Earlier this month while visiting with friends I overheard someone mention that something was not art. I had not caught exactly what object was in question, but I did tune into a stated opinion and that was worth exploring! While the conversation is more or less accurate, I have taken the liberty of changing the format to make it easier to read and follow. Enjoy!

(Approaching the opinionated lass)

I: So what IS art?

Her: Art is something that evokes a noble sentiment.
(Interesting reply... still needs clarifying)

I: What do you mean by noble?

Her: That which is beautiful.
(Aha! Now we are getting somewhere!)

I: So what is Beauty?

At this point a third member joined the fray and when no one could furnish a clear definition of Beauty, we headed to the encyclopedias. Alas, all we could come up with were subjective notions i.e. beauty is that which pleases the eye, beauty is in the eye of the beholder etc. With the notion of subjectivity on the table we return to questioning.

I: Do you agree that Beauty depends on the person/artist?

They: That would make Beauty subjective. Beauty can not exist subjectively.

I: Agreed! One person says something is beautiful and his neighbor disagrees. There is a clash of opinion and they cancel each other out. Beauty does not exist subjectively.
(Such fun!)

I: So, does Beauty exist?

They: We believe it does.
(Perfect!)

I: Then Beauty exists objectively.

They: How?

I: Well, from our knowledge as Christians of God, being the source of all Goodness, we know that since Beauty is a good thing it must come from God. As we are a fallen race we can not possibly know the fullness of God or His Divine Vision, so we look to His creation for some semblance of Beauty. We find Beauty in God's creation as intended and in the order that He ordained.

They: So Beauty is that which reflects the natural order of God?

I: Correct. And that leads us back to the original question at hand, what is art. Art for art's sake is merely the expression of an idea or emotion through a medium such as music, paintings, literature, etc. Meanwhile the best art, or highest art, is that which best reflects the visible order created and intended by God.
(Exeunt stage left)