A Philosophical Happy Hour on the habit of artistic judgment and both the means and importance of its formation.
Why do we care about art? (We will bypass the question of why we care about anything.) It provides us no corporeal benefits, except perhaps an opportunity or excuse for rest and relaxation. Were this the only good art gives us, however, we would not, I think, care much about the quality of art. Yet we have cared so much for its quality that whole professions have sprung up to evaluate different artistic media.
But artistic criticism—whether of film or literature, painting or theater—has largely devolved into the provision of mere recommendations. This follows “the market”: for one’s own entertainment alone drives concern with art above all else, in most people today. As Jacques Maritain writes, “Under such circumstances, to tell the truth, we do not judge the work of art; rather, it is we who are judged by it.”
Under what circumstances, and by what means, are we capable of judging the work of art? We cannot outsource this habit to professional critics. Their job is not to think for us, but rather to stimulate our thinking. Are we to be mere passive recipients of entertainment? Or may we discover in art something of truth illuminated by beauty? Are we to approach the artist as a consumer, or as a student?
To facilitate our inquiry into these and other related questions, join us in reading Maritain’s brief essay, “On Artistic Judgment” and join in the conversation! We will structure our Philosophical Happy Hour around a reading of Maritain’s insightful piece.
philosophical happy hour
« »
Come join us for drinks (adult or otherwise) and a meaningful conversation. Open to the public! Held every Wednesday from 5:45–7:15pm ET.
No responses yet