My statement (5 Minutes on IGTV):
Full Discussion on Youtube:
The origins of the concept of ‘fine art’ -- as opposed to commercial art, decorative art, illustrative art and so on – are historically uncertain. The phrase was certainly prominent in the 18th and 19th centuries though reportedly ‘fell out of fashion’ in the late 1800s, and in the early 20th century was accused of embodying an invalid ‘double standard’ separating art from useful objects. Yet we still have courses and departments of fine art around the world.
The questions before this panel then are:
-Has the concept of fine art so changed over time as to now be virtually meaningless?
-If there are good reasons to maintain the distinction between fine art and other kinds, what are these?