Single Idea 8112

[catalogued under 21. Aesthetics / B. Nature of Art / 7. Ontology of Art]

Full Idea

A strong tradition in aesthetics (the 'idealist' view) regards works of art as existing originally in the artist's mind, and the appreciation of art as a matter of re-creating the artist's mental object.

Gist of Idea

Art works originate in the artist's mind, and appreciation is re-creating this mental object

Source

Sebastian Gardner (Aesthetics [1995], 2.2)

Book Reference

'Philosophy: a Guide Through the Subject', ed/tr. Grayling,A.C. [OUP 1995], p.602


A Reaction

He mentions Collingwood and Croce. Against this is the view (Idea 7268) that what goes on in the artist's mind is just irrelevant. Freud is important here, suggesting that the artist doesn't quite know what he or she is doing.

Related Idea

Idea 7268 The thoughts of a poem should be imputed to the dramatic speaker, and hardly at all to the poet [Wimsatt/Beardsley]