artisticness

Artisticness is a broad, contested notion describing the quality or character that makes something appear artistic or capable of artistic expression. It is not a fixed attribute, but a normative judgment that varies with cultural norms, historical moment, and individual sensibility, and it is often mediated by art institutions, critics, educators, and audiences.

In practice, assessments of artisticness may consider originality, technical skill, expressive intention, conceptual depth, emotional or intellectual impact, and coherence or boldness of form. Some accounts emphasize alignment with or innovation beyond genre conventions; others stress the work's ability to communicate meanings or affect viewers and listeners.

Artisticness is related to, but distinct from, artistic merit or value. A work can be technically accomplished yet perceived as less artistic in one context, or be provocative and mode-breaking yet welcomed as highly artistic in another. The concept is also debated in philosophy of art. Formalist approaches foreground arrangement of materials and aesthetics; expressionist views stress conveyance of inner states; institutional theories hold that art gains status through recognition by galleries, museums, schools, or markets.

Because judgments of artisticness rely on perception and cultural norms, they are inherently subjective and fluid, changing with new works, audiences, and critical frameworks. It applies to visual arts, music, literature, theater, dance, film, and digital media.