1. Theory + Aesthetics + Art Criticism
Amber Ward, PhD
ART 130
California State University, Sacramento

2. (view of reality; study of structures)
ONTOLOGY
(view of reality; study of structures)
AXIOLOGY
(role of values)
EPISTEMOLOGY
(nature of knowledge)
paradigm
PHILOSOPHY
THEORY
METHODS &
METHODOLOGY
Adapted from

3. What is Theory?
“Theory is a contemplative type of abstract thinking, or the results of such thinking” (Theory, 2016, para. 1).
“A theory is basically a reflection, often a self-reflection, on things we see and understand” Osborne & Sturgis, 2006, p. 4).
SYSTEM OF IDEAS intended to EXPLAIN something; LENS through which you VIEW something.
We will use theories to explore visual art, education, and visual art education in this course.

4. Rather than organize their text by learning theory, Aubrey and Riley (2016) organize their text in chronological order. Similar to what you see here.
Retrieved from

5. A typical EXAMPLE or PATTERN (see Greek definition) of something
PARADIGM
THEORY
A typical EXAMPLE or PATTERN (see Greek definition) of something
BREAKS DOWN the COMPLEXITIES of the world
SYSTEM OF IDEAS intended to EXPLAIN something
LENS through which you VIEW something
Reread definitions of paradigm and theory
Many educators view the theories from the previous slides as paradigms, as well

6. PARADIGM THEORY TRADITIONAL (1900-1950) REALISM, BEHAVIORISM
realism, operant conditioning
MODERNIST ( )
CONSTRUCTIVISM, COGNITIVISM, MODERNISM
formalism, Montessori theory, cognitive development, artistic development
BLURRED GENRES ( )
HUMANISM, SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIVISM
existentialism (philosophy, arts); embodiment theory (art, psychology, philosophy); critical theory; experiential learning theory; theory of intelligence
CRISIS OF REPRESENTATION ( )
CONSTRUCTIVISM, COGNITIVISM, POSTSTRUCTURALISM
feminist art theory, narrative constructions of reality, intersubjective theory, theory of reflection,
theory of power/knowledge
THE POSTS ( )
POSTMODERNISM
theory of social sculpture, hyperreality
THE FUTURE (2005-PRESENT)
CRITICAL, COGNITIVISM
rhizomatic (art, education); queer theory (art, education); situated learning theory; decolonization theory K E Y
Art(s) and Culture
Education
Art Education
Key Visual Art Education Theories
Modern: DBAE
Postmodern: VCAE
For example, cognitive development learning theory falls under a cognitivist paradigm, or perspective.

7. PARADIGM THEORY TRADITIONAL (1900-1950) REALISM, BEHAVIORISM
realism, operant conditioning
MODERNIST ( )
CONSTRUCTIVISM, COGNITIVISM, MODERNISM
formalism, Montessori theory, cognitive development, artistic development
BLURRED GENRES ( )
HUMANISM, SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIVISM
existentialism (philosophy, arts); embodiment theory (art, psychology, philosophy); critical theory; experiential learning theory; theory of intelligence
CRISIS OF REPRESENTATION ( )
CONSTRUCTIVISM, COGNITIVISM, POSTSTRUCTURALISM
feminist art theory, narrative constructions of reality, intersubjective theory, theory of reflection,
theory of power/knowledge
THE POSTS ( )
POSTMODERNISM
theory of social sculpture, hyperreality
THE FUTURE (2005-PRESENT)
CRITICAL, COGNITIVISM
rhizomatic (art, education); queer theory (art, education); situated learning theory; decolonization theory K E Y
Art(s) and Culture
Education
Art Education
Key Visual Art Education Theories
Modern: DBAE
Postmodern: VCAE
Information from our course structure
Read Paradigm categories (modernist) and examples (constructivism, cognitivism, modernism), as well as theories (formalism, Montessori theory, cognitive development, artist development)
Point out key for various theories emphasized

8. What is Aesthetics?
“Aesthetics is the study of BEAUTY and TASTE. It is about INTERPRETING works of ART and art MOVEMENTS or THEORIES” (Aesthetics, 2016, para. 1).
“People have always tried to create THEORIES to UNLOCK THE CODE OF BEAUTY. What makes an object, or the response to an object, beautiful?” (Osborne & Sturgis, 2008, p. 55, emphasis in original)
The German philosopher Alexander Baumgarten posed the question ‘WHAT IS BEAUTY?’ And coined the term AESTHETICS to describe what he was doing. In 1735 Baumgarten first used the term aesthetic in its modern sense. It comes from the Greek word aesthesis which means perception” (Osborne & Sturgis, 2008, p. 58, emphasis in original) or sensation (Freeland, 2001).

