What is the Oldest Human Art? (choices, choice, science)

[PureX]

Originally Posted by painted wolf

This pot is quite good at demonstrating the Moche world view and I'm sure the view of the artist who made it... the person who used and so on.

I agree, and I would call it a work of art. A strong give-away is that the functionality of this "pot" has been clearly transcended by it's visual symbolism. Art can be and often is functional. But it's functionality is serving a greater intent. And that intent involves the expression of the artist's vision.

Originally Posted by painted wolf

Face it, back in the day you couldn't simply be an artist...you had to make a living as well.

You think it's any different, now? Being an artist is and has always been extremely difficult.

Originally Posted by painted wolf

Thus the early artists were also craftspeople. Their creativity and power to invoke thought was also put to practical use. This is doubly important in a hunter-gatherer society.

Never-the-less, some pots are pots. And some pots are art. Some pots were made by pot-makers, and some pots were made by artists. And regardless of the fact that they all hold water, the artist's pots were intended to do something more.

Originally Posted by painted wolf

David is nice and all, but if you have to move to keep up with game, an elegantly beaded ritual item showing your spiritual world view is more practical than a massive block of stone.

Nothing about art is practical. That's why it's such a difficult endeavor. And why real art is so rare.