Poetry perhaps affords a combination of sub-genre-qualifications and rules. I think of haiku and and sonnets and other rhyme schemes. Allegedly, in his later years, when ideas for new poems were not coming to him easily, W.H. Auden would kick-start his muse by giving himself certain exotic rhyme-scheme assignments.
In a message dated 10/17/10 6:19:35 PM, [email protected] writes: > I like Cheerskep's comment about rules in sports and art. There's > nothing > comparable to my knowledge with respect to deciding the validity of art > according to specific fixed rules as with competitive sports. However, > the > rules of the game metaphor does apply. In some instances pre-established > rules > for art validity can be set, as in linear perspective, or in preparing > work > "site specific" or in a host of other ways. Artists often make rules for > their > own practices, determining the process and materials they use, how, when, > where, > etc. Art judgments are frequently based on explicit rules and in fact > during > the era of official Church and State patronage, elaborate contracts were > composed that spelled out the rules to be followed by both parties, artist > and > patron. The old academy rules for painting stipulated the "brown school" > which > was simply underpainting in browns with lights and shadows added. > wc
