I like that very much, and will save it to quote from, thanks
mando
On Nov 24, 2009, at 5:10 PM, William Conger wrote:
Neurologist Stephen Pinker (The Blank Slate) is a fan of Denis
Dutton and quotes Dutton's list of art traits or conditions and
then foolishly discredits his own considerable insights by ranting
against modernism-postmodernism thus exposing himself as a
Luddite. Pinker claims that we are hard wired to prefer the sorts
of things or experiences that Dutton says are exemplified in art.
But what neither Pinker nor Dutton seem to realize is that the term
"art" is a free agent as it were (see Wittgenstein, Weitz, etc).
The hard-wried preferences noted by Pinker and the universal traits
or characteristics listed by Dutton may be true -- that is, not
purely cultural habits -- but it is not necessary that they be
linked to art. Just as different sorts of people become artists in
different eras so are different sorts of activities and objects
called art in different times. Without changing or challenging a
single word in either Pinker or Dutton, we may simply
turn to different mental predispositions and different object/
activities and name them art. Art was "homeless" until the late
Middle Ages -- there were beautiful things for religious and
political purposes but they weren't called art -- and this tendency
toward homelessness is also a trait overlooked by Pinker and
Dutton. Every once in a while "art" leaves home, family, job, and
strikes out as a sort of tramp, seeking a new life and abode.
Preferences remain at home; art runs away. I don't know why.
It's human nature to explore the what isn't preferred. Maybe it's
a kind of neurological imperialism, suggesting that nothing is
beyond our capacity to normalize. The hard wired theory fails in
just this notion because we can keep tinkering with the wires,
ringing new bells, lighting dark corners, turning the spotlight
elsewhere.
wc
----- Original Message ----
From: Michael Brady <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tue, November 24, 2009 4:11:41 PM
Subject: Re: Reading Dutton: Chapter 10 - Four Characteristics of
Great Art
On Nov 24, 2009, at 5:10 PM, William Conger wrote:
See today's www.artnet.com/magazine for Ben Davis on Dutton. Good
slam-dunk.
Bad link, William. Is this the article:
http://www.artnet.com/magazineus/reviews/davis/in-defense-of-
concepts11-24-09
.asp
