(03-27-2014, 10:04 AM)Steppenwolf Wrote: I agree with all of that, but what I want to know is, why are we interested in other peoples art? I don't understand why someone like picasso or van gogh have works which are worth millions? Where and when does monetary value come into it?
Economic theory says prices are just the quantified subjective valuations which we connect to goods or services on the market. If a painting of van Gogh has a high price, people value this painting very high. The best example is probably water in the desert: A thirsty man will give all his property to get the water of a fountain, whereas in other parts of the world, water is normally very cheap.
Why value people art so high? Maybe art is a mirror for ourselves in the same way like the people we meet every day. It's a tool to know oneself like Adonai wrote. E.g. if I read a book and relocate myself into the protagonist's role. Or if I hear a piece of music and listen into myself to experience how it moves me.