Who decides what art means? - Hayley Levitt

Find out how students can share their ideas as TED Talks here: bit.ly/2zpAQUc
View full lesson: ed.ted.com/lessons/who-decide...
There is a question that has been tossed around by philosophers and art critics for decades: how much should an artist's intention affect your interpretation of the work? Do the artist’s plans and motivations affect its meaning? Or is it completely up to the judgment of the viewer? Hayley Levitt explores the complex web of artistic interpretation.
Lesson by Hayley Levitt, directed by Avi Ofer.
Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Merit Gamertsfelder, Bev Millar, Rishi Pasham, Jhuval, SookKwan Loong, Daniel Day, Nick Johnson, Bruno Pinho, Javier Aldavaz, Marc Veale, Boytsov Ilya, maxi kobi einy, Misaki Sato, Andrew Bosco, Nik Maier, Mark Morris, Tamás Drávai, Adi V, Peter Liu, Leora Allen, Hiroshi Uchiyama, Julie Cummings-Debrot, Gilly, Ka-Hei Law, Maya Toll, Aleksandar Srbinovski, Ricardo Rendon Cepeda, Renhe Ji, Andrés Melo Gámez, and Tim Leistikow.

[@BobMcCoy]

*TED-Ed's animations are a true **_work of art!_*

[@unarmoredwtf]

i scrolled down to comment section to see if there's this comment ;)

[@samrashafaq1717]

But who are you to decide that? ;)

[@r.t.1710]

in this video you will find the answer: Definitons of art / film art assignment kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKXTkomin6ybd8U

[@sufjan4877]

Or not!

[@Person-rh3mf]

that what art is! also pls dont r/woosh me

[@aadivrath2407]

Im no connoisseur of art, but your animations never cease to amaze. Most KZbin animators and content creators have a fixed style they call their own. They also focus on a particular genre, in which they specialize in. However Ted-Ed is different. The animation varies wildly, and i believe it's fitting for the motto of the channel.

[@jerryg.8767]

I'm pretty sure Ted-Ed intentionally contracts a wide variety of different animation studios / artists to do their videos.

[@arthurdiserbeau1736]

Not sure the word "connesuir" exists. Maybe you want to say "connoisseur"?

[@yezralumapas3850]

Connosorry

[@arunsooknarine4738]

Connoisseur*

[@riyazuo]

*Corns-aren't-sour

[@hafsa7951]

Trust Ted Ed to make interest in a topic that I never thought of.

[@hafsa7951]

Goy George not really.

[@nesmattia]

Are you Egyptian

[@r.t.1710]

in this video you will find the answer: Definitons of art / film art assignment kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKXTkomin6ybd8U

[@rebeccali2707]

As someone who draws stuff, I like it when people tell me about their interpretations, this inspires me to create better drawings.

[@avivastudios2311]

Can I see your work?

[@camillahansen2828]

Art is personal to every human individual. Your life and experiences may change your perspective on art. Art is something that makes us human, and I truly believe that the intention of creating lives within every human being.

[@DinoIAmNoHoster]

Why is it that people can exactly say what is a good book, a bad one, one with bad grammar, poor story, etc.. but when it comes to painting, its almost a taboo to say some painting is really bad, because it will have different interpretations, etc.. Art being personal is just an idea

[@truecrimelover2022]

@@DinoIAmNoHoster i don't think it's bad but I also think that different people have different tastes. For example I never got into Fifty Shades or Twilight but some people I know love them. (The books and/or the movies). I am a full blown Potterhead and love Hunger Games books and movies on both counts but some people can't stand them. We each have our reasons for liking them or not liking them same with music, painting, art. I do think most art is subjective. Sometimes you might find something where 98% of the people think it is awful or great but as a rule it's much more varied than that. HP and HG that I love and both are very popular in both book and movie genres also both have detractors from people who's opinion I respect. Twilight and 50 shades struck a cord with many of my friends some of them don't like to read but it gave them a reason to pick up a book. HP and HG also got many young people and even adults to pick up a book and even in some cases start to like reading in general especially if they were young when they picked it up.

