Art as experience is a consolidation of a series of lectures. Dewey wastes no time cutting to what he sees as a central problem with aesthetic theory. John dewey is well known for his work in logic, scientific inquiry, and philosophy of education. This 75th anniversary commemorative essay reexamines some major themes of dewey s art as experience 1934 by exploring the book s generative context and revealing its philosophical roots in. This page includes material on dewey s aesthetics as found in his early books psychology, reconstruction in philosophy and the public and its problems. It also includes explication of material from art as experience not included in the stanford encyclopedia article for reasons of space.
Many of my own assumptions about the nature of art and literature and thus the guiding assumptions behind many of the posts on this blog are rooted in my reading of the philosopher john dewey, most particularly his book art as experience. We will conclude our summary by considering six questions for conversation. John deweys conception of the role of criticism is quite straightforward and. From thomas alexanders 1987 book john deweys theory of art, experience, and. The artist and the observer are both active in the reception of art.
Not a sparknotes version, so much as some a handful of quotes that. Dewey concludes the final chapter, and the book, by attributing arts greatest good to its. In the first and second chapters of his 1934 book art as experience, the live creature and having an experience, the american philosopher john dewey begins to lay down his aesthetic theory with a primary emphasis on experience. Preorder our book you are an artist which includes new assignments. Dive deep into john deweys art as experience with extended analysis, commentary, and. Dewey john art as experience part 01 audiobook youtube. John deweys art as experience the reading experience. The book is divided into 24 dense chapters, beginning with a discussion on the necessary.
Even before art as experience deweys writings on aesthetics and art influenced, and were. Many of the illustrations in deweys book came from the barnes collection. Dewey believed that aesthetic theory should attempt to explain how works of art. Round 2 of the art assignment book club features john dewey s art. Art as experience 1934 is john dewey s major writing on aesthetics, originally delivered as the first william james lecture at harvard 1932. Dewey s aesthetics have been found useful in a number of disciplines, including new media dewey had previously written articles on aesthetics in the 1880s and had further addressed the matter in democracy and education 1915. I figured i would offer a few highlights here from the book. Preorder our book you are an artist which includes new. Having an experience was published in 1934, when dewey was seventyfive years of age. In the opening essay, titled the live creature, dewey argues that by reducing works of art to material products paintings, buildings, books. Additional materials on dewey s aesthetics, by tom leddy. Art as experience is a 1934 work on aesthetics by john dewey, best known for his work in philosophy and education reform measures.
Restore continuity between works of art and the everyday life. Based on john dewey s lectures on esthetics, delivered as the first william james lecturer at harvard in 1932, art as experience has grown to be considered internationally as the most distinguished work ever written by an american on the formal structure and characteristic effects of all the arts. Art as experience is the most extensive and, many say, the best book on aesthetics from the pragmatic point of view. On the very first page of the book, dewey makes it clear that. Deweys aesthetics stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. The book art as experience is not the first time he focused on. Reconsidering john deweys art as experience hyperallergic. Art as experience 1934 is john deweys major writing on aesthetics, originally delivered as the first william james lecture at harvard 1932.