is this art? tell me, iphone.

The Is This Art? iPhone application is a new tool designed for people who have questions about the artistic integrity of their surroundings. Using your iPhone's camera and a complex, revolutionary algorithm, we now have the ability to instantly provide users with an authoritative declaration of artistic importance.”

I found this application while searching an artist on Google. The first image I looked at in the Iphone archive was accompanied by a declaration that the piece was very expensive and therefore it must be art. The answer was obnoxious, though the image did show an expensive looking item, so this intrigued me; I thought it had potential. The next image I looked at of a self-portrait was deemed art, and the reasoning was: “I can’t find Waldo, therefore THIS IS ART.” This quickly proved to me how ridiculous the application was. However, I think this may be fun to use for an activity in the art room and may help getting students to talk about what society considers art and why. Breaking down the humor in some of the critique responses from the application may spark an interesting discussion with students. You can also submit your own art critique…

Some of the critique responses from the archive:

(1) This piece is very expensive, therefore THIS IS ART.

(2) This piece is not accompanied by enough obtuse wall text, therefore THIS IS NOT ART.

(3) I can’t find Waldo, therefore THIS IS ART.

(4) Minimalistically speaking, this is pretty minimal, therefore THIS IS ART.

(5) My mother would think this is crap, therefore THIS IS ART.

(6) This makes me feel intellectually inferior, therefore THIS IS ART.

(7) I could make this, therefore THIS IS NOT ART.

(8) This work manipulates reality in a realistic but non-manipulative way, therefore THIS IS ART.

(9) I do not understand it, therefore THIS IS NOT ART.

(10)Richard Prince would never appropriate this, therefore THIS IS ART.