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By Hand or By Mouse?If an image is generated solely via a computer then can it truly be called art? Graphics design packages have certainly grown in popularity but their fans face the question, if a mouse is used then is it really art. Should it be displayed next to a Monet or Picasso or even mentioned in the same breath as the masters? The new tends to face a barrage of criticism within the art world. Jackson Pollock, famous for his drip paintings, faced a somewhat hostile reception because he dared to produced paintings where the paintbrush didn't actually touch the canvas. Vincent van Gogh equally struggled against his critics and over time his work was accepted and respected. To define artwork as only that created by hand does not take into any consideration those who paint by other means such as mouth or foot because of physical impairments or because they are making their own individual statement. It could easily be argued that the hand controls the mouse. Some Computer Graphic Artists opt to paint over their printed work to add depth, and color which can negate the argument that it was mouse made. Are they in a separate category and more deserving of respect in the art world because they take that extra step? It certainly can be argued that an artist using a computer has an easier job of mixing palettes to produce that perfect color to complement. This comparison of computer generated versus manual labor would be endless and in most cases one would expect the computer to make most things easier. Then again manually generated works do not risk computer viruses that could destroy their entire resume but for an effective backup system. Each creative process has advantages and drawbacks. Both can be open to fraudulent use such as copying a work and declaring it authentic whether computer generated or hand painted. Perhaps the simplest way to answer the basic question posed is to reflect on what actually is art? It is the expression of creative skill in a multitude of mediums, perhaps it is time to add computer generated imagery to the array of artistic genres. |