The Intentionality Thesis & The Violation of Art.

In class on Friday, we discussed the intentionality thesis of art in trying to describe what makes art the way that it is. The intentionality thesis states that there must be an intention behind the piece in order to consider it art. However, this could be intention on either the artist or the observer's side. For example, an artist may create a painting with the intent for it to be art, but when the painting is completed, a critical observer may look at it in such a way that his or her intent is not for artistic purposes. Does that still make the painting art? Another example, something in nature may have come about not for the intention of it to be art, such as the aurora borealis, but onlookers look at it with the intent of seeing art. Is the aurora borealis, then, considered art?

In class, we also discussed whether or not we thought that technology has violated or "molested" art in contemporary times. My personal belief is that technology has both violated and benefited art. A lot of modern art nowadays is very abstract and controversial, consisting of a lot of mixed media and human interaction pieces. Without new technology to make such art possible, it would cease to exist, so technology has completely transformed the way art is. However, it has also violated art. Music post-production doesn't sound quite the same as it used to back in the 1970s and 1980s - the raw, natural sound is gone, replaced with ProTools and other layering technology. Also, we have become so accustomed to seeing classic pieces of art on the Internet like the Mona Lisa that the enthusiasm when seeing it in real life has diminished greatly - people figure they don't even need to go to art museums anymore because they can just as easily see art online. It just isn't the same.

My question is, "Art has become so metaphorical and abstract nowadays that almost anything can be considered art. Some artists take it to the extreme and put others and themselves as risk for their art. Where are the boundaries between what is art and what is just plain reckless?"