Robert Hopkins (New York University): Artistic Style as the Expression of Ideals (co-authored with Nick Riggle)
What is artistic style? In the literature one answer to this question has proved influential: the view that artistic style is the expression of personality. In what follows we elaborate upon and evaluatively compare the two most plausible versions of this view with a new proposal—that style is the expression of the artist’s ideals for her art. We proceed by comparing the views answers to certain questions we think a theory of individual artistic style should address. We argue that our new proposal is a workable theory of individual style and suggest that it fares better on the whole than both versions of the influential and widely accepted view.
Immediately following this seminar, there will be a drinks reception at The Provost’s Lodgings at Queen’s from 6-7pm.
Aesthetics Seminar Convenors: Catharine Abell and James Grant