What is Art?




Deliverance of Saint Peter, Raphael, 1514, fresco, Stanza di Eliodoro, Vatican, Rome

"What is art?"  This ages old question is often discussed and has widely varying answers.  We consider painting to be art as well as sculpture and architecture.  Opinions are more divided on the decorative arts such as pottery, textiles and stained glass. Art is sometimes the result of creativity and other times the result of political propaganda.  Art can be all of these things or none of them. 

A better question may be- can a single blog post successfully answer the question of what art is?  Let's look at some of the components involved in the creation of art through the ages.


I often begin art history lectures by stating: "Art is a reflection from the society that created it."  The values of a culture show through in art, when looking at any work of art the more you understand about the culture and society at the time, the more you will understand the art coming from it.  

When viewing art ask yourself several questions such as: 

• Who was in power when this was created? 
• How did they come into power? 
• Who commissioned this and what is known about them? 
• Who created it and what is known about them? 
• Where was this meant to be seen originally? 
• Why was this work of art commissioned and/or created?

For example in the above fresco by Raphael the Pope (Pope Julius II) was in power and as was the case with most popes he came into power after his predecessor died and he was elected into office by a council.  It was also Pope Julius II that commissioned this from the highly talented and sought after Renaissance painter Raphael.  This was in the Pope's private apartments where the general public was not allowed, today those apartments are part of the Vatican museums and hundreds of visitors see these frescoes daily. 

Here is a sampling of some objects which have been considered "art" let's ask what do they have in common and what separates them?

Pictured above from left:
Chartres Cathedral, northwest tower c. 1140,  west façade and southwest tower c. 1160-16th century

David, Michelangelo,1501-1504, Accademia Gallery, Florence, photo- © Rico Heil /public domain, via Wikimedia Commons  

Woman Holding a Balance, Johannes Vermeer, c. 1664, National Gallery of Art

Here we are comparing and contrasting a medieval French church, a larger than life Renaissance marble sculpture of a man and a rather small, realistic oil painting from the Dutch Baroque.  They were all created in different centuries from vastly different materials. These examples are all beautiful objects which express the creativity of the artist and they also all are expressions of Christianity and the religious faith of the creator. What else do these things have in common?  Can each of these be considered art?

Wall painting of Reindeer, Lascaux Cave, France, c-15,000 B.C.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines art as-
The conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects; also : works so produced

I agree with that description, whatever style, medium or use that objects of art have they are created with a combination of "the conscious use of skill and creative imagination."  Even as far back as the cave paintings from Prehistoric society that definition can be applied.

 Ixion, Jusepe de Ribera, 1630, Museo del Prado, Madrid

Today one may think of art as being created to be a beautiful object, but for millennium art was not created with the primary purpose in mind of being beautiful.  While often beautiful, the aesthetic value of the object was typically its secondary purpose.  Though many examples of art weren't beautiful at all and were meant to be purposefully ugly, grotesque, disturbing or frightening such as Ribera's work above.
 
What then was the primary purpose of a work of art? This is often very apparent such as art as a historic record, a form of propaganda for those in power or a way of spreading a message such as the message of Christianity to those who couldn't read.  

 In other instances the primary purpose of works of art are still debated and not known, such as the case for nearly all Prehistoric art.  Even later art can be difficult to interpret, the primary purpose of some art works may need the equivalent level of research of a Ph.D. thesis to decipher them.

Let's look at some examples of art with a specific primary purpose-

 
Pictured above from left:
Column of Marcus Aurelius, c-193 A.D., Rome, photo- © Matthias Kabel / public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Virgin Enthroned with Angels, Cimabue, c-1290-95, Louvre 

Bernardino Campi Painting Sofonisba Anguissola, Anguissola, late 1550's



In the first example we see a monumental column built during the Roman Empire, its primary purpose was that of political propaganda.  The images carved into the marble relief panels winding up the length of the column show a victorious military campaign fought by the Emperor Marcus Aurelius.


The second example is a panel which was created for Christian devotional purposes painted by the artist Cimabue in the late 13th century.  The final example is a clever type of self-portrait by the painter Sofonisba Anguissola.  She painted this to show her skill, cleverness and importance as an artist.

