Miller's definition of appreciation is to regard it as an extended wall label or program text. That guts the word of its subjectivity. To appreciate something seems to require some direct emotional engagement with it. You can't receive a visitor until you open the door. Aprreciation is access, opening the door; the bigger the door, the wider it opens and the more directly you greet your visitor, the artwork. WC
--- On Fri, 11/7/08, Chris Miller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > From: Chris Miller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Re: Appreciating art > To: [email protected] > Date: Friday, November 7, 2008, 8:14 AM > Possibly "art appreciation" means different things > for William and I. > > For me, the appreciation of something as art is knowing its > place in art > history -- which includes facts about the subject matter > and the life of the > artist -- as well facts about how the work has been > classified (Impressionist, > Social-Realist, whatever) and it's relative importance > in the canon (i.e. > facts about authoritative opinions.) Once these facts have > been established -- > no further critical analysis is required (except by a > specialist) - and > indeed, it's not even necessary to experience the work > itself. > > A blind person can be an expert docent in art appreciation. > > > As such - "art appreciation" is completely > distinct, and irrelevant, to > aesthetic engagement - except as a distraction. > > "Art appreciation" is one kind of discourse about > a piece -- but there other > discourses as well -- political, religious, psychological, > anthropological > etc. > > > > > > > > If there's one thing I hate it's the multiple > choice question. It's all > but > > worthless for gauging a respondent's ability to > demonstrate knowledge or > > critical analysis. Appreciation can be acquired in > many ways in addition > to > > direct instruction. Most of our appreciation is > gained secondarily, > > passively, by chance, or by personal effort. Much > appreciation has nothing > to > > do with opinion but with actual historical or reasoned > facts. You overstate > > the importance of "the appeal to authority" > in aesthetic jud > _____________________________________________________________ > Click to find information on your credit score and your > credit report. > http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2211/fc/Ioyw6ijmNLr6PuQShY7YCZQhP9W0D1 > GBY44enmMONalYy3PYJfPj96/?count=1234567890