[@Schmidtelpunkt]

@@DinoIAmNoHoster Can people say what a good book is? Communication happens between the sender and the receiver. How it is perceived depends a lot on the horizon of the person reading it. Paintings have more dimensions, as they use several methods of communication (words can do that too, but it rarely happens in longer texts as it is difficult to maintain the coherence necessary for a longer work, but poems can use words and letters in many different ways), so it gets even more difficult to read them.

[@starrmayhem]

art is personal to every human individual & so does perspective your life and experiences may change your perspective everything is art, but not everything makes us human intention is to satisfy our desires, creating is a function in some human being

[@starrmayhem]

i know you want to understand reality; i know you want to convey a poetic message however you need to accept reality is not your way of pretty, because you're fabricating pretty stories your understanding reality will stop if you're confined style & ideals; change your perspective of art

[@poweroffriendship2.0]

_You can't rush art._ *~ Geri (Toy Story 2, 1999)*

[@vervixx9272]

and you cant judge it.

[@truecrimelover2022]

@@spamonfire1472 true but each person has their own judgement.

[@youryaoidealer7129]

I always memorized it by heart

[@defaultmesh]

But who decides who decides what art means? 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@HelgaCavoli]

The watchers

[@torsiqi5222]

v(^_^)v

[@Ryuseigan]

I thought I'd find out who judges if those expensive paint splashes(the million and billiokind)were art or just splashes.

[@khageshbansal2400]

But whi decides, who decides, who decides what aet means

[@torsiqi5222]

Khagesh Bansal Wut ?

[@Andrew-ix2ij]

Stunning animation

[@jayfawn8478]

Like what's the video discussing, I find the animation below average. Beauty is subjective

[@jaswindersinghnarula2867]

It's not good animation...

[@KRLS-Anknown]

@Hda Destroyers he is joking.

[@faizmohammad8569]

Beauty lies in the eyes of beholder. (Conditions apply)

[@saitenotoshuitsnaini]

Beauty lies in stuffs that we took a selfie with.

[@p4sma421]

great idea

[@Bamseri]

Thought the same as I saw the first few seconds of the video

[@villainoir]

"Do wee need a creator to be able to appreciate the creations?" Wow sounds like a profound theosophical question.

[@cruiserkid1]

I came here for answers dammit, all i'm left with is more questions. love it.

[@khalidali5030]

HAHAHAHA same, i need this for school

[@ahdddd]

i think the point is to say that art is very subjective, different people different mind different interpretation.

[@Szylepiel]

One of the biggest influences of my life was when I was yet a kid, like 13-14 or so, when I stumbled across the essay by Roland Barthes "The Death of The Author". I honestly believe one should separate author's identity and supposed intention behind the work from the work itself as framing imposes a limit of interpretation. We should be able to interpret art, whether it's picture, sculpture or a text, however we want and author's interpretation is just one of very many possible.

[@TheInga90]

That is what Vince Gilligan said about Breaking Bad: that his thoughts on Walter White's intentions and actions were one of many and not necessarily the "correct" ones, and that he loved that viewers had their own interpretations of the unfoldings. Loved that.

[@golubevblog2279]

In my opinion art has two main characteristics which make it so valuable for humanity: - It's ability to record history and express it , it's ability to record feelings and thinking patterns of past and communicating them to us in the present. - It's capacity to trigger inspiration in human beings in different ways. Since we are all unqiue to some point so our preception of art as well. This brings priceless value to it because world needs inspiration to move forward and progress. So based on these two, I would say that it's helpful to know the meaning of the artist to start your reasoning process about some piece. However the abstract and unique understanding is what eventually trigger the emotions and lead to creative and possibly innovative ideas which move us forward. So I would say I mostly agree with that art has no borders and can be percieved anyhow by anyone unless they sincerely feel what they state they do.