Symphony in White no 1: The White Girl - Portrait of Joanna Hiffernan,  

James Abbott McNeil Whistler, 1862, National Gallery of Art (Washington, D.C.)

The phrase "Art for art's sake." didn't come about until the late 19th century.  It refers to the creation of art to be a work of art as its primary purpose.  Artists such as the French Impressionists, Eduoard Manet and James Abbott McNeill Whistler subscribed to this idea and it is the root of artistic ideas in the 20th and 21st centuries.


What then of architecture or the decorative arts?  Are they too to be considered art?  There are many examples of both which feature prominently in art history books and courses.  

Pictured above from left:
"Il Duomo" Santa Maria del Fiore, dome by Brunelleschi, 1420-1436

Temple of Hephaestus in Athens, Greece, 449-415 BC, photo- © Sharon Mollerus / public domain, via Wikimedia Commons 

San Giorgio Maggiore, Andrea Palladio, Venice, 1566-1610


When I am teaching I always explain that if architecture weren't art then all buildings would look the same and would only be created to protect people from the elements. I have always strongly felt that architecture is art when it falls under the definition of "production of aesthetic objects."  

Meaning that not every structure ever created would be considered an art form, but those structures that transcend their primary purpose by also being aesthetic objects art are in fact art.  I apply the same idea to the decorative arts such as the Greek Amphora shown below.  

Not that every single piece of pottery, glass and textiles falls under the category of art, but again those that transcend their primary purpose, combining skill and creativity to become an object with aesthetic value are certainly to be considered art.

Greek Attic Amphora, 550-560 BC 

photo- © Jean-Pol GRANDMONT / public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

 

The 14th edition of Gardner's Art Through the Ages has an interesting way of describing the role of art in its opening paragraph:

“Except when referring to the modern academic discipline, people do not often juxtapose the words “art” and “history.”  They tend to think of history as the record and interpretation of past human actions, particularly social and political actions.  Most think of art, quite correctly, as part of the present- as something people can see and touch.  Of course, people cannot see or touch history’s vanished human events, but a visible, tangible artwork is a kind of persisting event.  One or more artists make it at a certain time and in a specific place, even if no one today knows just who, when, or why.  Although created in the past, an artwork continues to exist in the present, long surviving its times.”1

I agree with this statement and think that it is well phrased.  Works of art are visible manifestations of the cultures that they were created in.  In this way all the political and historic events that have led to 

 

What then blog readers is your definition of "art" and why do you think so?  I think the question can have many answers and I am interested in hearing them all.

 

 

1. Kleiner, Fred S. Gardner's Art through the Ages: A Global History. 14^th edition. New York: Wadsworth Publishing, 2012. p. 1.

 

Debt Consolidation Loans: The Answer To Mounting Bills And Debts

Nobody likes to receive bills, even at the best of times. But when debts and expenses are mounting faster than we can keep up with, the common bill can cause considerable problems. Unless dealt with quickly, the situation can eventually become too much. So what is a solution? Debt consolidation loans for one.

There are several steps that a bad credit borrower can take to set about addressing their debt situation, but not all of them are effective. However, clearing existing debts in one go makes a hugely positive impact on it – though it is important to realize that consolidation results in the debt being replaced rather than removed completely.

So with that in mind, how beneficial are consolidation loans when it comes to dealing with mounting debts? Can it really be the perfect solution that everyone claims it is? In almost every way, the answer is yes.

So What Is Consolidation?

Understanding what consolidation is and how it works is the first step in working out if it will be as beneficial as hoped. The basic idea is that everything (in this case all individual debts) are gathered together into one sum and paid off using a single debt consolidation loan.

It might seem like simply replacing the debt with a new one, and that is not a million miles from the truth. However, the single loan has a single interest rate and is therefore less costly than the combined interest paid on 5 or 6 individual loans with different interest rates.

Also, by clearing existing debts in this way, there is a chance to better structure the debt repayment schedule. So, while the combined monthly repayments on 6 loans might have been $1,500, the consolidation loan can have repayments of $750, depending on the terms of the loan.

