How to Critique Art

How to critique art To understand the arts, we must learn to: Describe common features from which generalizations can be drawn. Explain the interactions between artists, their works, their knowledge community, and the context of society which they associate with.

CRITICAL PERSPECTIVE The goal of Critical Perspectives is to develop students’ powers as critical, creative and active (rather than passive) thinkers. In examining works of arts, you start to hone your “critical perspective” skills. Within the area of knowledge of art, your critical perspective is used to make art and to be a critic of art.

EVALUATING ART Do you evaluate the artwork with emphasis on the artist? Do you evaluate the artwork with emphasis on the artwork itself? Do you evaluate the artwork with emphasis on the knowledge community (peers, critics, general public?) Do you evaluate the artwork with emphasis on the context of the natural world and/or society? Artist’s Intention The quality of the piece The audience’s reaction

Evaluating Art Do you evaluate the artwork with emphasis on the artist? Some critics emphasize the artist’s role (the inspiration of the artist). Some critics claim that for something to be classified as art, the creator had to intend for it to be art. Thus, for something to be art, you have to understand the intention of the artist. This idea implies that in cultures where products are made with a practical and/or social purpose, art may not exist because the creator did not intend on it being art.

Vincent Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” Does it show a still moment or does it seem to be moving? Why? What is the mood of the painting? Do different parts of the painting make you feel different ways?

The unexpected math in Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMerSm2ToFY

Evaluating Art Do you evaluate the artwork with emphasis on the artwork itself? Some critic stress the artwork itself is most important…not the artist. These critics argue that aesthetic form is the number one criterion for a work to be art. It must be beautiful. A work is aesthetically beautiful if it is beautifully composed and has mastery of technique.

Study the two sculptures. How are they similar? How are they different? Auguste Rodin’s “The Thinker” This bronze and marble statue was first seen publicly in 1902 in Paris, France. “The Thinker of Cernavoda” This clay-fired sculpture was found in Romania. It’s thought to be about 7,000 years old.

Evaluating Art Do you evaluate the artwork with emphasis on the knowledge community (peers, critics, general public?) Many critics argue that the intention of an artist is irrelevant to evaluating an artwork. The primary importance is the impact the work has upon the audience. How are peers, outsiders, and/or the public affected by the artwork? These people argue that are only exists if there is a response.

Johannes Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring” What parts of the painting are your eyes drawn to? What does her expression mean? Part of the painting’s appeal is that the young woman doesn’t seem to be posing at all.   She seems to be looking over her shoulder as if she’s about to ask a question or answer one. The “Girl with a Pearl Earring“ is one of art’s enduring mysteries.  No one knows who she is and why she is dressed so exotically. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pM_IzEAv5d4

Evaluating Art Do you evaluate the artwork with emphasis on the context of the natural world and/or society? Some critics only evaluate art based on its portrayal of the world. Artwork should provide a kind of evidence of the world through its portrayal of people, places, and times.

Based on the posters…how are the movies are different from each other Based on the posters…how are the movies are different from each other? What clues/details do you see in the posters to hint at what the movies are like? 1968 1996