Structuralism

Structuralism

Some have argued that a weakness is Formalism is that it refuses to look outside of the art itself to find meaning. This means that they would ignore the artist, the time period, and the context. Structuralism analyzes art by looking at the context.

A major facet of Structuralism is it's focus on language, in particular the linguistically choices made within art. Structuralists don't see language as existent but rather as something constructed. Because of that they believe that language is:

• Arbitrary: just because we say "pen" to signify that object doesn't mean that is what it is.
• Relational: words only contain meaning when compared to other words. "House" has meaning when compared to other words like "mansion" and "hovel."
• Constitutive: our language makes our reality. In Finish there are many different words to describe snow, thus more types of snow.

One way that Structuralists analyze language is through binaries. Binaries are a set of opposites. The Katy Perry song Hot N Cold is full of binaries.

Often there are "preferred" members of the binary. List five binaries and note which member of the binary is the preferred.

Liberal Humanism: A Formalist Ideology

Liberal Humanism: A Formalist Ideology

Formalism is a way of analyzing the world around us. Liberal Humanism, however, is an ideology. An ideology is a way of thinking. Formalists are, for the most part, Liberal Humanist. Some of the fundamental thoughts of Liberal Humanists within the context of art are that:

1. To be great art the subject must have universal meaning
2. The meaning is contained within the work itself
3. All you need is the work itself to discover the meaning
4. Human nature is unchanging
5. Humanity is connected through our essence of being
6. Art should enrich life
7. The form and message of art should be organic (or matching)
8. Art should be sincere
9. Art should be subtle
10. Criticism is a way to interpret art

As you can see Liberal Humanism has many different beliefs that can resonate with many different types of people. In a scene from Dead Poets Society there are two Liberal Humanists: the teacher and the man who wrote the textbook. Although they both have the same ideology they are very different.

What, within the ideology of Liberal Humanism, do you agree with? Why?

Pick one thought within Liberal Humanism that you disagree with. Why do you disagree? Pick a piece of art (painting, sculpture, movie, play, etc) that supports your argument.

Formalism

Formalism

Meaning is contained within a text, there is no need for outside sources to give context or insights. The meaning can be found in analyzing:

• figures (such as metaphors, similes, anaphora, hyperbole, etc) within literature
• motifs, rhythm, meter, etc within music
• lighting, blocking, costuming, color, etc within theater

Pick your favorite story. It can be a movie, a play, anything. Using the text, what is the message?

Shklovky, a formalist, tells us that "art is a way of experiencing the artfulness of an object; the object is not important." He explains his view of art saying "after we see an object several times, we begin to recognize it. The object is in front of us and we know about it, but we do not see it-hence we cannot say anything significant about it."

What does Shklovsky view as art? Give an example of something he would perceive as art according to his theory.