Essays on the Nature of Art

In this newest book, the author presents a theory of art which is at once universal in its general conception and historically-grounded in its attention to aesthetic practices in diverse cultures. The author argues that especially today art not only enjoys a special kind of autonomy but also has important social and political responsibilities.

Deutsch posits that an art work has as its intentionality the striving to be aesthetically forceful, meaningful, and beautiful, with each of these dimensions culturally situated. Working from traditional imitation and expression theories, he argues that the manner of an artwork's coming into being and one's experience of it constitutes an integral whole.

Selected aspects of painting, poetry, dance, architecture, films, and music are offered to deepen an understanding of the concepts presented. Also included are several inter-connected themes focusing on the difficult and controversial issues of interpreting art, truth in art, and the relations between art and morality, and art and religion.

Author: Eliot Deutsch
Publisher: State University of New York Press
Published: 11/01/1996
Pages: 122
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.47lbs
Size: 9.04h x 6.08w x 0.34d
ISBN: 9780791431122

About the Author
Eliot Deutsch is Professor and Chair of Graduate Studies in the Philosophy Department at the University of Hawaii, Manoa. He is the author of eleven books including Religion and Spirituality also published by SUNY Press.

This title is not returnable