naturalistic interpretations of art realism realism anti-idealism anti-idealism perfectionist...

Naturalistic Naturalistic Interpretations of ArtInterpretations of Art

RealismRealism Anti-idealismAnti-idealism Perfectionist IdealismPerfectionist Idealism Normative IdealismNormative Idealism Metaphysical IdealismMetaphysical Idealism

Naturalistic Naturalistic Interpretations of ArtInterpretations of Art

The subject represented by an artwork need not be part of the The subject represented by an artwork need not be part of the actual world: it might be an imaginary object or part of an actual world: it might be an imaginary object or part of an imaginary world. imaginary world.

The artwork may modify or distort the actual world without loss The artwork may modify or distort the actual world without loss of convincingness. of convincingness.

It may reflect general truths about the world rather than It may reflect general truths about the world rather than individual particulars—or it may aspire to depict an ideal world, individual particulars—or it may aspire to depict an ideal world, a world of absolute truth above and beyond the actual world. a world of absolute truth above and beyond the actual world.

All while still retaining the character of a mirror in which the All while still retaining the character of a mirror in which the attention of the beholder fixes upon the object represented—yet attention of the beholder fixes upon the object represented—yet the work of art may nevertheless be a distorting mirror or an the work of art may nevertheless be a distorting mirror or an idealizing projector. idealizing projector.

Thus realism, imaginative art and idealism can all be types of Thus realism, imaginative art and idealism can all be types of naturalismnaturalism

The key concept is: Are we meant to look The key concept is: Are we meant to look through the artwork as through a window, or through the artwork as through a window, or at it as in a mirror, toward what is depicted?at it as in a mirror, toward what is depicted?

RealismRealism When the reality When the reality

represented in the artwork represented in the artwork coincides with the actual coincides with the actual world of experience as if world of experience as if through a plate glass through a plate glass window, neither better nor window, neither better nor worse than it is. worse than it is.

This is the most logical and This is the most logical and useful relation to establish useful relation to establish between the abused words between the abused words “naturalism” and “naturalism” and “realism.”“realism.”

Caravaggio—painted St Caravaggio—painted St Mathew with dirty feet—Mathew with dirty feet—realist in this senserealist in this sense

RealismRealism

Various shades of meaning in the Various shades of meaning in the term realismterm realism

For instance…For instance… Realism opposed to Abstract:Realism opposed to Abstract:

Cezanne’s apples are more abstract and Cezanne’s apples are more abstract and less realitstic than those of Chardin, less realitstic than those of Chardin, Zubaran less realistic than Jan Van Zubaran less realistic than Jan Van HuysumHuysum

RealismRealism

Realistic vs Distorted:Realistic vs Distorted: Salvador Dali is realistic in the sense it Salvador Dali is realistic in the sense it

is the reverse of abstract (meticulous is the reverse of abstract (meticulous detail, Renaissance space), but not detail, Renaissance space), but not realistic in that the objects are distortedrealistic in that the objects are distorted

RealismRealism

Realism sometimes applied to art Realism sometimes applied to art that depicts individual particulars that depicts individual particulars rather than a general type—Classical rather than a general type—Classical Greek sculpture then is idealized, Greek sculpture then is idealized, and only Hellenistic and Roman and only Hellenistic and Roman sculpture is realistic; all three are sculpture is realistic; all three are naturalistic.naturalistic.

RealismRealism

Social realism—depiction of misery, Social realism—depiction of misery, poverty, ugliness to arouse men’s poverty, ugliness to arouse men’s conscience or stir up indignation or conscience or stir up indignation or pitypity

RealismRealism

Socialistic Realism: art made with Socialistic Realism: art made with approval of Soviet state in approval of Soviet state in accordance with Marxist theoryaccordance with Marxist theory

RealismRealism

PhotorealismPhotorealism Emphasis on formal Emphasis on formal

concerns and super-concerns and super-real technique, which real technique, which brings attention to the brings attention to the artwork as an object artwork as an object and now a window, and now a window, are non-naturalistic are non-naturalistic qualities associated qualities associated with photo-realism.with photo-realism.