[@GorgonDrageil]

My quick answer before watching the video: Every individual observer decides what art means to them... (Edit:) ...After watching the video I maintain my opinion. All interpretations are valid regardless of artist intent. Is it wrong for me to stand on a chair or sit cross-legged just because the chair manufacturer only intended it as a seat? If I use the chair as a doorstop am I invalidating it? ...lol Creativity inspires creativity. That's the beauty of expression: it leads to more and more novelty (i.e. memes about memes lol). It doesn't matter in what direction an artwork inspires, in my opinion. All that matters is that it inspired. It serves a purpose even if that's unintended.

[@r.t.1710]

in this video you will find the answer: Definitons of art / film art assignment kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKXTkomin6ybd8U

[@aadithyahrudhay2269]

That's a well written response, I agree with you

[@mauve9266]

I think a characteristic of ‘great’ art is that they have an endless multiplicity of interpretations and meanings.

[@welovfree]

art has different interpretations from different interpreters, but when you find analogies between those interpretations that's what makes an art a great one.

[@strange_and_magnificent]

Can we all just take a moments to appreciate this beautiful piece of art from TED Ed?

[@Salmasayed1]

I believe I am a little bit of both, I like the idea that there are a lot of interpretations and perspectives of everyone, but I think it is important as well if we hear the artist perspective and put it into consideration.

[@cosmicbenignity8346]

Art should be ambiguous, that's what makes it last forever.

[@waitwhhhaaaaat]

I love sharing my interpretations with my friends and hear theirs, so i'm definetly don't think that a painting or an art object can have only one and only interpretation. It would be so boring and i don't think that art wants to be that.

[@ObsoleteTutorials]

That's not their interpretation. they's just guesses to the artists intentions

[@RedFox_05]

This was amazing. Thank you for the continuous stunning works

[@maco5152]

Your animation is art at its finest. Love it!

[@jamiehay1027]

_Arts meaning is at the individuals interpretation._

[@adithya945]

Those animations were just spectacular. Mind-blown!!

[@ash-5379]

Well every artist making an art has their own reasons for making it and their reasons bring life into those paintings some people might study the painting by just one look and explain it but the artist might have spent years cultivating his artwork for people to understand the true meaning behind their creativity.. like a child's parents know them the best in the same way the artist knows their painting the best and that's the true reason that it is living forever in an art museum!! I like every creative topic Ted Ed chooses to explain!! Great 👍

[@volta2aire]

We feel moments of flight like the sea foam and the splash of stars upon a vast ocean of space. A work of art evokes feelings in us to express what the artist perhaps also felt. Meaning comes later as a story of what we felt in the moment.

[@paulramos4037]

All forms of art (from paintings, sculptures, cinemas, comics, to abstracts) have artists' intentions/motives/meanings/inspirations. The problem is not every artist dictates/mentions/stipulates/discusses her/his intents either directly or otherwise. Another possible way to extract meanings or motives behind the art work(s) is the context of the times (art historians actually do so in case artists left almost nothing in writing or notes whatsoever). Anyways, art is in the eye of the beholder!

[@95GuitarMan13]

Great video, I think both options are useful and compatible. Art is a conversation, sometimes between the artist and the audience, sometimes just among the latter.

[@ejmtv3]

This channel is art itself that gives the universe meaning!!!

[@hendrickputra3142]

Thank you for your information! Love from Indonesia

[@whitechocolateman1088]

I just came here to de-stress from some homework I was having trouble with. Thanks for this.

[@idka.2419]

Your animations and music makes me feel like I wanna live in a world drawn and told by TED-Ed

[@sagesabr]

Well, I'm kind of on a middle ground, but I think it in musical terms, because most of the time I like to know that there is a deeper meaning behind what I'm listening too. I take it into consideration, but it also helps knowing most musical artists don't seem to mind if you have a different interpretation of their songs. And they are self aware of the fact that it can/will be interpreted in many ways.

