Analysis Of Kendall Walton's Categories Of Art
In Kendall Walton’s “Categories of Art,” he uses a thought experiment involving guernicas in order to help the readers realize the necessity of non-aesthetic properties when making judgments on works of art. Walton does this by pointing out the differences between standard and variable properties, while also displaying the consequences of interchanging the properties. These terms, along with contra-standard properties, are crucial for understanding the basis of his argument.
Walton defines standard properties as a feature of an art piece that is found in all pieces in that art type, similar to a necessary condition. On the other hand, a contra-standard property is a feature that would automatically disqualify a work of art from counting as …show more content…
The guernicas are pieces of art that have designs and monochromatic colors similar to those of “Guernica” but instead of being completely flat, theses guernicas have hills, spikes, valleys, and other protruding surfaces. The different textures of these pieces are what make one guernica stand out from another guernica. The textured surface is what makes each individual guernica unique, the variable property for this particular category of art. The pattern and colors on the surface of the guernica are merely the standard property just like how the flat canvas is for the paintings in our world. By looking at “Guernica” through the lens of our world, it seems like a violent and dramatic painting, but through the lens of the hypothetical society, it is merely a flat, even boring guernica. Through this thought experiment, I believe Walton is concluding that these lenses represent one of the non-aesthetic properties of art need to have the correct perception. Likewise, the background of the time, author, and/or category of the piece should be obtained before jumping to any conclusions about the work. Without the proper context, even the most stirring works of art become bland in the case of Picasso’s “Guernica” or vice versa. And to judge a piece of art so rashly and prematurely is an insult to
Walton defines standard properties as a feature of an art piece that is found in all pieces in that art type, similar to a necessary condition. On the other hand, a contra-standard property is a feature that would automatically disqualify a work of art from counting as …show more content…
The guernicas are pieces of art that have designs and monochromatic colors similar to those of “Guernica” but instead of being completely flat, theses guernicas have hills, spikes, valleys, and other protruding surfaces. The different textures of these pieces are what make one guernica stand out from another guernica. The textured surface is what makes each individual guernica unique, the variable property for this particular category of art. The pattern and colors on the surface of the guernica are merely the standard property just like how the flat canvas is for the paintings in our world. By looking at “Guernica” through the lens of our world, it seems like a violent and dramatic painting, but through the lens of the hypothetical society, it is merely a flat, even boring guernica. Through this thought experiment, I believe Walton is concluding that these lenses represent one of the non-aesthetic properties of art need to have the correct perception. Likewise, the background of the time, author, and/or category of the piece should be obtained before jumping to any conclusions about the work. Without the proper context, even the most stirring works of art become bland in the case of Picasso’s “Guernica” or vice versa. And to judge a piece of art so rashly and prematurely is an insult to