Student 24 Final Exam Fall 1999

What is art? Please discuss/explain the five major aesthetic theories that we have studied this semester, and give at least two examples of art, literature, or other art forms we have studied this semester in support of your explication of each theory. You must explain the aesthetic theory itself, and then explain the symbolism, construction, or other relevant facts of each work of art mentioned, and clearly explain how that piece of art reflects that particular theory. In addition, you must use different disciplinary resources in your responses; for example, use paintings, sculpture, architectural works, and literature.

*note: this exam was transcribed exactly as the student wrote it on the final; nothing has been altered. There are considerable numbers of grammatical, spelling, factual, and interpretive difficulties. The student has not engaged each theory to critique it; for example, the discussion of functionalism does not try to appreciate the art in terms of how well it fulfills its function vs. other objects with a function which may not be considered art. The discussion of music misnames several of Beethoven's piano sonatas and does not actually discuss them in the context of an expression of order but rather as an expression of emotion. Nevertheless, this exam does show some awareness of different disciplinary resources used in the class.

To answer the question "What is art?" there could be many varying opinions on the matter. Theoretically, you could call anything in this world art if it has some form of symbolism to the artist and those around. In class this semester we talked about five theories of art: Functionalism, Realism, Idealism, Art and the order of the cosmos and Art and the self.

Functionalism is said to be any art of expression that serves some sort of function in society. The ancient Egyptians in 5th century B.C. created something myustical and so amazing that even today we are amazed and in wonder about. It is said that it had to have taken 100,000 men a grueling twenty years to have built the ancient Egyptian pyramids. They are masterpeices of art that are extensively studied to learn the architectural genius that was put into the creation of these pyramids. The pyramids, however, were not just built for looking at: they served a function in Egyptian society. There are many theories to what they could have been used for such as burial tombs, a resting place for pheros, and astronomical observatories.

Realism is any art that is expressed as real. Things that one portrayed as the truth in the eyes of society. One of the finest examples of realism is Leonardo da Vinci. He was a seeker of the truth and learning about the reality. In his painting of "The Last Supper" he sees the truth as reality. Jesus is surrounded by his twelve disciples and they are all looking towards his as he is the way, the truth, and the light. Da Vince painted this most famous painting in the early fifteen hundreds during the renaissance period.

Idealism is much like realism only that idealism us how things are: a portrayal of the ideal reality. Michelangelos's sculptures very much were influenced by idealism. In the early fifteen hundreds, he scuplted one of his most famous works "The David." The "David" os a nude sculpture that portrays the ideal of a perfect human being. In the story of David and the giant Goliath David is just a small boy who beats the giant with his sling shot. The sculpture stands at nien feet high and his hands are much larger than a normal human's.

Art in the order of the cosmos is how things line up and work in the universe. Dr. Pepetone's recital "Beethoven Agonistes" was a wonderful example of order of the cosmos. He started out with "apotonic" went to "moonlight" and then to "assoniate". All with music than lead you down a path of emotions. You could feel the difference in the mood and what was being felt. In the sticatto iof apotonic there was more uneasy feelings, maybe fiery passionate, hard emotions. Then in Moonlight there were more tender, cooler, soft tones. The end piece was more like an acconmplishment or overcoming of struggles, perhaps teaching some form of Zen or Nirvanah.

Finally, the art in the self was my favorite unit. Art on the self is analyzing your true self and expressin it through various forms of art. The most prominent example that I could use to describe this theory was my own self portrate. For the past six months I have been on a non-stop quest to find myself. In searching it turns out who I really am is nothing Like I thought that I was or even thouht about being. It ws so wonderful and refreshing to get to express that through art using the ideals and disciplines that I had learned about art in this class. Using the diferent theories of lines, shapes, and colors I was able to portray myself using abstrat materials for the outcome to be myself.

In closing, art is expression. I have a newfound respect and outlook about art as I did before this class. Art can be used as a function, or protrayal of what is or hope to be reality. It can be spiritual and worldly all at once but comes down to expression and worth and beauty is truely in the eye of the beholder.

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