Single Idea 20390

[catalogued under 21. Aesthetics / B. Nature of Art / 1. Defining Art]

Full Idea

The avant-garde art of the twentieth century played a significant role in defeating definitions that had prevailed in earlier times, such as ones maintaining that art is representation, expression or significant form

Gist of Idea

Defining art as representation or expression or form were all undermined by the avant-garde

Source

Stephen Davies (The Philosophy of Art (2nd ed) [2016], 2.2)

Book Reference

Davies,Stephen: 'The Philosophy of Art (2nd ed)' [Wiley Blackwell 2016], p.27


A Reaction

I really think the first rule of philosophical aesthetics is 'ignore Marcel Duchamp'. We wouldn't give up our idea of philosophy if someone managed to publish a long string of expletives in a philosophy journal. Would we??