Art Phone

At first glance, the iPhone's new app "Is This Art?" seems like another art-assessment mechanism meant yet again to trap questions of art in useless little categories, not to mention merely a gimmick; however, after reading Mattress Factory and Deeplocal's explanation of their new program, the venture seems a little more interesting. Although the question it proposes might seem trite, the resulting conversation could reignite passionate discourse about art, especially with regard to technology. Essentially, "users can then send the image to isthisart.org, where everyone can debate an object's art-worthiness." At the very least, we can chuckle at the sheer absurdity of the devices with which the iPhone presents its users. "Oh yeah? Well MY phone can tell me if this art. What does YOUR phone do?"

Photo comes from the WNYC page above