly agree with Takeshi’s opinion. I think that when people interpret things, anything becomes art. But I wondered if, in the past when there were no human beings (or just “beings”) and only nature, would that nature become art? Because at that time, we wouldn’t exist. And there’s no people, so nobodycan’t interpret anything. And I was wondering if that doesn’t become art. (how do you define art?)