Lea Clark

Professor Gilliand

Blog Post 4

Aesthetics is a part of philosophy that deals with art. It contains two subtopics, romanticism, and formalism. Romanticism is an attitude or intellectual orientation that characterized many works of literature, paintings, and music; dealing with emotions rather than just what you are seeing. Formalism is more focused on form rather than the meaning of the art. I think romanticism is more plausible than formalism. With romanticism you can go more into depth evaluating the work rather than only seeing it as an object.

Romanticism has more explanatory breadth because you can go more into depth with it. Not only seeing it as an object but also connecting emotionally.

Also romanticism has more explanatory depth. When you look at a piece of art romanticism allows you to see it in more in depth ways. You can see it as something you can connect to rather than just an abstract piece of art.

Formalism has more simplicity. Formalists see art as only an object; they don’t see meaning or anything more.

Romanticism is more conservative. For most people, when they look at art they always see the meaning behind it or it will remind them of something. Not many people see art only for what it looks like.

1. Romanticism and Formalism are the most plausible explanations of art.

2. Romanticism has much more explanatory breadth and depth, while formalism is more simplistic.

3.Therefore, romanticism is the best explanation for art.