Paul Gauguin (1848-1903), French artist. Quoted in: Huneker, Pathos of Distance, p. 128.

Defining art is a very difficult thing to do. Choosing one characteristic over another would be unfair. Art and literature can't be based on good characteristics in a book or one way of painting or sculpting. You can't say that music is only good when it has words. So the question is what makes something art? Art can be defined as a unique style, something that has never been done before.

Everyone is different, even the most identical twin's don't share the same fingerprints. Everyone is also born with there own sense of style, there own thoughts and ideas. Art can not be art if you are coping other people's style. A not very well known book or piece of art can still be considered art as long as it holds it's own unique style. Take Pablo Picasso for example he changed modern art as we know it. Picasso didn't want people to copy him or his style. "Painting is a blind man's profession. He paints not what he sees, but what he feels, what he tells himself about what he has seen." Pablo Picasso From this quote I am led to believe that it's not his intentions for people to copy him. Art co

Art is all about expressing yourself, your ideas and emotions. Without your own style in that piece, it can no longer be considered art. Many best sellers can be considered "not art". Sad but true, what we like to think is a good piece of literature is just a formula. It's a certain plot and characters , with the names and setting changed. I can't believe I am writing this but, yes V.C. Andrews is one of those people and Danielle Steel. They made one good book it was there first book. Flower's in the Attic by V.C. Andrews showed us how great of a writer she was and how captivating that book was. The books that followed, had the same captivating plot. They are great books to read but horrible examples of good art. It's like they put the first book in the witness protection program and they have to keep changing there names and location. There is nothing unique or new about books like that. One book that I feel is a good piece of art is Catcher in the Rye , J.D. Salenger took America by surprise with that book. He took us into the world of Holden Caulfield. A young man who was a pessimist, swore and certain that the adult world was full of phonies. His book was very controversial for it's time, but

Some common words found in the essay are:
Pablo Picasso, Pathos Distance, JD Salenger, Virgin Mary, VC Andrews, Holden Fortunately, Catcher Rye, Holden Caulfield, Paul Gauguin, Monitor July, jd salenger, considered art, art art, catcher rye, unique style, art it's, vc andrews, virgin mary, pablo picasso, character holden,
Approximate Word count = 816
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)