In Leo Tolstoy work “What is Art” he describes what his definition of art to him. Tolstoy says for it to be art there needs to be a connection to the author to the viewer from the piece of art through “infection.” This is where the term of art gets to be confusing under Tolstoy view of art such as dancing, paintings, as well as sculptures. For example dancing is considered an art form by many people who do see a connection with the author the way the dancers move and the clothes that they are wearing, however I don’t see dancing as being an form because I tend to find it boring so the ideas of art do not come into my head while watching dancing. Under Tolstoy view of art is if the author cannot get the audience to “if he causes another man to yawn when he himself cannot help yawning, or to laugh or cry when he himself is obliged to laugh or cry, or to suffer when he himself is suffering” is that it is not because there is no infection. And it is only when the viewers of art are infected by what the author meant is what is what is art under Tolstoy`s views. Tolstoy brings up the word infectiousness in is view of art pretty often. “If a man is infected by the author’s condition of soul, if he feels this emotion and this union with others, then the object which has effected this is art; but if there be no such infection, if there be not this union with the author and with others who are moved by the same work – then it is not art. And not only is infection a sure sign of art, but the degree of infectiousness is also the sole measure of excellence in art.” Under Tolstoy view of art can only be accomplish if the author has made an infectious piece to where the observers can clearly see the views of the authors infectious.
( WC 339)