Opinions differ as to what can and cannot be defined as art; for example, can somebody make art if the creation was not intended to be art? Is art always a form of individual expression? Will a work of art only be art once it is finished? For a more in-depth discussion of these questions, see the article on the definition of art and read some quotations about art.
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There are many types of art; the history of art reaches back into prehistoric times. Today, art most often refers to the visual arts, specifically painting and sculpture, and photography. Art also commonly refers to the fine arts, which include music, literature, poetry, dance, and the theater. An outgrowth of the theater is film and animation. Since the 1970s, media art has become increasingly important, with disciplines like video art, electronic art and internet art.
When something is done especially well, it can be considered art: a feat of engineering such as the Golden Gate Bridge can be seen as a work of art. Architecture is certainly a type of art: consider the Eiffel Tower or the Notre Dame cathedral. Architecture is the synthesis of art and science. Even computer programming can be art; some people create poems in their favorite programming language and a whole new discipline of software art is emerging.
Art doesn't have to be solely for aesthetic purposes; arts and crafts deals with making useful things into art. Commercial art ("visual communication")
uses artistic methods to convey information such as advertising. Sometimes people make art out of random objects that weren't intended to be art; such art is called found art.
For the Celtic mythological figure Art, see AirtTypes of art
See also