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>Once unmasked, those paintings became essentially worthless. >Hence, it's "value" as art was purely based on who painted it. It had nothing to do with the art
by lsc 9y ago
>Once unmasked, those paintings became essentially worthless.
>Hence, it's "value" as art was purely based on who painted it. It had nothing to do with the artwork itself. To me that calls into question the whole purpose of the study of art, as even the experts seem ill-equipped to determine what is "great" art and what is a "hack job".
One can make the argument that if society doesn't fully understand something, that makes studying that thing that isn't fully understood more valuable rather than less valuable.
In fact, I think that might be the whole of our disagreement (and the larger disagreement between those who think school should be purely vocational and those who value a broader education.)
I believe this is what is meant when the college people say that they are trying to teach "how to learn" - it's about thinking about problems where the answer is unknown and maybe unknowable.
- jasode 9y ago> if you don't fully understand something, that makes studying that thing that isn't fully understood I can't speak for WB but I think the point is that even the art professors and art experts also "don't fully understand" it either. If it's the "blind leading the blind", how do we measure the value of _formal_ classes? (Self) study of art is great. I think we can agree. But why is _formal_ study in a very expensive _formal_ classroom better? Are there any studies of improved brain performance or expanded lateral thinking that's specifically correlated back to college art classes?
- lsc 9y ago>I can't speak for WB but I think the point is that even the art professors and art experts also "don't fully understand" it either. If it's the "blind leading the blind", how do we measure the value of _formal_ classes? Sorry, I made an edit after the quote, which I think makes my argument way more clear. I'm suggesting that there is value to studying a thing where nobody has the right answer. The professor doesn't have the right answer, either, but the professor does have a set of methods, tools and traditions for studying those problems for which society doesn't have the answers.
- WalterBright 9y ago> One can make the argument that if you don't fully understand something, that makes studying that thing that isn't fully understood more valuable rather than less valuable. One could, but I fundamentally don't care who created a painting that I enjoy looking at and would like to decorate my residence with.