Theories of ART.

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Theories of ART.

• Monday, 28 September 2020

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SO far

• We looked at many areas of art last half term.
• We discussed judgement, mathematical influence
  and spontaneity, whether a knowledge of the
  artist is needed to better appreciate art,
  Aesthetical responses, and attempted to answer
  the question why?

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MIMESIS

• If art is more than a tool to give pleasure, (and
  surely it is, Opera notwithstanding), we need to
  look at three ideas.
• ART as IMITATOR.
• Certainly artists such as Rodin or Michaelangelo
  would subscribe to this idea - creating a
  likeness or a copy was the fundamental purpose of
  portrait painting.
• So what changed?

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Mimesis meets the camera

• If a camera takes an instant likeness, why create
  art?
• Besides, what is a Bach prelude a copy of?
• Copying is more than a slavish reproduction
  though Van Goghs Sunflowers are not meant to
  be a mere copy we appreciate so much more about
  them from the painting and use of colour and
  light.

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Does the camera lie?

• You bet it does.
• This is not Mr Peel

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Art imitates life?

• Maybe.
• We often feel we can appreciate (eg) love
  better after reading Romeo and Juliet.
• When Picasso was told that a portrait of his did
  not look like the sitter, he replied Never mind,
  it will. What did he mean?

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Art as Communication

• Giving a message to a reader or viewer seems to
  be understandable.
• Music certainly seems to break the boundaries of
  verbal expression.
• Do we need to learn the language of any art form
  in order to receive the communication?
• On the other hand, we all experienced something
  of the message of Strausss Metamorphosen without
  knowing that he was writing about a bombed
  Dresden.

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Try this

• Why does so much pop music have love as its
  theme? To what extent does such music help you
  to understand your emotions?

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EDUCATION

• Moral educator Homer, Greek drama
• Who is the teacher though?

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PLATO vs ARISTOTLE

• Plato by inflaming the emotions, art weakens our
  ability to lead rational lives.
• Aristotle Art removes or purges us of emotion by
  means of Catharsis having a good cry.

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Do they work?

• Centuries of conflict seem undimmed by great
  artworks.