Factors That Make The Loan Ideal

Of course, it is the terms of the loan that actually makes a debt consolidation loan affordable or effective. So, it is important to choose a loan deal that is right for your specific needs. But what are the particular factors that applicants should look out for?

The first is interest rate, which obviously is a chief concern for all loan applications. Keeping the rate as low as possible is important. This is where going to the right lender is effective, with online lenders especially charging very competitive rates even when lending to bad credit borrowers.

But to make this method of clearing existing debts as affordable as possible, the term of the consolidation loan is extended to beyond the normal period. For example, instead of a 5-year loan, a 10-year loan is granted. And when the debts are large ($50,000 or more), the term can extend to 30 years.

Qualifying For A Consolidation Loan

This not a particularly difficult task to complete, with no surprises to be wary of. Applicants seeking a debt consolidation loan need to meet the same criteria needed for every other loan. So, as long as they have a full-time job to show a means of making the repayments, there should be no problem.

However, there is a loan limit set by the debt-to-income ratio, which restricts the amount to be committed to loan repayments to just 40% of your income. This means that an income of $3,000 has a restriction of $1,200 in total debt repayments.

After clearing existing debts, this should not be a problem but the repayment limit affects the size of the actual loan – so keep this in mind too. And remember that a consolidation loan does not necessarily have to clear all debts. Even clearing half of the debt can make a huge difference to the borrower.

What To Know When Working With A 3pl Company

When it comes to adages such as “time is money” and “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush," applying these to the way you operate your business often leads you to engaging a third party logistics (3PL) company to facilitate your supply chain operations.

Your businesses bottom line can be impacted negatively if there is an inefficient supply chain established. Essentially, a 3PL company acts as the intermediary between you and shipping and delivery carriers. To ensure your goods reach their destination in a timely manner, a 3PL company can incorporate services such as warehousing and transportation services, integrated packaging and much more at the best price. With the supply chain being such an essential element of your business, outsourcing these services can save you time and also have a positive impact on your customer service by professionally putting the bird into the hand. These particular skills in-house for supply chain are not needed when engaging a third party specialist which enables you to direct attention to other elements of your company. Since they are able to get certain volume special discounts, these 3PL companies can save on your shipping and transportation expenses.

When it comes to outsourcing tools these logistical services, you are going to want to check the stability of the 3PL credit. In this respect it can be a good idea to find out from the freight companies they service what they are like to do business with. Because this is a company who could be representing you and your business, you really need to make sure your reputation is not damaged in any way by an unprofessional company working on your behalf. Get a perspective by speaking with freight companies about what a 3PL firm is really like. Do they have a good reputation? Are they really on a financial basis secure? Are they really in financial stable and in fact pay their bills on time. Additionally it is important for you to be clear about your obligations should your 3PL company fail to deliver. Arrangements will have to be discussed and what type of insurance coverage is there for your protection. A report on the 3PL credit rating can be obtained by a credit checking company who will present you with helpful information.

When going into an agreement with this type of company, you need to be clear about what your expectations are and if the 3PL company is equipped to fulfill them. The partnerships your company already has in position and the scale of logistics needs can be deciding factors when it comes down to your 3PL company preference. One of the add-on services a 3PL can provide you is access to data and reporting components that can provide assurance to you on the exact costs of shipping and also provide you with an insightful and accurate glimpse of every stage of the supply chain that may be difficult for you to ascertain on your own.

Working with a 3PL company is a business relationship that could be helpful to you overall. It can help to think of them not as an outsider but as an extension of your business. You subsequently need to have a clear a precise idea of who you will be dealing with. It is ideal if they know you and your business well to ensure that them to represent your interest effectively. Finding a company that can change and grow with you and be forthcoming in terms of identifying aspects of the supply chain that you could improve upon, or finding solutions for you that you may not have considered, can lead to long-term and mutually beneficial relationships.

How To Stop Losing Money Using Stop Losses

There is nothing stable about the markets. They are extremely volatile and can change from one second to the next. That's why it’s important that you are a smart investor and know how to protect yourself and avoid losing all of your money when things start to go south. One such way to do this is to use stop losses.

