Gabrielle Pierre-Louis

Philosophy

Prof. Rex

Blog Post #4

Aesthetic Theories

Aesthetic studies the philosophical foundation of the arts, the philosophical way of judging art. Asking ourselves about the meaning of art. Is art subjective or objective? What distinguishes original works from copies or forgeries? But today we ask what standards should we use to distinguish art and no art, or good and bad art? There are two versions of aesthetic studies, which are Formalism and Romanticism. Formalism is the purpose of art of art is to represent the forms or ideals that structure reality and guide our behavior and actions. In other words formalism is to appreciate abreact beauty through aesthetic senses. However, Romanticism is a major part of art’s no limitation function to express non-rational emotions. Romantics argue that rational beauty is too narrow an aesthetic standard and should be supplemented with the sublime – something that’s overwhelming beyond comprehension, lofty, vast, or infinitely powerful.

            I believe Romanticism is more plausible because it allows us to see mysterious things, and it gives us full range of experiences, when life become incomplete we become out of touch with nature and ourselves.

Romanticism have more explanatory breadth than formalism because romanticism focus more so on artwork based on rationality and how it impacts viewers on an emotional level. Formalism doesn’t not express emotional aspect of artwork; because of this therefore romanticism have more explanatory breath than formalism.

Romanticism has more explanatory depth than formalism because of how it describes what something is in detail. Also it describes what art is in better detail than formalism, it says that art can be whatever it wants to be and art shouldn’t have rules to follow. In other words formalism artwork is more of viewing with confusion where as romanticism give description. Therefore romanticism has more explanatory depth then formalism.

As you can see formalism have more simplicity then romanticism, because it doesn’t have a lot of explanation on why something is what it is. Formalist are more focused on how abstract the artwork form is, basically you can only judge the artwork by viewing then in words. Which makes formalism more confusing because emotion differ from person to person, because emotion doesn’t allow a lot of people to see things they would like to see them as.

Romanticism has more conservatism than formalism does. Romanticism is more consistent; it has a consistency about our common belief. Todays people use there emotion to judge a painting rather then the structure form. Many people may disagree with me, because they feel that maybe formalism have more explanation then romanticism. Then again formalism feels that artwork has more meaning and value than just its rational form.

1.                    Romanticism and Formalism are the most plausible explanations understanding what art is.

2.                    Romanticism have much more explanatory breadth, explanatory depth, and conservatism whereas, formalism has a little more simplicity

3.                    Therefore, romanticism is the best explanation of understanding what art is.