[@badsoup8857]

I thought you're going to try to explain what is and what isn't art. What make art 'art'. But this was great too. Also,the animation style is so beautiful 🧡

[@IdiotBeez]

I'm an artist myself and I like to leave my artworks open to interpretation

[@superdrwholock]

I love the narrator's voice, gives such 'cool teacher who has your back' vibes

[@mmmk1616]

I love the animation on this video. And it was really interesting, thank you :)

[@zedianzediessi]

I think we should have both interpretations of art. That’s why we have untitled paintings but also very specific descriptive titles with backstories

[@judeukiYT]

This is beautiful, like art is, everything is beautiful, everything is art ❤️

[@fareehafaisal5829]

The Chef throwing the dessert at the face of the person caught me so off guard I laughed for like 10 minutes 🤣🤣🤣

[@villain7140]

The artist's intent is always the final verdict. Art is a form of communication and a listener cannot decide what the speaker is trying to tell them. However ambiguity can be the intent; the speaker might not always be stating something but sometimes asking questions, and different answers within defined proportions might be what the artist intended. This is the route followed by the greatest of artists, whose works are always somewhat open to interpretation. The intent can't be ambiguous, but ambiguity can be the intent.

[@perkyoppeyes9885]

this comment is so beautiful ohmygod

[@annabelho7607]

YESSS ANOTHER ART RELATED VIDEO THANK YOU TED ED

[@hussainvirk8598]

I personally think the interpretation of art is different from person to person which is also kinda what makes it special And if you think about it a lot of art other than visual also has differences in interpretation like music or a film

[@nikhilaryal]

Just what I needed.... Ted ed videos are ❤❤❤

[@AlexVoxel]

As always, great animation!

[@anisoabdirahman2363]

Perfect timing I have to learn about art ahhhhh life's easy

[@IO-hh3gw]

2:14 THE SHADE!!!!! I CAN'T!!!

[@alecavalos2535]

I think it'd be cool if the artists' intentions and my interpretation were the same. After all we always liked those who understand us and I think that's what we want when we see someone's artwork.

[@ayoubmezoury4134]

After that, it's up to the viewing audience to decide what it means to them ( art ) and how well it conveys whatever they think is the message. Great Valuable Video

[@mr.yuriinspector347]

Wow this is astonishing and beautiful.

[@arthurdiserbeau1736]

I love the voice of the one speaking

[@johnnybadboy3475]

This was really fascinating

[@BuddyL]

As an artist myself🎭🖼🎨, the intention of my work vs. the way it's interpreted is something that often comes to mind. I'm a "middle ground" person myself.

[@cjmarsh9610]

Art is like life, you have to find your own meaning for it.

[@arielbadw1368]

Our interpretation is what really matters to us, author's attention doesn't matter to our opinion, I think good art is when we are the much closest to what the artist wanted to do

[@donstarfinkel6456]

I think what the artist is trying to convey is more important than anyone's opinion of the art. The draw of the art scene for me, is trying to figure the meaning out or not thinking too deep into it. Just enjoying the piece for what it is . I prefer performance art myself whereas I feel there is more room for interpretation.

[@ravishbooputh2756]

I really appreciate how the chef tossed that cupcake on the client's face😂

[@redeye1779]

I love this! Thanks

[@caioribeiro5132]

I actually liked the painting used as example!

[@EyesOfByes]

1:03 "Red Bull gives you wings!"

[@emericswitchyoureawesomean3658]

You decide. I believe it’s all up to interpretation, and how a work speaks to you in particular.

[@riya4176]

I believe the whole meaning of art lies in the way each of us percieve it..and our perceptions naturally differ....an artist's intentions may or may not be different from ours but the art holds meaning from what we take from it

[@shubham-pawar]

That is why last year I saw a painting sold for USD 2.5 million which was nothing but a white canvas with a single red line running diagonally across the whole canvas. I bet the creator of the painting must be laughing dead after the auction. But hey that is what art is now a days. Beauty really lies in the eye of the beholder.

[@r.t.1710]

in this video you will find the answer: Definitons of art / film art assignment kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKXTkomin6ybd8U

[@anestil6327]

Great content. As always

[@mrslinkydragon9910]

pudding to the face! needs it be giffedf!

