b.) If art is understood to not be reality, since reality is conceptual perceptions that we hold in our consciousness, and is actually viewed as further withdrawing from reality that could be controlled and censored to morally regulate and help society, then Plato would define it as good art.
c.) Plato would probably have different responses to the variety of Koon's work, stating that his, "Puppy" probably isn't very useful art in the fact that it doesn't accurately portray a realistic dog but rather evokes emotions that a dog can arouse, but this doesn't constitute a dog and therefore further abstracts and changes the reality of a dog. Yet, on Koon's other works, where he is taking real-life objects that can be purchased from a store and portraying them artistically, Plato would consider closer towards good art because the void between reality and art is shortened by not making a representation of the tangible object, which itself is a representation of the real object, which is conceived within consciousness.
d.) Aristotle would take a different approach in defining good art since he say beauty linked to form and form linked to meaning, good art was art that expanded reality and expressed and withheld it through meaning. He still sought the natural world we live in yet connected it with meaning we can relate to.
e.) in my opinion obscene art isn't a contradiction. Art doesn't have to be beautiful or morally upheld to standards. Beautiful art to me is truth, and reality has moments of obscenity that should be interpreted and portrayed just as art does with moments of beauty.
f.) Obscene is obscene, one form of it doesn't out weigh the other. It's an individuals definition on what makes something obscene. Seeing a vivid image of sexual material isn't necessarily obscene to me yet, i'm more opposed to images of violence. I find violence to be more offensive than sexuality, yet in our American culture violence is easily embraced while sexuality is shyly talked about and treated negatively when in the social limelight.
g.)jason d. watson. i enjoyed the artist themes of connection, attraction, yet indifference. Just the range of human emotions he plays with i consider a lot when dealing with my work.