To set up a stop loss you have to decide up front how much you are willing to lose before you sell that stock off. And doing it this way is actually the best way to go because you haven't invested any of your money yet which means you are more objective. Once you have invested money it becomes emotional and you can easily end up making bad decisions.

Of course everyone has a different opinion when it comes to stop losses and what percentage you should use. I am going to give you my opinion and you can use this information as a guide to help you come up with your own percentages as you become a more savvy investor.

25% is a good stop loss percent to use. That means if you are investing $1000 once it falls to $250 you would sell it. That way you would be left with $750 instead of losing the whole $1000. Generally speaking you will find that a stop loss in the range of 21% - 27% will get you the best results.

If you set the stop loss too low it will cause you to stop out of investments too often. On the other hand, if you set the stop loss too high you can lose a lot of money before selling off the stock. Its really a delicate balance. You don't want to lose too much and you don't want to stop it too soon as it could turn around and go back up.

That's really the basics of how to stop losing money using stop losses. But let me just give you a quick little warning. When your money is on the line it can be very hard to stick with the plan. Many times your emotions will come into play and override all of your sensibilities.

You will see a stock going down but you will hold on to it as long as you can because you think it might come back up. It will be the hardest thing ever for you to take the 25% loss because you are hoping and praying the stock will rise again.

Don't be that person. If you set a stop loss stick with it. Because if you don't the scenario usually plays out like this. Instead of going up the stock no goes down by 35%. You continue to hold on to it and then it goes down by 50%. At this point you are in a panic and hold on to the stock because you want to recover at least some of your money.

Then it drops by 75%, then 90% and then all of your money is gone. So you can either lose all of your money or you can use the stop loss and only risk losing 25% of your money. I think we all know what the better option is here.

Professional Indemnity Insurance - What Makes It Beneficial for Professional Businesses

Any business that offers professional services or gives advice should consider taking professional indemnity insurance (PII). Any faulty advice or service provided can make the business legally liable to the claims made by the client/sufferer. In such cases, professional indemnity insurance helps the business handle all the legal costs that arise from the claims made by the clients.

Some of the professions which need to take professional indemnity insurance are - medical professionals, building/maintenance contractors, financial consultants, advertising and PR agencies, designers, etc. For some of the professionals, professional indemnity insurance is made mandatory by UK government so as to get their professional authorization. They include accountants, architects, solicitors, mortgage intermediaries, insurance brokers and financial advisers.

The insurance protects the professional business against liability coming up apparently due to negligence, error or omission, loss of data or information, violation of confidentiality, employees dishonesty, etc., which may affect the business's reputation and financial stability badly.

Benefits of taking this policy
As an individual professional/a professional business owner, it is important to protect yourself from legal liabilities while executing your profession because, loss due to any kind of errors or negligence on part of yourself/your employees, may prove to be costly.

• Ensures smooth run of the business
Professional indemnity insurance protects you by covering the expenses involved in the whole process and by providing legal aid so that you run your business smoothly. The rightly timed assistance provided by this insurance policy will not let you stop your business at the time of crisis, thus, ensuring smooth running of your business.

• Covers the risks associated with employee negligence
Your employee may delete or lose some crucial information related to your client accidentally while at work. This may lead to the client to bring lawsuit against you. Having PII, you can be rest assured, as this policy also offers cover to the damage caused by your employees' negligence.

• Saves from financial losses during lawsuits
Lawsuits sometimes can lead into thousands of dollars, which can be a huge burden for you. Sometimes, you will have to bear the expenses of litigation as well the indemnity to be paid to the client. Having the PII insurance would rule out these financial problems and thus, saves you from the financial losses.

• Offers support from expert attorneys
The advantage of this insurance is that it offers support from expert attorneys. As a professional business, you cannot tackle the enormous loss of time and the intricacies involved in the litigation. This needs an expert legal adviser to do the job. PII insurance in this matter would be a great help to you.

Approach a reputable brokerage firm while choosing this insurance
There are many things you need to consider while choosing professional indemnity insurance. Some of them include: premium calculation method, the risks involved in your business, the nature of business activity or the potential indemnity, etc. You should also check for the statutory authority and reputation of the insurance company.