[@palm0607]

Omg yes !! That sound had my cracking up ! Lol

[@enoomonigho]

Liked before watching, I've been asking this with regards to music.

[@lemuellakotey9449]

I really enjoyed this♡

[@manasisankhe8763]

Ted ed always paints a masterpiece

[@dmys0007]

I believe the artist's (painter, author, musician, etc.) intention is important due to the fact that the insights gained from some works of art have lead to action being taken. Sometimes positive, and sometimes negative, but regardless, the negative can be mitigated if the artist's intentions are known (for most works of art). I also personally hated having to interpret what a dead author meant by his/her book and being judged on my interpretation. However, I believe you should be able to enjoy the artist's work before knowing their intent, sit on it a while to see what your subconscious gains from these insights and once solidified, learn of the artist's intent. This allows you to get personal insight into yourself, learning more about yourself, and then still potentially absorbing the intent the artist sought to portray.

[@ivanbasumitra5338]

Exactly...the only comment which covers both of the important points

[@_daki]

Well said

[@pablozarate2166]

Please make a video on the Sator Rotas square!!! Everyone like this!!!

[@travis5732]

In my opinion, the author's interpretation is THE interpretation, and the one that gives the piece meaning, because preceded it's creation, and not the other way around; however, any individual can have a singular interpretation of the piece of art, but this would be in a lower category than the author's.

[@aadithyahrudhay2269]

Ok suppose there was a certain incident that happened in your life of deep emotional significance, and a piece of art represents, captures or reminds you of that incident. Then, what if it means more to you than what it meant to maybe even the artist? Will you rob somebody the chance to enjoy this art on a whole new different level with such a sweeping, mechanical statement? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, although the artist's intention can offer interesting insight. It's highly situational and relative, so we can't generalize.

[@aadithyahrudhay2269]

@Mechanical Engineer Nejc Klemen Hey, while you make a lot of sense, why compare in the first place? Art, at the end of the day, is for one to enjoy right, so I think this debate isn't even like useful. I can choose to interpret art in any way I can, and nobody can stop me (unless the big brother sends his thought police :) Plus, I think artists will be honoured at different interpretations which they never thought of themselves.

[@aadithyahrudhay2269]

@Mechanical Engineer Nejc Klemen wow I didn't even realise English isn't your second language.... You sound really fluent :)

[@badpumpkin1122]

there is a phenomenal Yale lecture series on literary theory that cover those topics. Should check out if interested...

[@badpumpkin1122]

oh it's totally free on youtube, so give it a go!

[@squarz]

Link?

[@julianblake8385]

Could share the name of the lecture or the link, please? I'm interested

[@Ead2410]

Please share the link

[@alexanderrossa6173]

Please share

[@RosheenQuynh]

I think both intention and interpretation are important; as intention could create a new perspective on someone's interpretation and change it in a good way. On the other hand, if I were an artist, I'd make my intentions clear as day so that there is no room for interpretation. That probably isn't possible, as I will interpret a song to represent something that was not originally intended for example, but still.

[@sasmitarath4312]

Wonderful

[@sundae4033]

This is uploaded on my birthday :D

[@princessunicorn197]

Your videos are so intersting and factual

[@arielbadw1368]

I think the order of importance is like this : - what the artist wanted to do (if it's something ambitious) - how he did it (is it good or bad ?) - how well we interpreted it (are we close to what the artist wanted us to see ?) - finally, are we impressed ? (If we liked the object)

[@r.t.1710]

in this video you might find some answer: Definitons of art / film art assignment kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKXTkomin6ybd8U

[@pon7630]

ME (I personally see it as the subjectivity based on facts making the beauty of it because it becomes interpersonal and special for different people, and it's individual every time)

[@bigboy6191]

One of the best Teded video

[@Bill0102]

This piece is filled with thought-provoking knowledge. Engaging with a book with parallel content was an incredible experience for me. "The Art of Meaningful Relationships in the 21st Century" by Leo Flint

