Well, I’d love to explain but that is why I recommend the book :) A bit long too explain here and Cynthia does a far better job than me. Anyway, context is key. The book goes into the philosophical and cultural frameworks that existed in different times and how they relate to art creation. The book won’t tell you what art is paradoxically to the title, but it leads to a lot of understanding why works you might find “boring” for example, came to exist. They might become less boring as a result!