Formalism vs. Romanticism
Aesthetics studies the philosophical foundation of the Arts. It accomplishes this by examining beauty, art and also with the concept of taste. Two aesthetic theories are formalism and romanticism. Formalism states that art is combining and setting an order to lines and colors, in a particular way, that promotes a rational vision. Romanticism states art shouldn’t be just bound to a rational vision, but one that promotes the thought of a mysterious transcendent reality. It is an expressive knowledge. The most plausible theory for judging artworks is formalism.
Many works of art are conceptualized before they are made, some are not, but it’s likely that more successful artworks are, at least partially, conceptualized before they are made. The order to each line and color of every piece is important. More artworks are dependent on their form to distinguish them and their beauty. While romantics believe that it’s also the irrational message of the artwork that should be used to judge art, it all depends on the form of the piece. For example, the Eiffel Tower is considered art. The tower does not stand for an irrational message, yet it’s beauty is from the shape and order of its parts. This is the case for many buildings. They need to have a particular order and shape to keep it standing. Romantics may think of some irrational message to associate with a building, but it’s not first made to reflect that message. Therefore, formalism has more explanatory breadth than romanticism.
Romanticism states a part of art’s function is to express non-rational emotions. These emotions can make us aware of a mysterious transcendent reality, deeper than one to which we typically relate. This theory goes into more depth about what can be in something to call it art, where formalism just focuses on the structure and more rational aspects. Rational beauty is too narrow an aesthetic standard according to romantics. For example, romantics have a stronger belief in the senses and emotions rather than reason and intellect. Therefore, romanticism has more explanatory depth than formalism.
Formalism claims that art is to be based on its form, and romanticism claims art expresses non-rational emotions and does so in order to make us aware of a mysterious transcendent reality. Romanticism is more complicated than formalism because it requires you to think about the art beyond just what you see and to become aware of the mysterious transcendent reality. Formalism allows you to judge the artwork in the form directly without having to think about it any deeper. Therefore, formalism has more simplicity than romanticism.
Our current beliefs about art tend to agree with the theory of formalism more than the theory of romanticism. For example, someone could consider a car to be a work of art. This means that they are focusing on the lines of the car and the color which make it seem appealing. Also they may be referring to a car as art because they see beauty in the way it operates. For example, if a car is capable of doing what many don’t, say running off of electricity, but is able to have the same performance, that could seen as art to someone who build cars. So, the car may just stand for quality and new technology and nothing deeper and sublime that would needed to be judged by romanticism. Therefore, formalism has more conservatism than romanticism.
- Formalism and Romanticism are the two most plausible theories to judge artworks.
- Formalism has more explanatory breadth, simplicity, and conservatism whereas romanticism has more explanatory depth.
- Therefore, formalism is the best theory to judge artworks.
Upon reading your blog post, I found that I disagreed with your reasoning for explanatory breath. In this case, explanatory breadth can be defined as the theory that explains more works of art than the other theory. In my opinion, Romanticism is able to explain more works of art than Formalism. The theory of Formalism only explains art work that involves pleasure and beauty; this cuts out a great deal of the art we appreciate today. Romanticism includes a wide variety of human emotion - positive and negative emotions. Formalism therefore lacks the ability to rationalize art works that involve other emotions that are not pleasure. Romanticism delves deeper into emotions expressed through art which then makes us more aware of our surroundings and reality. With that being said, Romanticism is capable of explaining a wider range of art work as this theory explains emotions depicted through art.
ReplyDeleteI totally get what you're trying to say, i agree partially with your point but your explanatory breadth is something i don't agree with. I don't believe formalism explains more work of art that romanticism. Formalism is very narrow and limiting. It does not explain a wide range of different art work, romanticism, however, does. Romanticism can cover a much wider scope of art work. For example, art works that are filled with mythological creatures or art work that depicts emotions such as lust and envy or happiness and pride are not easily or at all explained by formalism theory. Romanticism however is not limited in exploring such artworks.
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