Activity 6.1- What is Art?
Tolstoy believed that true art must
succeed on several levels. It must express the artist’s genuine emotion,
communicate that emotion clearly to its audience, and move viewers to feel the
same sentiment. He also insisted that art carries a moral responsibility,
because it has the power to uplift humanity, it must use that power well within
a society. For Tolstoy, the highest art is marked by simplicity, clarity and
universality. He disagreed with theorists that defined art through beauty, form
or aesthetics and instead argued that art at its core is a universal
communication of emotion.
Whether Tolstoy’s theory holds true
in today’s society is up for debate. Critics might argue that his definition
fails to account for art whose primary aim is conceptual rather than emotional.
Much of modern and contemporary art embraces abstraction, intellectual
complexity, and symbolic provocation rather than direct emotional expression.
Yet even within these forms, emotional resonance still persists. Viewers inevitably
bring their own histories, associations, and personal lives to their experience
of art. These personal contexts can generate a wide range of emotional responses,
even when the artist’s intention is primarily conceptual. Thought-provoking art
can still stir emotions, because inner reflection itself can trigger emotional insights.
In this sense, even conceptual art may align with Tolstoy’s belief that art ultimately
is emotional communication.
A strong example of a work that
does not immediately convey emotion but instead provokes thought that leads to
emotion is Felix Gonzalez-Torres’ Clocks/ Perfect Lovers. At first glance,
the piece consists of two plain clocks mounted side by side on a wall. They
begin in perfect synchronization but gradually fall out of sync as their
mechanisms drift. A casual viewer may see only two mismatched clocks, but with
deeper reflection, the work reveals itself as “two mechanical heartbeats…illustrative
of two lives ordained to fall out of sync and carrying moving poetry about
personal loss and the temporal nature of life.” (Public Delivery, n.d.) Through
contemplation, the viewer arrives at an emotional understanding, demonstrating
how conceptual art can still evoke profound feelings.
Many artists today use their work
to confront personal, societal or political challenges. Even when audiences
disagree with an artist’s stance, the artwork functions as a moral statement
reinforcing Tolstoy’s argument that art has the capacity to uplift or corrupt
humanity. Art remains a powerful vehicle for ethical and social commentary.
Tolstoy also believed that art
should not be reserved for the elite. It should not require specialized education
or elevated social status to garner a response. Art is for everyone and should
be accessible to all. While no artwork will ever resonate universally, it
should always be available to the public. This inclusivity reflects what I hope
is a growing shift in the attitudes of the art world.
In the end, Tolstoy’s theory may
not fully withstand the test of time, just as many aesthetic theories fall out
of favor. Yet certain aspects of his thinking continue to resonate. His insistence
that true art must convey an emotional message remains compelling, and I think
we can all agree that the artworks that stay with us are often those that make
us feel something.
Sources
Doyle, J. (2023). Week 6- Meaning and Interpretation.
Art Theory and Criticism.
Freeland, C. (2003). Art Theory: A Very Short
Introduction. Oxford University Press.
Public Delivery. (n.d.). Felix Gonzalez‑Torres’ clocks
/ Perfect lovers – What does it mean? https://publicdelivery.org/felix-gonzalez-torres-clocks/
Tolstoy, L. (2021). What is art? (A.
Maude, Trans.; T. Lindell & D. King, Producers). Project Gutenberg. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64908
(Original work published before 1921)
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