It is always advised to take help of a reputable insurance brokerage firm while choosing this insurance. This should be so because these firms deal with several firms' insurance products. They are well aware of the market. They would advise you the most appropriate amount of cover for your business.

Conforming To Aml Compliance Laws Without Damaging Your Revenue

Often mentioned in the media and in movies or television, money laundering is a recognized practice many would never attempt. Still wide spread today, money laundering is certainly a real serious criminal offense. The defense against this criminal activity is through various laws put in place by AML compliance.

In simple terms, money laundering is the act of "cleaning" money that, due to its source, is considered "dirty." When any entity with financial activity makes money, that cash comes from somewhere, and is usually listed multiple times as having come from that source, whether in financial records, spending figures, or any other documents. There are many reasons apart from legal ones for which a company may keep strict records of its finances. If money that a business or entity has made comes from a source that the entity would like to hide, such as a drug deal or any other illegal financial transaction, they have to ‘launder’ it before they can use it, or its source could be traced, and they could be charged for their participation in whatever crime was committed.

So, precisely what does laundering dirty money involve? The dirty money must go through a series of financial transactions, more or less getting lost or clean along the way. These can be simple operations, in which money is laundered slowly and carefully, such as a laundromat or other small establishment. Perhaps the guilty will try in mix the money in a casino or other business that deal in considerable amounts of cash and would not be noticeable. The casino would accept the dirty money and claim it as a legitimate income, this way large amounts of cash can be laundered with none the wiser. The nature of the establishment helps ensure that nobody will suspect the money of being dirty, and since the casino makes plenty of legal income on a regular basis, it can be given back to the person legitimately. Once all of the money has been circulated to the point that its source can no longer be traced, the operation is complete. Since investigating professionals will often look for dirty money and its source as evidence for a prosecution, the money laundering process will keep criminals safe in that regard.

So, exactly what do legitimate business entities do when it is hard to tell whether money they are receiving or processing is legitimately-acquired? AML, which refers to anti-money laundering, is regarded as the popular form of defense against this crime in the USA. AML compliance laws, which impose requirements on finance institutions and money transmitters in efforts to prevent money laundering, are as complex as they are varied. As a result, it may be beneficial to have a company that can train you and your staff the appropriate AML-compliant behavior, so that you can follow the law without sacrificing your own productivity in the process. The exact requirements that are imposed by the AML on your business might be difficult to understand. Applying techniques and strategies to protect against money laundering while also maintaining your company's budget needs to be done in the best way possible. The initial step to ensuring that your organization is as legitimate and profitable as possible, locate a proper AML compliance training company and educate yourself and staff to prevent illegal activities from adversely impacting you.

Sell Your House The Fastest Way By Using These Tips

If you are going to ask the opinion of experts, then they will tell you that an average home will sell in less than three months. But don’t you know that you can sell your home the soonest? There are just important things you need to take into account before selling your house. In this article, we will discuss some of the efficient things you can do in order to sell your house fast.

Prepare your house
• Repair and maintenance- Preparing your house would mean checking your house for any signs of damage and repair. It would help a lot if you are going to focus on issues that need repair. As you know, potential house buyer notices major repair the first time they laid their eyes on your home.

• Cleaning the home- Take a look at the interior and exterior of your home. You have to make sure that your house is clean inside out to make it even more inviting to potential buyers. As much as possible, arrange the furniture and appliance well and make the house free from clutter.

Set the price
To be able to sell your house fast, you should have a competitive price. Through this, you will be able to get the attention of prospective buyers. The price of your house should be in accordance with the average selling price of house with the same structure as yours. It would help a lot if you are going to lower the price of your house a few dollars below from your competitors.

Use good photos
In this internet age, a lot of people prefer to search for house for sale online. Hence, uploading great photos of your home can certainly help you sell your house the soonest possible time. Take a photo of the different angles and views of the house. You can also use video walkthroughs so as to capture the interest of potential buyers.

Hire the service of experts
If you are having difficulties selling your house on your own, then you can always hire the service of experts. There are so many real estate agents dedicated in helping you sell your house the soonest possible time. Hiring the service of expert is indeed a good idea, but this should be only your last resort. Selling your house on your own isn’t that hard at all as long as you make use of the above mentioned tips.