Thursday 10 January 2013
Response to "Art and Truth"
There is some correlation between art and truth, but I do not think that an artist's main intention is to convey the truth through his paintings, literature etc... Even though artists has some sort of control in power over us, by shaping or making us realize through their work, for example the atrocities of war or the natural beauty of a landscape, it does not mean that their work necessarily reflect the truth. As the article suggests about factually true statements, "art is not unique in this respect, truths of this kind can be transmitted in many ways." So, basically I think that works of art have a deeper meaning and they represent more than just truth. Is truth based on someone's personal and ethical beliefs? An artist can have a certain perception and way of interpreting a work of art, and can create on the basis of what he thinks is the truth in his own eyes. What I also find interesting is that photographers and filmmakers are selective in their choice of subjects. They have the ability to focus on only certain details that they think are the "truth", but can also manipulate images like in war to show the atrocities to shock us. But aren't we limiting what art is by saying it reflects the truth? Isn't art supposed to be an inexplicable and unique?
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I definitely agree that by saying that the main pain purpose of art is truth, we are limiting art. That is not the main purpose. It just so happens that a way to create art is by conveying truth, you can write a true story or draw a picture of somebody's face. But as you said, the artist himself can think that he is actually reflecting the truth in his painting, but that truth will not be shared, it is only his own truth. However my point still stands, the main purpose of art is not to convey the truth. We have other ways to do that, and at the first place, why would we even try to convey truth through art? The fact is that we are obsessed by this idea of understanding, and of finding the truth. Art is supposed to be a way to escape this true, and for a moment go into a fantasy world, and art is a manifestation of this imagination... At the same time, art CAN reflect truth.
ReplyDeleteInteresting idea of Siham's that art should be "inexplicable and unique"... I wonder whether you mean it cannot be put into words (I'm sure this applies to a ballet or a painting) or whether it is more about feeling than thought? But perhaps the feeling you have (even if it just liking something) is also truth? Perhaps the art form - whatever it is - communicates something ineffable - yet true - that passes between the artist and viewer, the poet and the reader? Even when the medium IS language, it maybe that the "truth" lies between the words, not IN them.
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