Formalism

Object-centered theory

Focus only on the work itself

Do not focus on the artist of the

observer/audience

What is formalism?

Formal properties are the only things that matter

about art

Essence of art
Definition of art
Evaluation of art

What are formal properties?

Shape, color, harmony, rhythm, angles, rhyme

NOT representation, expression, symbolism
NOT moral, religious, or political value

Arguments supporting
formalism
Does it explain what we want to understand about art?

What is distinctive about art objects as

opposed to ordinary objects?

What makes art special or distinctive as a

cultural phenomenon?

Are there examples that can be

understood best in formalist terms?

Arguments against
formalism
Does it explain what we want to understand about art?

Does it account for the things about

art that make it distinctive or
special?

Are there examples that cannot be

understood best in formalist terms,
viz., counter-examples?

Testing Formalism:
Do we see the same object?

Do we describe the same properties in the

object? Is there one correct description?

Does our age or veterans status or education

lead us to see something different?

Does our race or gender lead us to see

something different?

Testing formalism:
Can we appreciate the object
fully by focusing only on
formal properties?

Is information about the artist significant in

understanding and appreciating the work?
Is information about the moral, religious,
political value significant in understanding and
appreciating the work?
Is the expression, symbolism, or
representation significant?