Brian Eno: What Is Art? And Why?

01 Aug 10: Notes from Brian Eno’s fascinating talk on the importance of Art, 23 May:

What is Art?

• Art is creative stylistic behaviour.

• When looking at art, you compare it to stylistic choices you know about.

• Art sometimes makes no sense unless you know the conversation up to that point.

• Art is everything we don't have to do.

• Art is grown-up play.

• Art is experimenting with style.

• No external values, no ubiquitous values, no absolute values: Art is a flexible space.

• There is no moral argument for the arts - dictators and serial killers like art, too.

• If we like the Arts, we have to sell it better: people who sell Trident are better than people who sell the Arts.

• We don't need to think about Art having a permanent value: Art has a changing value.

And why should we do art?

• Because what is possible in art becomes thinkable in life.