Creating the Culture of Art
This is an excerpt from the paper...
Believing Is Seeing: Creating the Culture of Art, written by Mary Anne Staniszewski, is a supplemental book to the canonical texts used with a standard, college level, art and humanities course (Staniszewski, 1995, p. ix). It is a supplemental book which many prospective art teachers will encounter. Staniszewski defines art differently from the traditional viewpoint. She takes the position, for art to be art, art must be created for its own sake; the artist must have complete control over the creation of the work, of art, being created (Staniszewski, 1995, p. 43). Art is not art if it is created as part of a larger cultural experience. Art is created to be seen in museums, galleries and collections. Art is a creation of the modern era; it has only existed for the last two hundred years (Staniszewski, 1995, p. 28). Staniszewski's contention is that when art is created, it must have no intrinsic value of its own. True art acquires value only when it enters the institutions of the art world (Staniszewski, 1995, p. 28): the museums, galleries, collectors, art historians, and art publications. The institutions of the art world give a piece of art work its depth of meaning and monetary value. Objects which are created with the purpose of fulfilling a need by society, or a patron, Staniszewski does not consider to be art. This definition eliminates, as art, the works of Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, the pyramids, oriental tapestry, any religious artifact or useful o
. . .
oyment (Greer, 1984, p. 217). The student is exposed to the "great masters" as a means of teaching aesthetics, art history, art criticism and to give examples of how studio techniques are utilized for various effects. In the traditional understanding of art, art is allowed to be a part of the everyday cultural experience of a person. Art is not required to be produced at the sole discretion of the artist; art can still be art even if it is produced at the behest of a patron.
This notion of art existing within and being a part of an historical, and cultural experience clashes with Staniszewski's view that true art is set apart from popular culture. Popular culture prizes novelty; art prizes originality (Staniszewski, 1995, p. 204). Staniszewski's definition, of art, includes an aesthetic component. She derives her notion of aesthetics directly from Immanuel Kant's work, Critique of Judgment (Staniszewski, 1995, p. 119). Beauty in nature is created by God. When man creates beauty, it is art. To create art, man must be born with genius. Knowledge is not allowed in the realm of art. This is in direct opposition to what is taught in DBAE.
Staniszewski does include chapters on the historical background of the institutio
. . .
Some common words found in the essay are:
Delacruz Dunn, Center Greer, Anne Staniszewski, DBAE Staniszewski, II Staniszewski, Believing Seeing, Visual Arts, Michelangelo Leonardo, According DBAE, Art Education, staniszewski 1995, art education, art art, art created, greer 1984, art world, definition art, staniszewski's definition art, art criticism, art history, staniszewski's definition, history art criticism, art history art, delacruz dunn 1995, aesthetics art history,
Approximate Word count = 1661
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)
More Essays on Creating the Culture of Art
|