What is art? Merriam Webster’s dictionary links “art” with the
word “skill” in every one of its definitions. It says art is
only a correct or extraordinary use of a set of skills,
sometimes exhibited in a creative or imaginative way. There is
no mention of beauty or emotion or the way in which we react to
the modern conception of what art is. This broad definition of
the word leaves much room for debate, and it’s a question that
has sparked conflict among those who appreciate art. Take, for
example, Andre Serrano’s infamous photo- graph “Piss Christ,” a
photo of a plastic crucifix in a jar of urine. Someone was
obviously moved enough by the piece to exhibit it just as much
as another was moved to destroy it in April 2011. By this
example, I think we can all agree that art, in whatever shape or
form it takes, is linked with our emotions. It stirs within us
feelings of sadness, joy, or rage. We take in art through our
sensory faculties and interpret and react differently. Art is
individual, and it is powerful.