ART BASICS: Personal Aspect; the Personal Point of View
What Kind of Art Is It?
- Personal Aspect; the Personal Point of View
- One of the more wonderful aspects of looking at art has to do with the different ways each of us can see what a work means to us individually. The beauty in this is what I will refer to as relativistic perception. This has to do with the fact that every one of us is conditioned in different ways by our age, gender, cultural and racial heritage, our educational, religious and family background, life experiences, creative and intellectual abilities and a host of other things that shape our consciousness and make us who we are. Consequently, when each of us looks at a work of art, we will not all see the same things, experience the same emotions or have the same experience. Therefore, what you feel and what you think about a work of art is largely conditioned by your life experiences, who you are, and is ultimately unique to you. There is no "rightway " to experience a work of art.
- Because of this, I am asking that you focus your papers on a single work of art at the exhibitions you visit and reveal what your experience of looking and seeing evokes in your head and your heart. You need not be worried if the work you choose to focus on is not of your liking; however, if this is the case don't use clichés like "It really sucked!" or "It was really stupid." By the same measure, don't use clichés like "It was really pretty" or
- "I loved it!" Instead, I am asking that you explain what it is about the work that you have chosen, that makes you experience these feelings. In doing so, connect it to who you are.
ART BASICS: Personal Aspect; the Personal Point of View
Introduction | Art Basics | The Visit | The Report | Extend
Syllabus | Schedule | Projects | Resources | Instructor
School of Art, Design and Art History | San Diego State University