This is the most basic,divisive issue in aesthetics, isn't it?
It may well be, as William reports, that "the cultural
theorists have almost total power these days" -- but you will notice that not
a single one remains on this listserv.
Not one.
They just have no common ground with the rest of us.
They have their books and champions of cultural theory -- and we have our
paintings, plays, operas, novels etc.
**********************************
William wrote:
Re Cheerskep['s comment below, he cultural theory
folks agree except they want to insist that even the
responses of the subjects are shaped by received, and
previously shaped, subjective cultural opinions. So
when we apply meaning to something we don't really
apply our own meaning/s but simply pass on how we've
been shaped by others and the culture/s we represent.
History, reality, and meanings are defined by the
"consumer" not by the "producer" for the cultural
theorists...and they are many, and they have almost
total power these days. I'm sick of them. For me,
and old-fashioned sort who thinks something truthful
remains unexplained by cultural theory, something
inherent in objective reality and in human
consciousness/unconsciousness (this reminds me of
Kirby's pro Surrealist stance) that is crucial.
Objects embody an essence of spiritual animation, a
life form. When we notice that we are at the point of
making meanings. But we don't create it. This sounds
crazy or superstitious to cultural theorists but they
just don't notice reality because they're too busy
pretending to create it.
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