I discussed the important points of Henry Moore's work and how it related to our current lesson. The student listened attentively however I could tell she was not convinced as to why these "ugly" sculptures were art. She was not in my class when we covered aesthetics and the topic of "What is art?" I finished the conversation by saying, "... you don't have to love something, or think it is *beautiful for it to be art. There are many artists whose works I do not like however it doesn't mean their work isn't art or their work isn't significant to art history. I don't have to like it in order to appreciate it." She looked at me and gave me a look which suggested an "I guess" ...I even think she shrugged her shoulder however she did not say anything else about it. The student also did not answer me when I asked her why she thought it was ugly she merely said, "..it just is..."
Would you have replied differently? If so, how? What do you think of art work such as Fountain by Marcel Duchamp?
Remember it's not always about how it looks but the meaning of the artwork.
*Beautiful... what is beautiful to one person is ugly to another if you don't believe me check out your neighbors husband.
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