WHAT IS ART?
Homework Writing Assignment#1: Come up with your own definition of what ART is. Consider a definition for ART. Due: Sunday, January 20, 11pm - Create a set of criteria ART must have that distinguishes it from other things and activities. - Be sure to consider your set of criteria from both the point of view of the maker/artist, as well as that of the audience/receiver. - It's not an essay assignment, your definition should be a checklist of clear, concise sentences. Think about it as if you were to write an outline for a larger paper on what art is. - Important!: Make your set of criteria well-rounded and informed by what you’ve learned this week. - Include an (artwork) example for each point, from lectures, the textbook, and the SAM visit. - PDF format only! 1 page max. Remember, dropbox will close at 11pm!
What does it do for the maker?
Why do artists make art?
What does it do for the receiver?
Why do we
(individuals, communities, societies and cultures)
look at art and care about art?
Richard Serra on art http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWoiAf_qMA4
3 different ways of considering ART: 1. Behavioral / Anthropological perspective: - What kind of behavior is art making? - Why do we as artists/individuals do it?
2. Socio-cultural / Instrumental perspective: - What is art for (for individuals, communities, societies, cultures)? - Does contemporary art have a purpose, role, responsibility?
3. Philosophical perspective: - What role does beauty play in contemporary art? Does a work of art need to be beautiful? à Aesthetics - Why is something considered as art while other things may not? - What is the basis of value judgment? (E.g. beautiful art or good art ) Who can make it?
AESTHETICS (esthetics or æsthetics) Greek for sensation, perception – aisthesis Is a value theory in philosophy. Value theory: Strives to understand how, why, and to what degree humans should value things (person, idea, object, or anything else.) Beauty, truth, and goodness are the classic triad of value theories in philosophy.
AESTHETICS Is concerned with these questions: 1. WHY is something Pleasing to the eye / has visual appeal / beautiful? 2. What determines “visual appeal”?: - Intrinsic / INHERENT properties in the object (objectivity)? - Extrinsic properties (depends on perception = subjectivity)? SUBJECTIVITY -> TASTE Judgments of aesthetic value: Discriminating at a sensory level. Philosophers: Immanuel Kant: Critique of Judgment, 1790 Ludwig Wittgenstein 1950s Arthur Danto 1990s-now (suggested reading: on Andy Warhol’s Brillo Box)
AESTHETICS in PHILOSOPHY Immanuel Kant: Critique of Judgment, 1790
- Aesthetics is not a property of the object (not intrinsic) but a result of the consciousness of the pleasure one gets from it. - This is not a logical (cognitive) act, but an immediate emotional response. - Aesthetic response is “disinterested” (not because it has value to me)
Ludwig Wittgenstein 1950s
Wrong question: What is in the essence of beauty? Right question: What makes something function aesthetically? Aesthetic experience exist within the culture. Wittgenstein on looking at art: “Well there you are. It’s all in the attitude.”
Jeff Koons Balloon dog Stainless steel
Andy Warhol: Brillo, 1964
“This choice was based on a reaction of visual indifference with at the same time a total absence of good or bad taste…. in fact a complete anesthesia.”
Marcel Duchamp: Fountain 1917
Contemporary Aesthetics: PHILOSOPHY OF ART (e.g.: Arthur Danto) What makes some objects art while not others? Example:
- Brillo Box by Andy Warhol and a Brillo box in the store look identical. - The Ballon Dog by Jeff Koons and a ballon dog also look identical. One is considered to be a work of art the other is not.
- Visual Appearance (Aesthetics) is not a useful tool for explaining why something is a work of art or not. - Value cannot be inherent in the object (not intrinsic and related to visual appearance). Related questions: Who gets to call something art? How do we know if it is GOOD Art / BAD art?
Contemporary Art Theory: IS NOT concerned with questions of value judgment. IT DOES look at the activity and the product of ART for their instrumental value.
What is to be considered as ART:
Definition by George Dickie, Philosophy of Art, Aesthetics Definition relies on 5 factors: 1. An artist 2. A work of art 3. A public 4. The artworld 5. The artworld system
What makes a work of art a work of art?
Betsy the Chimpanzee painting, Baltimore Zoo, 1950s
Who talks about ART? Academia art historian (Jean Robertson) art theorist / art critic (George Dickie)
artist
philosopher (aesthetic) (Dave Hickey)
Artworld curator (Stefano Catalani, BAM; Robin Held, The Frye) newspaper art critic
(The Stranger's Jen Graves; Seattle Time s Regina Hackett; Village Voice s Jerry Saltz)
gallerist / collector artist
(Greg Kucera)
Public !
What is to be considered as ART: by George Dickie, Philosophy of Art
1. An artist is a person who participates with understanding in the making of a work of art. 2. A work of art is an artifact of a kind created to be presented to an artworld public. 3. A public is a set of persons the members of which are prepared in some degree to understand an object which is presented to them. 4. The artworld is the totality of all artworld systems. 5. The artworld system is a framework for the presentation of a work of art by an artist to an artworld public. ARTWORLD SYSTEM creates a DIALOGUE around the art. This dialogue is what defines art as such. This is known as the INSTITUTIONAL definition/theory of art.
Preparation for next week: Due: Friday, January 25, in class Drawing Site visit: Jeffry Mitchell’s Like a Valentine at the Henry Art Gallery Go to the Henry with a 8.5"x11" sheet of white drawing paper and a pencil to visit "Like a Valentine". Find an artwork in the show that speaks to you and create a detailed drawing of it in the gallery, based on observation. You don't have to draw the entire object, reproducing a significant detail will do. Also, prepare 5 questions to ask from the artist about his work (process, concepts, and inspirations, etc. - in general, or on your chosen piece). Bring your drawing + questions to class on Friday, 1/25. Jeffry Mitchell is our guest that day.