RealismRealism Verism: Extreme form of realism, includes every Verism: Extreme form of realism, includes every

detail to the last wrinkle or wart—absolute and detail to the last wrinkle or wart—absolute and complete dedication to depicting everything complete dedication to depicting everything whether or not it contributes to the general whether or not it contributes to the general impression of character type or scene. Are these impression of character type or scene. Are these veristic?veristic?

RealismRealism Ghirlandaio’s picture of a Ghirlandaio’s picture of a

Florentine senator afflicted Florentine senator afflicted with elephantiasis; Van with elephantiasis; Van Eyck’s Arnolfini groupEyck’s Arnolfini group

In these pictures the detail In these pictures the detail is germane to the is germane to the sentiment of the whole sentiment of the whole composition, and so would composition, and so would not be an example of not be an example of Verism.Verism.

What about Chuck Close? What about Chuck Close? But Close is filtering But Close is filtering

perception through the perception through the camera and plays with camera and plays with focal pointsfocal points

RealismRealism Perhaps Lucien Freud’s painting is the closest Perhaps Lucien Freud’s painting is the closest

example of Verismexample of Verism I am not interested in you learning how to rigorously I am not interested in you learning how to rigorously

apply each term—I AM interested in your being able apply each term—I AM interested in your being able to use aesthetic concepts to identify subtle to use aesthetic concepts to identify subtle differences in artworks and how these differences differences in artworks and how these differences contribute to the work’s meaning and individual contribute to the work’s meaning and individual aesthetic.aesthetic.

RealismRealism Loose use of realism: conceptual art that Loose use of realism: conceptual art that

aspires to reproduce things as they are aspires to reproduce things as they are known to be rather than to mirror their known to be rather than to mirror their appearances (perhaps synthetic cubism)appearances (perhaps synthetic cubism)

Common to all uses: naturalistic attitudeCommon to all uses: naturalistic attitude Bottom line: By calling it realistic, it is Bottom line: By calling it realistic, it is

meant that the reflected reality is meant that the reflected reality is thought of as actual rather than thought of as actual rather than imaginary, and that it is reflected as it imaginary, and that it is reflected as it IS rather than idealized or burlesqued.IS rather than idealized or burlesqued.

Transition to Anti-Transition to Anti-IdealismIdealism

This attitude underpinned the Grand This attitude underpinned the Grand Manner (look up); Joshua Reynolds—Manner (look up); Joshua Reynolds—the painter should paint a noble and the painter should paint a noble and dignified theme and spoke dignified theme and spoke disparagingly of Dutch genre disparagingly of Dutch genre painters because they painted the painters because they painted the vulgar, commonplace, and everydayvulgar, commonplace, and everyday


In 20th century, it was the oppositeIn 20th century, it was the opposite Age of irony and suspicion regarding the grand, Age of irony and suspicion regarding the grand,

noble, and dignified—we have a “low mimetic” noble, and dignified—we have a “low mimetic” aesthetic in some waysaesthetic in some ways

But we also have a taste for the startling and the But we also have a taste for the startling and the starkstark

Shock of the newShock of the new Enjoy irony, parodyEnjoy irony, parody The fantastic/fantasy—a dominant aesthetic trend in The fantastic/fantasy—a dominant aesthetic trend in

literature, cinema and prominent in visual art and literature, cinema and prominent in visual art and graphic design/marketinggraphic design/marketing

20th century avoids sentiment, loveliness, grace and 20th century avoids sentiment, loveliness, grace and charm in all but a few, such as a Henri Moore, a charm in all but a few, such as a Henri Moore, a Matisse, sometimes Picasso….Matisse, sometimes Picasso….

