Godzilla 1995 wrote:
You were using "art" for argument earlier, let me try this: Say you're given two different paintings. One by Normal Rockwell (Take your pick of which), and a drawing of a dinosaur by a five year-old. Which is better?
What you're asking me to do is to make a vlaue judgment on the two works of art. I no longer do that. It is possible toenjoy each within their context and not make a value judgment.
The mind likes to thinking in simplistic dichotomous thinking and things are either good or bad. That is an example of all-or-nothing thinking which in cognitive therapy we call congitive distortions. It happens when our thinking is totally one side or another (black or white) and there is no shades of gray.
It seems that people are getting angry because I will not engage in those cognitive distortions!
In your analogy between a Rockwell painting and a drawing by a five year old you want me to make value judgements based on assumptoions. You're assumming that the five-year-old is the inferior artist, I have seen some child prodigies...or the five-year-old could be close to me personally so their drawing may have more value because of that factor.
But you see what my point is? We have a choice in our thinking and we do not have to make black-or-white value judgments all of the time. Sure, there are times when that is appropriate and wisdom comes in knowing when to make those types of judgments but I do not think the enjoyment of art is one of those times.
Cimmerian Dragon Philosophers have been debated the objectivity vs subjectivity of art for centuries. There are those that follow the school of thought that deals with metaphysical idealism and there are 4 types. metaphysical objectivity, epistemological objectivity and metaphysical subjectivity, epistemological subjectivity. Each can find art that is either subjective or objective based on reference points and social-constructs and context. Just because I agree with a metaphysical subjectivity, epistemological subjectivity point of view does not mean I am being anti-intellectualism or snobbish.
If anyone can support the metaphysical and epistemological objectivity point of view I am open to the information.
I will also say, again, just because I do feel art is subjective it doesn't close the door to discussing the quality of any art.
I am not dismissing criticism what i do dismiss is when people act as if their opinion on FW is an authoritative one and should be treated as they are spaking for everyone instead of just for themselves. It is difficult to adress a universalized opinion. Or as Immanuel Kant would say, people's opinions are deliverd as universal maxims and that their opinions are to be treated as objective principle of actions that are to become a universal law.