Formalism is the view that the purpose of art is to
present formal beauty in a figurative or abstract manner and evoke a
disinterested relation to the work that gives us rational insight. Basically
meaning that everything meant to be interpreted In that work of art is in
itself. No outside knowledge like culture or emotion is necessarily.
Romanticism argues that art isn’t limited to the rational and includes
non-rational components that influence its interpretation and design. Of the
two I believe romanticism offers a lot better explanation than formalism mainly
due to the fact that I see emotion highly present in many pieces of artwork and
without them many great pieces would be rather bland and not great at all.
In terms of explanatory breadth romanticism offers an
explanation for a lot more pieces of work than formalism. Formalism cannot
explain all those pieces of art that include emotion or are laden with cultural
meaning. Someone who hasn’t experienced that emotion or learned the culture
that resonates around that artwork would not get the interpretation of that
piece.
Also in terms of explanatory depth romanticism has the
upper hand due to the fact that someone who has not previous knowledge of the
piece may only graze the surface of its meaning. However someone who is learned
in the area of knowledge that the artwork correlates to then they may dig
further and acquire a deeper intellectual meaning.
In terms of simplicity formalism wins because when
viewing an artwork one does not need to think outside the picture. Everything
you need to know is in that picture and thus simplifying the process to
understanding it.
In terms of conservatism I’d say romanticism has the upper
hand but not by much. People love to tie numerous emotional meanings to many
things and to always look at the bigger picture or outside the box. With the
formalistic point of view one cannot do that, they have to stay trapped in the
artwork mentally in order to understand it.
1. Romanticism
and Formalism are the most plausible explanations of art.
2. Romanticism
has more explanatory breadth, depth, and is stronger in conservatism whereas
formalism is better in terms of simplicity.
3. Therefore,
Romanticism is the best explanation of art.
i agree with you look on simplicity and that formalist wins, having just one aspect to look at when looking at art is definitely much simplify than romanticism and having its two aspects.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your explanatory depth, it explains how normal people view art and then the know art people's view. I disagree with your explanatory breadth since I think art is more than is a very vague topic and romanticism just explains a portion of sub categories to the main category of art.
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