The “sophisticated” art crowd cringe in horror at…The “sophisticated” art crowd cringe in horror at…


Thomas Kinkade, “Painter of Light” Thomas Kinkade, “Painter of Light” Is there anything wrong with Thomas Is there anything wrong with Thomas

Kinkade’s Work?Kinkade’s Work? Divide between the popular aesthetic and Divide between the popular aesthetic and

aesthetic of artists and criticsaesthetic of artists and critics BUT THROUGHOUT ALL OF THESE BUT THROUGHOUT ALL OF THESE

CHANGES IN TASTE, THE NATURALISTIC CHANGES IN TASTE, THE NATURALISTIC ATTITUDE IS STILL OPERATING—leading us ATTITUDE IS STILL OPERATING—leading us to regard the work, wholly or in part, as to regard the work, wholly or in part, as transparent, pointing to something else, transparent, pointing to something else, another reality, a mirror, a reflection, or some another reality, a mirror, a reflection, or some kind of imitation of a reality “out there”kind of imitation of a reality “out there”

Anti-idealismAnti-idealism No single recognized term for No single recognized term for

the kind of art that reflects the kind of art that reflects the world as uglier than it is. the world as uglier than it is. Satire, caricature, burlesque, Satire, caricature, burlesque, or pornography are terms or pornography are terms that may do this in different that may do this in different ways. No conventional term ways. No conventional term denoting criticism which denoting criticism which appropriately characterizes appropriately characterizes art such as Francis Bacon’s art such as Francis Bacon’s (“I would like my pictures to (“I would like my pictures to look as if a human being had look as if a human being had passed between them, like a passed between them, like a snail, leaving a trail of the snail, leaving a trail of the human presence and memory human presence and memory trace of events as the snail trace of events as the snail leaves its slime”leaves its slime”

Anti-idealismAnti-idealism This is like Kara Walker’s This is like Kara Walker’s

statement and art, which statement and art, which communicates a personal communicates a personal aesthetic of ideas and idealsaesthetic of ideas and ideals—or an anti-ideal——or an anti-ideal—embodied in a vision and embodied in a vision and use of art/visual imageryuse of art/visual imagery

““When stereotypes attempt When stereotypes attempt to take control of their own to take control of their own bodies, they can only do bodies, they can only do what they are made of and what they are made of and they are made of the they are made of the pathological attitudes of the pathological attitudes of the Old South. Therefore, racist Old South. Therefore, racist stereotypes occurring in my stereotypes occurring in my art can only partake of art can only partake of psychotic activities.” psychotic activities.”

CENSORED

PostmodernismPostmodernism

Instead of looking through the Instead of looking through the artwork to another reality (whether artwork to another reality (whether or not it is ideal), postmodernism or not it is ideal), postmodernism sees an artwork as a sign that sees an artwork as a sign that references or “indexes” (points to) references or “indexes” (points to) other signsother signs

Anti-IdealismAnti-Idealism 20th Century: Strong wave of anti-idealistic art20th Century: Strong wave of anti-idealistic art

Perfectionist Idealism:Perfectionist Idealism: --preference for nature at its best and most attractive, eliminates the --preference for nature at its best and most attractive, eliminates the

inevitable imperfections of individual thingsinevitable imperfections of individual things --lead to attempts to identify the most perfect parts (nose, eye, mouth) --lead to attempts to identify the most perfect parts (nose, eye, mouth)

and to combine them without the imperfections of any (Parrhasius)…and to combine them without the imperfections of any (Parrhasius)…again popular in the Renaissance again popular in the Renaissance

Not a practical technique—stories must be taken as expressions of the Not a practical technique—stories must be taken as expressions of the awreness that artists have not always just copied but have sought a more awreness that artists have not always just copied but have sought a more perfect beautyperfect beauty

--Cicero—painter must first have an image of the perfect thing in his --Cicero—painter must first have an image of the perfect thing in his mind before he can select the models to use—or at least have an idea of mind before he can select the models to use—or at least have an idea of the perfect figure implicit in the standard he chooses—such an idea is the perfect figure implicit in the standard he chooses—such an idea is IDEAL…Greek sculptors worked out cannons of proportion for the most IDEAL…Greek sculptors worked out cannons of proportion for the most perfect human figure…same idea prevalent in Renaissance…still perfect human figure…same idea prevalent in Renaissance…still naturalistic, since the ideal proportions are regarded as an ideal type for naturalistic, since the ideal proportions are regarded as an ideal type for the actual human body—look THROUGH the work or art to this ideal of the actual human body—look THROUGH the work or art to this ideal of perfect human beautyperfect human beauty

Innate ideas/latent knowledge as deep guiding structures behind Innate ideas/latent knowledge as deep guiding structures behind individual—this and personal aestheticindividual—this and personal aesthetic

This ideal type conceived in 2 ways: as a class type, or metaphysically in This ideal type conceived in 2 ways: as a class type, or metaphysically in the Platonic sense—as existing beyond the actual worldthe Platonic sense—as existing beyond the actual world

Take a minute to Look at this picture.

