What distinguishes the arts from other forms of cultural production are the ways in which artistic production merges with, intensifies and eternalizes or monumentalizes, sensation. Material production-the production of commodities-while it may generate sensation, is nevertheless directed to the accomplishment or activities, tasks, goals, or ends. The production of commodities, even “artistic commodities,’” directs itself to the generation of pre-experienced sensations, sensations known in advance, guaranteed to affect in particular sad or joyful ways.

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This is not to say that art is without concepts; simply that concepts are by-products or effects rather than the very material of art. Art is the regulation and organization of its materials-paint, canvas, concrete, stcel, marble, words, sounds, bodily movements, indeed any materials-according to self-imposed constraints, the creation of forms through which these materials come to generate and intensify sensation and thus directly impact living bodies, organs, nervous systems.