combatentropy
Veteran
I will warn you that if you answer quickly or flippantly, my opinion of you will plummet (but what does that matter?). The theory of art is a hard question, right along multicentury math conundrums and philosophical questions about life, the universe, and everything. (Only one person gets to say 42.)
Sparked by a comment on another thread that asked whether fiction leads to mental illness and set fiction and reality in opposition, I thought I suggested he start a thread about it. But then his reply made it clear that he thought I should be the one who started the thread. So here it is.
What is your theory of art? For your own sanity, you may restrict your response to motion-picture fiction. But I also would welcome your opinion on what the point is of art in all its forms: literature, music, painting, whatever. For the sake of the sparking argument, though, try to tie it back to whether art is good for you. Does fiction ontribute to mental illness?
Besides just voicing whatever pops into your head, maybe you can cite something from someone else. Surely civilization has pondered this question before. A few quotes that will betray my own opinion up front.
Taste for Makers. Taste is objective not subjective. The goodness and badness of a given design is measurable. Here are the criteria. --- Paul Graham
"Art is an idea that has found its perfect form" --- Paul Rand
"Life beats you down and crushes the soul, and art reminds you that you have one." --- Stella Adler
Sparked by a comment on another thread that asked whether fiction leads to mental illness and set fiction and reality in opposition, I thought I suggested he start a thread about it. But then his reply made it clear that he thought I should be the one who started the thread. So here it is.
What is your theory of art? For your own sanity, you may restrict your response to motion-picture fiction. But I also would welcome your opinion on what the point is of art in all its forms: literature, music, painting, whatever. For the sake of the sparking argument, though, try to tie it back to whether art is good for you. Does fiction ontribute to mental illness?
Besides just voicing whatever pops into your head, maybe you can cite something from someone else. Surely civilization has pondered this question before. A few quotes that will betray my own opinion up front.
Taste for Makers. Taste is objective not subjective. The goodness and badness of a given design is measurable. Here are the criteria. --- Paul Graham
"Art is an idea that has found its perfect form" --- Paul Rand
"Life beats you down and crushes the soul, and art reminds you that you have one." --- Stella Adler
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