9. study of beauty and taste
aesthetics
study of beauty and taste
Q: “WHAT IS BEAUTY?”
interpreting
art
art
movements
art
theories
“Aesthetics is the study of BEAUTY and TASTE. It is about INTERPRETING works of ART and art MOVEMENTS or THEORIES” (Aesthetics, 2016, para. 1).
Answers

10. What is Art Criticism?
Art criticism is the PERCEPTION, or JUDGMENT, of BEAUTY (Kant, as cited in Osborne & Sturgis, 2008, p. 61).
Philosopher Immanuel Kant states that art criticism “involves IMAGINATION and UNDERSTANDING” (Osborne & Sturgis, 2008, p. 61).
Kant views beauty as both subjective and objective (rather than conceptual, or theoretical):
SUBJECTIVE: “the eye, the mind, and the perception of the beholder” (Osborne & Sturgis, 2008, p. 61)
OBJECTIVE: “the form or the organization of the object.” (Osborne & Sturgis, 2008, p. 61, emphasis in original)

11. What is Art Criticism cont’d?
Art criticism is talking or writing about art from AN INFORMED PERSPECTIVE.
“Art criticism helps us SLOW DOWN our judgment process and helps us UNDERSTAND why we respond the way we do It sometimes helps us VALUE ART that we don’t necessarily like, because we understand that the art COMMUNICATES something important.” (Discipline Based Art Education, n.d., para. 5)
Certain methods exist that can assist students in making informed judgments about art; we will discuss these later in the semester.

12. art
criticism =
aesthetic
judgment

13. In what ways do THEORY, AESTHETICS, and ART CRITICISM relate?

14. (view of reality; study of structures)
ONTOLOGY
(view of reality; study of structures)
aesthetics
(study of beauty)
So how you view reality informs how you study beauty
In other words, ontology informs aesthetics

15. (view of reality; study of structures)
ONTOLOGY
(view of reality; study of structures)
aesthetics
(study of beauty)
art
theories
interpreting
As we now know, aesthetics includes the interpretation of art theories

16. KANT VERSUS LIPPARD Orlan Break class into two groups of 8/9:
Kant’s aesthetic formalism from Enlightenment period (see Osborne & Sturgis, 2006, p. 44): “purposiveness without a purpose” (Freeland, 2001, p. 8), and
Lucy Lippard’s contemporary analysis: (1) formal and material, (2) content, (3) context (see Freeland, 2001, p. 12)
Orlan

17. Engage in art criticism/aesthetic judgment re this work from two perspectives:
Kant’s aesthetic formalism from Enlightenment period (see Osborne & Sturgis, 2006, p. 44): “purposiveness without a purpose” (Freeland, 2001, p. 8), and
Lucy Lippard’s contemporary analysis: (1) formal and material, (2) content, (3) context (see Freeland, 2001, p. 12)
Students have 5 mins. to prepare, and
10 mins. to debate
Orlan

18. EDT Questions
What does it mean when educators talk about theory to practice? (see p. 1) Come up with an example to share.
Aubrey and Riley (2016), state, “There is a danger, with recent government discourse, that classroom practice is becoming a competence-based activity, and the rhetoric seems to suggest a return to more traditional, didactic and examination-focused approaches” (p. 2). Share examples from your educational history that support and disrupt what the authors are suggesting.
According to the authors, “If theory is discounted in education we risk formulaic and step-by-step approaches to teaching and learning, where there is a set of strict rules for those who work with children and young adults to follow” (p. 2). Why is this problematic in education, in general, and in art education, in particular?
If needed . . .
Separate students into 3 groups of 5-6 students
Readings (53 pages): EDT: Introduction

19. AT: Beg Questions
Irish playwright and poet Oscar Wilde states, “No great artist ever sees things as they really are. If he [sic] did he would cease to be an artist” (as cited in Osborne & Sturgis, 2006, p. 1). Does this statement relate to axiology, ontology, or epistemology? How do you know?
In what ways is popular visual culture idealized (see p. 51)? In what ways does popular visual culture disrupt the ideal?
Discuss Hegel’s (see p. 70) ontology of art?
Readings (53 pages): AT: Beg: Intro (pp. 1-8), Ch. 5 (pp )

20. AT: Intro Questions
Do you think an art student has better taste than a science student? Why or why not? (see Freeland, 2001, p. 7)
What does Kant mean by “purposiveness without a purpose”? (as cited in Freeland, 2001, p. 8)
How does Lucy Lippard’s “three-pronged analysis” privilege Western art and culture?
Readings (53 pages): AT: Intro: Ch. 1 (pp. 1-19)

21. Groups report out . . .