What’s going on in this picture?*

What do you SEE that makes you say that?

What more canwe find.

Paraphrase.Point.Link.*For K-1, be more Concrete and ask“What do you SEEin this picture.”

Visual Thinking Visual Thinking StrategiesStrategies

Ten lessons per year (Two 15 minute VTS Ten lessons per year (Two 15 minute VTS sessions=1 lesson)sessions=1 lesson)

Increases writing skillsIncreases writing skills Over three years, raises reading/LA and math Over three years, raises reading/LA and math

scores (12% and 16%, Grades 3-5 in Miami-Dade scores (12% and 16%, Grades 3-5 in Miami-Dade County)County)

Create confidence in student’s ability to Create confidence in student’s ability to comprehend complexitycomprehend complexity

Foster a desire to learn and take risksFoster a desire to learn and take risks Encourage students to value their own ideas Encourage students to value their own ideas

while listening and building on the ideas of while listening and building on the ideas of othersothers


In a typical VTS lesson, students:In a typical VTS lesson, students: Look carefully at works of artLook carefully at works of art Talk about what they observeTalk about what they observe Back up their ideas with evidenceBack up their ideas with evidence Listen to and consider the views of Listen to and consider the views of

othersothers Discuss multiple interpretationsDiscuss multiple interpretations


Proven to increase critical thinking skills Proven to increase critical thinking skills required in over 70% of questions on state required in over 70% of questions on state teststests

Proven to work with all students, Proven to work with all students, including disadvantaged youthincluding disadvantaged youth

Builds cognition through artBuilds cognition through art Students apply the skills of observing Students apply the skills of observing

carefully, thinking deeply, expressing carefully, thinking deeply, expressing themselves, and listening to others in themselves, and listening to others in other subjects.other subjects.


Thinking behaviorsThinking behaviors Making complex observationsMaking complex observations Drawing conclusionsDrawing conclusions Expressing and articulating ideas in discussion Expressing and articulating ideas in discussion

and writingand writing Considering a range of possibilities Considering a range of possibilities

(Speculative Inquiry, one of the stages of the (Speculative Inquiry, one of the stages of the creative process)creative process)

RevisingRevising ElaboratingElaborating Applying these behaviors to new situations Applying these behaviors to new situations

without promptingwithout prompting


In order to write well, we must speak wellIn order to write well, we must speak well—too little time is spent with students in —too little time is spent with students in conversation to allow speaking skills to conversation to allow speaking skills to developdevelop

By paraphrasing, teachers build grammar, By paraphrasing, teachers build grammar, syntax, and vocabularysyntax, and vocabulary

Teaches how to make observations, draw Teaches how to make observations, draw inferences, and justify statements by inferences, and justify statements by citing evidence…skills useful in what citing evidence…skills useful in what other subject?other subject?


Research based on tens of thousands Research based on tens of thousands of Aesthetic Development Interviews of Aesthetic Development Interviews (ADI’s) that were then statistically (ADI’s) that were then statistically analyzed to arrive at the five stages analyzed to arrive at the five stages of aesthetic developmentof aesthetic development

Concept Mapping: Concept Mapping: Naturalism Naturalism

Working in small groups, review your Working in small groups, review your notes about naturalism and begin a notes about naturalism and begin a concept map.concept map.

Identify major concepts and then Identify major concepts and then cluster smaller ideas around the larger cluster smaller ideas around the larger themesthemes

Using classroom resources or memory, Using classroom resources or memory, write down artists you are familiar with write down artists you are familiar with who are examples or counter exampleswho are examples or counter examples

naturalistic interpretations of art realism realism anti-idealism anti-idealism perfectionist...

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