Blog Prompt 11:
Tolstoy uses the test of infectiousness, not only as a descriptive measure for what should count as art, but also as a standard for good art (#28-32). What does he mean by this standard? How does he suggest we apply this test to evaluate art? Is this a useful proposal for evaluating the quality of art? If you disagree with this proposal, how would you challenge it?
Tolstoy’s defines art as having the ability to elicit emotions to its viewer as a direct message from the artist. The key term Tolstoy uses is infect as he believe he believes art must have the ability to infect its viewers with the feelings in which the artist intended. Therefore, he determines art by measuring the bond that the artwork has with the viewer, the better bond the better the art is at being art. In Tolstoy’s words, “The stronger the infection, the better is the art at art.” He believe art must fulfill three criteria’s, in which he evaluates the quality of the art by judging those three criteria’s. First would be the degree of individuality. He’s explains individuality as a feeling that the receiver gets from viewing the art. The more the receiver feels that the message is personalize for the receiver, the more joy that the receiver is able to obtain from the art. Secondly, would be the clarity of the message. If the emotions and feelings are easily conveyed to the viewer then they will get more satisfaction from art. Lastly, is the sincerity of the artist being depicted. This is the artist’s belief in the emotions that are being portrait through the artwork.
I feel the method of evaluation hold some merit, however I don’t agree with it as a whole. I like the fact that the artist is considering emotions and how to relay this to the viewer. While, I do believe a majority of artist encode messages and feelings into their work, I don’t believe that is the case every time. My opinion is that art does not need to include messages or invoke any emotions with its viewers. Artwork such as portrait or a scenery are still considered art, but they may have no intentions of intention of infecting its audience with emotions. In some case, art may just be done for the sear joy of it with no emotions attached.
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