Many things can be described as art within our society today. Many of us can think of obvious things, such as books, comics, films, paintings, sculptures, music, and theater, that can easily be viewed as a form of art. However, there are many things that I feel qualify as a form of art, but almost never gets referred to as art.
I've always wondered why something like a toy never gets described as a form of art within our culture. They feature many of the same factors that define other forms of art. They are often created by one or several people, they can often embody a creative form of expression, humans have to sculpt and design them, and they are often used to express an idea or form of play.
For example, LEGOs embody personal expression and creativity. The point of these building blocks is that you are allowed the freedom to make whatever you want to make. In a way, LEGOs allow almost anyone to become an artist and express who they are and their ideas through their own unique creations.
Another great example is things like the Transformers. Anyone who's ever transformed a Transformer knows that the more complicated ones are almost akin to solving a beautifully complex puzzle. They are very well crafted toys that have had a lot of human thought and mathematics put into their designs.
After examples like these, one would think things like toys would easily be considered art, but time and time again, I see a vast majority of people dismiss toys as nothing but empty children's playthings devoid of any meaning or merit. We never see people become famous or considered "auteurs" for designing a toy. We never see any art galleries for things many toys. We never know the names of the people who made them and what their thought process was while designing them.
People typically see toys as nothing but an empty product that only exists to make money and, therefore, does not deserve to be called "true" art. All art is trying to sell something to someone, whether it be money, ideas, messages or entertainment. I think if people were willing to look beneath the surface, they could see the true hands of a craftsman behind many toys.
However, there is also a massive risk of diluting the term "art" to the point where it becomes absolutely meaningless. If anything created with human craft and engineering can be considered art, can mundane things such as doorknobs, desks, car tires, and wallets technically be considered art? I don't mean to belittle anyone who works to create those things, but it makes me wonder where we draw the line, if at all.
These ideas only make this discussion even more interesting. I feel it's time that human society begins to rethink what it considers art and not art and whether such a distinction is necessary to garner respect and admiration for crafting almost anything. It's a strange rabbit hole to explore, but it is one I feel is worth exploring.
