Show an example of something you consider to be art. It can be any kind of art. Provide links or images as needed. Explain whether or not your example matches Tolstoy’s definition and whether or not you agree with his view of art. Apply each of the three conditions for infectiousness to your chosen work of art. As always, choose at least one quote from the text that applies to your topic.
Gardening can take many different forms and reflect many different life styles. We have the flower gardener who strives for asethic beauty and who often arranges and prunes their plants to produce the most visually pleasing result. We have the succulent gardener who also strives for asethic beauty but who has to spend significantly less effort to achieve said beauty. The cactus farmer who will plant seeds and wait sometimes a decade with growth rates at cm’s per year to get full sized cactus. We also have to food gardener; they grow and care for their garden for the promise of future food. They strive for beauty but a on more function and practical side of elegance.
Gardening for food: permaculture
Gardening for aesthetics
farming
A quick review on Tolstoy’s definition of art.
An artist feels an emotion or a vision and tries to embed their feelings into their art.
They produce a piece of art that can be shared through means of communication or senses to others.
The artwork makes the audience feel the same feelings as the artist and infects them to want to experience it again or talk about it.
I think if you twist anything the right way it can be considered art but gardening doesn’t take much effort to make that connection. An artist can feel sad and decide to plant a mysterious flower or possibly arrange something that reminds them of their childhood. They can build an arrangement that draws attention and makes an memorable image. An innovated or creative set up can inspire others to strive for a similar garden which makes it an infectious art. For example, in my old neighborhood in the early 2000’s one of the neighbors had succulents and giant aloes before anyone else. Her off beat yard started a trend in our neighborhood and other people started trying aloes. I don’t agree with Tolstoy’s definition of art in regards to infectiousness. There could be a master rose gardener who lives in isolation in the mountains but who has dedicated their whole live to exploring the beauty of the rose. No one would have to see the rose garden for it to be considered art.
“#32. The clearness of expression assists infection because the receiver, who mingles in consciousness with the author, is the better satisfied the more clearly the feeling is transmitted, which, as it seems to him, he has long known and felt, and for which he has only now found expression.”
This quote speaks to me because it reminds me that my ideas should not only be brilliant but also easy to follow. In terms of gardening a person can increase clarity by changing arrangements, keeping plants healthy or using innovated gardening techniques.
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Scribbled symphony 