Formalism
What does the word formalism mean to you? Give a brief outline of your understanding of formalism historically and technically in the visual arts. How do you use formalism in your work? Is it a major consideration, is it a tool like any other, do you perhaps not concern yourself with such analyses. Discuss.I was yet to come across the movement of formalism prior to researching for this essay but I will discuss what is now apparent to me, in my art and summerise this movement. Not concerning myself consciously with the ideals behind formalism in art ever before I now realise that I may have already used this tool, unknowingly. “These matters are not easy to be clear about if one has, in the background of one’s mind, the traditional critical distinction between “form” and “content” as a valid and necessary distinction. To experience a work of art, as in making love, is to experience a human contact: and one can say equally well, the “content” is just the “form” involved or, the “form” is just the “content” involved.” At first glance I do not make any distinction between form and content, an art work is a whole in my mind when I look upon it, I feel it is necessary to take in the full impact of an artwork and it needs both these
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Some common words found in the essay are:
, JAM Whistler, Greenberg Subject, Jesus Christ, Clemet Greenbergs, Clemet Greenberg, form content, subject matter, ideas form, content subject matter, distinction form content, formalism tool, own interpretation, art shouldnt, primary features, – including, simply form, content form,
Approximate Word count = 1668
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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