[@king_jk5542]

What I see in the paintings is beauty but not to touch or keep but just to see, or something like that

[@theresevontodderud3901]

We all have different backgrounds and therefore interpret things differently. At my university, they say that your analysis is acceptable as long as you have evidence. The author/artist will leave clues, but we have also been told that "the author is dead", which is a good way of looking at it. We cannot discuss the artist's intention, only the intention of that specific artwork/text. It can still mean something else to you on a personal level, but when you have all the tools to analyze it, you will probably see something else than if you let your heart and personal experiences be in charge.

[@mjstory1976]

Awesome and informative video

[@anis9503]

It depends on the nature of the art work itself. Without forgetting the fact that each individual receive the work differently, there's common elements that we samely perceive and deal with, but at a primitive level, and before any kind of rational interpretation, which leads to different results depending on everyone's background. Still, there's a lot of sorts of what we may call "common artistic ground" which may bridge the gaps between different visions and understandings, that doesn't come without a cost for sure, cuz when taking that to the extreme, we face a big problem that contradicts with the very essence of art, since the diversity in vision-ways enrich the view. At the end, we should agree that a sky is a sky, and a tree is a tree, before deciding -either individually or collectively- what the sky and the trees mean.

[@quantumeinstein3472]

art is by people's opinions

[@gabbonoo]

"It just puddings."-Teded Howard?. Mental conception is a relative being, If you can think of it as art, it is art to you as long as you think of it.

[@r.t.1710]

in this video you will find the answer: Definitons of art / film art assignment kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKXTkomin6ybd8U

[@neilfordan]

This is a piece of art

[@thesweettooth8645]

Never thought of this question But now I want to know

[@surodeepspace]

I always thought of this. I thought the same for music. Whenever i listen to a song, i let it sink in and imagine the view and create my own scenery and storyline. Then when i see the original music video and artists involved, i get very sad and unmotivated when i come to know what the song really is about and that my favorite 5 seconds of that melody was just a filler.

[@sameeersm]

Great artwork reference!... OK coming to the debate, the artist's intention should come out of his 'choice' not by some 'chance' . Whatever comes out of his choice speaks his expertise and that from chance comes out of just luck.

[@ilhampramastya6829]

Art is... EXPLOSION!💥💥

[@abhijitborah]

Loved it.

[@PujaDevi-nr8qk]

0:17 this reaction catches my eye.. Animation ✨✨

[@lanyoshadang4104]

The artist interpretation is the only one that matters, not critics nor the audience!

[@phantombeard6262]

Oddly enough, the same can be said for music (in a way). How did the composer want this piece to be interpreted. (Depending on the piece or composer, many answers are right) Great job Ted-Ed

[@amara560]

The truth of art lies somewhere in the middle for me. Knowing the intentions of the artist can give so much more meaning to different works of art.

[@drcommondrate12]

Art is the appreciation of existence of something.

[@emiliaowllly1254]

Amazing! 😊💕

[@jacobandrews2663]

This video is a piece of Art

[@fitzgeraldmistral97]

MY DEFINITIVE ANSWER: The intention of the artist is relevant to the extent that 1) we can access that knowledge (abt their intention) 2) the artist is very intentional and deliberate to the point of being deeply philosophical in their work. But, the case can be made that there might be subconscious elements that are found in a piece of art that even the artist was not consciously trying to imbue their artwork with. I like how we are able to critique and view the same works of art today that multiple generations before us each had their own view of. I'm inclined to think that we are more privileged than them because 1) they were - in general - less open to various interpretations, since there were periods before where you had to fit in established schools of thought and there wasn't that climate of truly unfettered criticism of art and the production of art. We live in a more relaxed and open society than ever before. 2) we have the advantage of being the last ones to have our say on these works, i.e. the benefit of surveying all the different interpretations of the past, and then having our own more-informed interpretation.

[@MrFossil367ab45gfyth]

Yes! Art is in the eye of the beholder.