Assignment 3

I believe that Joseph Beuys’ performed and sculpted the way he did based on his history. Beuys originally pursued a career in medicine and also participated as a pilot and radio operator in a war. I believe that his initial plan to pursue a career in medicine drove him to not be the typical artist. Also, I think that anybody who is in a war is somewhat scarred for life or at least is greatly affected by the experiences they had. I believe that these two factors contributed to the fact that he was not your typical artist and I think this showed that he believed that art could truly be anything you want it to be.
Naturally, I believe that his performance as the coyote is quite strange. I think that something that strange or different can only be felt by those who are performing or those who are one with the performance. I do not understand what Beuys felt, therefore, I do not understand why he acted the way he did or performed the way he did. He created his art in a way that he felt he could express himself.
Some performance artists feel like the typical art isn’t “enough to make art” anymore. Performance artist, Guillermo Gomez-Pena feels that we are living in a state of emergency and that it is necessary to branch away from the typical idea of art. In certain ways, I agree with Gomez-Pena’s idea of art. I think art can be expressed in any way and just because it is a different way of expressing yourself doesn’t mean it can’t be seen as art. Everyone has a different idea about what art is and everyone has different ways of expressing themselves whether it is through drawings, paintings, sculptures, dances, songs, or performances such as Beuys’.
In the essay, “The Nature of Beauty in Contemporary Art”, it is stated that landscapes such as rivers can be viewed as art. I don’t necessarily agree with this because I feel that since it is not thought up by someone or a feeling expressed by someone that it is hard to call a natural piece of landscape art. I especially feel this way because of the culture that we live in. I think people will not be half as open to viewing something such as a river as art because it was not felt or even made by a person or artist.
In conclusion, I feel that art can be viewed as just about anything. Although I feel that Beuys’ portrayal of art is sometimes strange, I think that he is showing his true feelings and I think that is what truly makes art, art.