What is art?

Frankly, it's rather amazing that this is a frequently asked question. But, then again, some of us have largely forgotten what life was like in middle school (particularly topics of papers we were meant to write, once upon a time). Because what is remembered of middle school has never shaken its nightmarish qualities, and because someone else has doubtlessly pointed out that putting projects off until the last minute is a bad idea, I am taking pity. Here is a collection of different points from several email replies, compiled in a nice, long response for the Sunday Night crowd. You know who you are.