Medium specificity

Imagine you have different kinds of toys like Legos, blocks, and action figures. Each of these toys can be used in different ways, but they also have some limitations. For example, with Legos, you can build anything you want, but you can't really make a bendy dinosaur like with an action figure.

Just like toys, different kinds of art have their own specific qualities and limitations too. These specific qualities are what we call "medium specificity."

For instance, painting is a medium that uses paint and a canvas, and it's good at creating color and texture. But it can't move or make noise like a video or sound art can. Sculpture, on the other hand, can create a 3D object you can touch and see from different angles, but it can't capture a moment in time like a photograph can.

Medium specificity is important because it helps artists choose the right medium that fits their message or idea. For example, if an artist wants to show movement or a process, they might choose video or film over painting because it can show things in motion.

So, just like how different toys have their own unique qualities, different art mediums have their own specific characteristics that artists can use to express their ideas in the best way possible.