Shock Art

Vattimo's main idea is that art is meant to shock the viewers in ways to make them feel uncomfortable, disoriented, and out of place. In today's society, art seems to have no sole definition. Anything is acceptable as "art" as long as the creator sees it that way. Vattimo's idea does hold true with a vast amount of today's art. Shocking photographs, paintings, videos, etc. are everywhere we look. Supernatural entities are now the main focus of horror movies. TV shows like CSI, My Weird Obsession, and even reality shows are dedicated to shocking viewers on every different level. Photographs are seen everywhere of obscene situations that are becoming increasingly socially acceptable. Since this shock is constantly becoming more acceptable, the bar keeps rising for what the public considers shocking. Aside from all of this, I personally do not agree with Vattimo's idea. I don't think that the purpose of art is to shock. The purpose of art is to please and entertain and this purpose is fulfilled through the cooperation of the artist and his/her audience. Given this purpose, as previously stated, art has no definition and therefore, no restrictions to what it can or cannot do, should  or should not do.

My example of shocking art is a picture by Andres Serrano, an American artist who is renowned for his shocking art. This picture is of a crucifix submersed in what is allegedly the artist's urine. Serrano has done multiple pictures featuring his bodily fluids and also a famous collection of pictures from a morgue. This is a clear example of how the bar for what we consider shocking has been raised, since these kinds of "artwork" wold have never even been considered ten years ago.