Option 1

Erin O’Neill

Blog Post 4

            Romanticism is a movement in art and literature that many people love to hear about. It is an intellectual movement that originated from Europe toward the end of the 18^th century. It is the view that art is used to rational aspects of life and irrational aspects of life. It shows the importance of the free expression of the feelings of the artist. Formalism refers to the critical approach in life that analyze or evaluate the characteristic structures of a text. You use your mind more when you are using formalism because art reveals itself in a different way than it was originally supposed to be like.

            I think that romanticism best explains itself in art than formalism does. Romanticism says that art can be viewed any way that it wants to be. I think that all art should be viewed that way because that’s just like viewing the world. Everybody has a different view on the world. With formalism, it is more of a structured view on things which I don’t think is the best way to look at things because you are always titled to your own opinion. Many people enjoy art because they are able to create whatever is in their mind and how they have a view on how they see people, animals, the beach, the seasons, etc. That’s what makes art so beautiful because of all the differences in each piece of art.

           I also believe that romanticism has more explanatory depth than formalism depth because of all the different ways people are able to use their creativity and to let their minds just run wild. I enjoy that with romanticism you are able to let your mind wonder because with formalism it has to be specific and structured.

            Formalism would be more complicated to do because of the structure in it. I feel that if I were to create something then I would want to do anything I wanted to do and to make it random but have it make sense. You wouldn’t be able to do that with formalism. You can only do that with romanticism because of how much formalism art works are set in stone.

            Most artists put their all into their work and they are extremely passionate about it because they are doing what they love. I don’t know anyone who would be doing something that they love so much unless they only do it with passion.

1 1)  Romanticism and formalism are the two most plausible explanations of understanding art.

2 2)  Romanticism has more explanatory depth and simplicity, whereas formalism has a little more explanatory breadth.

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