# What changes when something is framed as art?
**URL:** https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/what-changes-when-something-is-framed-as-art/403
**Category:** Philosophy of Art
**Created:** [March 19, 2026, 3:54pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/what-changes-when-something-is-framed-as-art/403 "2026-03-19T15:54:26Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Jackal](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Jackal)
#### Post date: [March 23, 2026, 4:01pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/what-changes-when-something-is-framed-as-art/403/21 "2026-03-23T16:01:06Z")
> [@Corvus](#):
>
> Art creates its own world. It invites the viewer to enter the world. When you enter the world created by a piece of art, the meaning emanates from the connection between you and the art, without which the connection, meaning cannot emerge.
I find this particularly interesting, firstly and foremost because I really appreciate and can personally resonate with the sentiment. But also, because it offers a challenge. You explicitly define what is Art/art. Some folk have different definitions (between Art and “art”) and believe the distinction is completely different or a matter of preference, even social or cultural.
What threshold then does it require for a (average?) person to “enter a world?” Sure, a magnificent painting of a sunset invokes the viewer to imagine such. But what of something much simpler? A seemingly blank white paper that was actually meticulously painted to depict a wall where a great king was held in captivity and dead against peacefully. To the average person, absent of context, it’s just a blank canvas, for the most part. Is it not? If so, does this not require fundamental if not novel poking and prodding at our rudimentary visual sense to simulate and invoke anything of discernible value?
A complex mathematical equation that offers those who can understand it to “enter a world” or otherwise learn how to, say, unlock nuclear fusion, is nothing but gibberish and graffiti on a chalkboard to those whose minds are not able or willing to comprehend it, a sheer and utter waste of space that could otherwise display something pleasing to their rudimentary minds, such as a kitty cat or picture of a dog playing fetch.
We see what we want to see, and avoid what we either do not or are otherwise unable to or remain ignorant of seeing. Is that not correct?
---
### Author:  [@Corvus](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Corvus)
#### Post date: [March 23, 2026, 5:45pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/what-changes-when-something-is-framed-as-art/403/22 "2026-03-23T17:45:05Z")
> [@Jackal](#):
>
> What threshold then does it require for a (average?) person to “enter a world?” Sure, a magnificent painting of a sunset invokes the viewer to imagine such. But what of something much simpler? A seemingly blank white paper that was actually meticulously painted to depict a wall where a great king was held in captivity and dead against peacefully.
Good question. I think it is down to each individual audiences or viewers of the art. There must be something which an art clicks with a viewer or audience. It would be something hard to explain because it is subjective nature. It could be the viewer’s personal experience or imagination, which clicks and get absorbed into the art.
Once that happens, he/she keeps visiting and seeing and feeling the art until some imaginary stories or visions spreading in the imagination and intuition like in the movies, in one’s own imagination and mind. I suppose that is how it unfolds.
It happened to me once when I was keep looking at Van Gogh’s paintings. I felt I was living in the paintings at times. I also tried to paint the replica paintings by myself. It was great fun.
---
### Author:  [@Nautilus](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Nautilus)
#### Post date: [March 23, 2026, 8:56pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/what-changes-when-something-is-framed-as-art/403/23 "2026-03-23T20:56:35Z")
Just my opinion. The object doesn’t matter. What matters is the will and actions of the “artist”, the one doing the framing. The object in the frame then conveys a message: I noticed this, it means something to me, figure out what it is that I found interesting here. You create a mini puzzle, the viewer is engaged to rack their brain and emotions to decode your message without words. Such stimulating activity. It may take a second or start a movement. If done cleverly and if engages enough or the right audience, it can aquite monetary value and be put in a museum and declared “real” art.
---
### Author:  [@ASR](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/ASR)
#### Post date: [March 23, 2026, 9:48pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/what-changes-when-something-is-framed-as-art/403/24 "2026-03-23T21:48:33Z")
Define hole. Is the opening of a bucket not, itself, a hole? A bucket without a hole in this sense is no bucket at all, but just a cylinder. It is the emptiness of the jar that makes it work. We are speaking now of the nameless _tao_.
---
### Author:  [@Scorpion](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Scorpion)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2026, 2:01am UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/what-changes-when-something-is-framed-as-art/403/25 "2026-03-24T02:01:28Z")
The Dao, for some, is a “riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma”. I don’t pretend to know what you’re talking about. I’m more of a 2 + 2 = 4 typa guy.
I do recall a stanza about the hole that makes the vessel useful. It’s interesting that it doesn’t apply to food or water or many other odd things.
---
### Author:  [@ASR](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/ASR)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2026, 8:11am UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/what-changes-when-something-is-framed-as-art/403/26 "2026-03-24T08:11:39Z")
Sorry I was just messing around and it is not actually an accurate or respectful reference to taoism.
---
### Author:  [@KrystenDunlap](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/KrystenDunlap)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2026, 9:17am UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/what-changes-when-something-is-framed-as-art/403/27 "2026-03-24T09:17:08Z")
Someone sold a banana taped to a wall for $6 MiL, someone else bought an “invisible sculpture” which was literally air for $18K. Beauty isn’t the only thing that’s subjective 🙂 you’re onto something!
---
### Author:  [@Lovingkindness](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Lovingkindness)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2026, 1:04am UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/what-changes-when-something-is-framed-as-art/403/29 "2026-03-25T01:04:54Z")
What happens? It had wood around it? So sorry,I can be a wise ass no disrespect intended. For us personally we have mainly smaller items framed but most not all are photographs. We do have some small pieces we don’t frame. But most of our large larger pieces we never framed. It’s just what we like personally. For me, I don’t want to take anything away from the painting. Just personal taste/ belief. May you all be well and happy
[Previous page](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/what-changes-when-something-is-framed-as-art/403.md?page=1)