Can works that are designed primarily to sell things be called art? why?

Question

Can works that are designed primarily to sell things be called art? why?

Answer 1

Art is that which is not utilitarian.  Aesthetics are things we value not for what they do, but for how they affect us.

Therefore, advertising art is really art, since it's got no inherent utility--e.g., you can't hammer a nail or kill a seal with it.

Note that even hammers and spears have aesthetic elements sometimes--primitive hunters are often fond or ornamenting their weapons, for example.  But we can usually separate that aesthetic from the useful aspects with little problem.

Answer 2

yes.

an advertisement is a work of art because it uses pictures and or sculptures and any number of other things considered art..

i mean the mona lisa could be used to sell something and it would still be art...

also there is the art of doing something.

ex...he has mastered the art of capturing peoples attention..