Modern art often gets a bad rap.

Last summer, I was at the San Francisco Modern Art Museum with some of my friends. I have always found art so astonishing. The way deceptively simple works of art, like a painting of a mug, or a picture of a cloudy sky, can communicate really profound ideas always astounds me. I was having a great old time admiring the works, but I could tell some of my friends were getting bored pretty quickly.

Now, I don't say this as a "hoity-toity I'm so smart and I get art when other people don't" kind of thing, but I do think that some people aren't as appreciative of modern art due to certain mental hangups they have about it that I (and other modern art appreciators) don't. If you're one of those people, I'd like to clear those mental hangups up for you right now. If you're not, feel free to keep reading anyways. I mean, why not, am I right? Hearing about art is always a good time.

Anyway, I'm going to throw an idea out there: Art doesn't always have to look beautiful in of itself to be art.

Oxford Dictionary defines art as, "The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power." It doesn't say art has to be beautiful to be art. Therefore, maybe that ping-pong ball glued to a painted black canvas is art. Maybe it made someone laugh. That's "emotional power" for you.

Another thing that's important to consider is what you want art to accomplish for you personally. What I really like about art is how it helps me appreciate the world around me more. So, even if I just see a canvas painted blue, and that's all there is to that piece, it makes me notice the color blue more even just for a brief moment, and appreciate it in that moment. There's a simplicity to pieces like that that can be poignant.

Then again, if you're one of those people who thinks art needs to always be visually striking, I respect that. Like I've said, what you want art to accomplish for you is very important, and I understand not liking pieces that don't look beautiful in of themselves. Regardless, I think modern art is criticized too much, and it still has a lot of value. In general, I think artists should be appreciated for the bravery they have. It takes a lot to be willing to express yourself creatively in front of others.

Anyway, hopefully next time you find yourself in a modern art museum, you'll be able to enjoy the art for what it is, no matter how weird it may seem.