The technical definition of art is the expressive application of creative skill or imagination. This definition lacks all of the romanticization that the world of art embraces, but it does tell how artists universally approach their work. From the painstakingly rendered tenebrism of Caravaggio to Picasso's cubism, and from Chris Burden's trans-fixed to Slayer; the world of art has always had the mission of transferring human imagination and emotion into "physical" form (can be sensed by any of the five human senses).
The purpose of art is the mark it leaves in history (this purpose does not need to be intentional) of how human tradition is in the different environments of days of yore and beyond. All art is a reflection (from one degree to another) of the environment in which the artist lives. The "physical" manifestation of this reflection is the imagination and emotion of the artist brought to life.
The word "artist" can be a very inclusive word. It can also be very exclusive. Whether or not an artist will actually be accepted as an "artist" can be entirely dependent on the opinion of a surrounding population. In reality, anyone can consider themselves an artist. Because art is nothing more than the praxis of invention and emotion, anything can be called into consideration on any terms without any boundaries.
The distinction between "high" and "low" art is a social construct. What the wealthy and "in" crowd love is high art and anything else is low art. The distinction does not matter unless an artist considers artistic success to be driven by popularity and money.
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