Art is anything that causes a person's regular thinking patterns to change; it is a novel stimuli. That nasty burger in the dining hall, the BMW that just flew past, and an oddly crafted spiral shaped bookshelf are all art. Not all of them are good art, but these pieces are art none the less.
However different our perceptions may be in relations to how we think of art, the art that is best received causes our mental patterns to be relegated the most. A poorly prepared burger may disgust someone while eating, but chances are the sad recipient will not spend hours reflecting on what made the burger so bad, he or she will simply resume regular activities. A nice car will distract a bystander and be ascetically pleasing, leaving this person longing for a vehicle that looked slimmer and more stylish. Like the displeasing burger, the car too shall not be processed in a deep or drawn out manner and is very limited in terms of artistic value.
Contrasting its rivals, an oddly proportioned bookshelf can be of massive artistic significance. Firstly, an onlooker will probably have no idea what is being displayed. With a closer look, some research, and thought, the viewer will perhaps come to appreciate this arcane work and be left with changed perceptions on what a bookshelf can be. Unlike the nice car and the gross food, the effective art did more than simply disrupt one's routines but left an imprint on a spectator. The concept of a bookshelf, once simply defined as a bunch of sturdy boards nailed together to support books, is now something much different. Rather than providing a momentary shock, this well crafted work has branded the admirer.
In conclusion, art is defiance of the ordinary. Art displaces, and for those who submit to the vast power of art, grants a perspective broadening experience that is transmitted without harm to all subjects.
