Artistic Unity Ten-Minute Lecture

Purpose To define the concept “artistic unity.” To discuss the significance of artistic unity in relation to short stories in particular, and art in general. To provide students with a framework from which they can analyze short fiction.

Definition Artistic Unity: “That condition of a successful literary work whereby all its elements work together for the achievement of its central purpose. In an artistically unified work nothing is included that is irrelevant to the central purpose, nothing is omitted that is essential to it, and the parts are arranged in the most effective order for the achievement of that purpose.” -Humanities Web Glossary

History Edgar Alan Poe As one of the first critics and practitioners of the short story form, he coined the phrase “artistic unity”: “That condition of a successful literary work whereby all its elements work together for the achievement of its central purpose. In an artistically unified work nothing is included that is irrelevant to the central purpose, nothing is omitted that is essential to it, and the parts are arranged in the most effective order for the achievement of that purpose.”

History Poe also spoke of short stories as having a “single unique effect.” Everything in a short story (think of the list of elements our textbook mentions) works toward the story’s goal: communicated idea, theme, meaning, or value. Short stories lack the space novels have. They don’t (can’t?) deal with a multitude of incidents. They don’t develop more than one or two characters. They maintain a singular point of view. They aim for a single effect.

Example The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh. How does this painting achieve artistic or visual unity?

Example What are the elements or techniques the painting uses? Rich, thick brush strokes Swirls Deep, cool colors Exaggerated size Perspective

Example How do these elements unify the work? The two most striking features are the turbulent, explosive sky, and the calm, peaceful town. The steeple standing in the center of the town in the painting, warmed by the town’s tiny lights, seems like a hopeful beacon amid a storm. If I am to take the painting’s overall effect to be one of hope, then I would interpret my observations in that way.

Example The swirls and thick brush strokes not only encourage the viewer’s eye through the painting, they also create the tension between turbulence and peace. The cool blues and greens of the night sky blend naturally into the warm yellows of the town lights. The straight lines of the church center it and unify the elements of the painting around it, resolving the tension between turbulence and peace. The suggestion is that where turbulence exists, so too does peace; that there is a kind of beauty and peace in turbulence, and even the explosive wind and darkness cannot overcome hope and peace.

Example Two “The Rocking-Horse Winner” Setting: a middle-class home where there is never enough money to keep up with tastes and habits. Character: a mother bent on material possession, who doesn’t really love her children. A son determined to prove his luck to his mother by winning her the money she desires, and therefore, win her affections.

Example Two Point of view: omniscient third-person, allowing the narrator of the story to go into the thoughts of all characters. Irony: Paul wins a fortune in the end, but he dies. He is lucky in picking winners, but unlucky in losing his life. His mother gets what she wants, but loses her son.

Example Two These elements work together to help the story achieve its “effect” or meaning (this is, of course, my own interpretation – you might have your own). Hester’s obsession with money leads her to neglect and even dislike her husband and children. Her obsessive personality is handed down to Paul, who also obsesses over money. Paul uses his obsession to prove his worth. Obsession destroys them both in the end. Paul loses his life, and Hester loses her son. Obsession, even when driven by good motives, can destroy.