art and performance

[Jeff House <jjthandmeh@juno.com>]

Keets,  First off-good example!
"Let's try an example outside of music.  I'm sure everyone would agree
that pastel drawing is art, but is electrical drafting?  Everybody's seen
those little wiring diagrams that come with your stereo.  It's drawing,
but is it really a form of art?"

I am an accountant, so my opinions on art are entirely suspect.

No - it is not art because it is a strictly functional drawing, using
strict standards of format.  The drafter is representing something
tangible using very strictly defined and accepted standards.  If the
drafter used his electronic medium to create an image reflecting the same
board/circuitry, but went outside the standards, it would be art.  The
drafter would be using his own impressions and brain to describe
something tangible in a new (albeit staid) way.  Voila!  Self expression.

Similarly, Mark Leaman's signature lines are art because he takes an
actual event and changes the context to express his impression of the
event, risking the ire of anyone who may disagree with his slant.  He
takes a tangible event, twists it a bit to express himself, and takes a
risk.

Jeff