When we view, or listen to, a work of art, we make our own assumptions as to what it represents. The assumptions that we make are what we believe to be the truth, regardless of whether the producer of the work agrees. In fact, many times when we view, or listen to, a work of art, we believe it represents something that never even crossed the producer’s mind; the producer has his or her own view of the truth, while we have ours. However, this does not make our version of the truth incorrect. Although there are many facts that cannot be disputed, such as 2 + 2 = 4, there are also many facts that are not as concrete. This is particularly true in art, where each individual can believe the work of art means something and accept it as the truth. As a result, we can see the truth in a work of art because it is up to us to decide what the truth is. An extension of this idea is that we can feel the truth. Just as 2 + 2 = 4 does not raise any concern with anybody, because we know it is the truth, a person’s version of the truth does not raise any concern with him or her. If one truly believes his or her version of the truth, they will be able to feel it and not have any doubts as to its authenticity.
Category: 10/29/2009
In persute of Truth
“Was Somebody asking to see the soul?
See , your own shape and countenance..”
Walt Whitman in Leaves of Grass
Please discuss one or two of the following statements:
1. When viewing a work of art, or listening to one, can we see
the truth? Can we feel it?
2. Medieval artists resorted to Geometry to express a spiritual truth , and Baroque composers built their cannon on a mathematical symmetry. Are these methods limit our definitions of truth and therefore of beauty?
