Category Archives: Formalism and Post-Modernism

Let me first start by saying that I find that the need of people to categorize forms of expression like art, literature, and music into genres is one of the biggest things holding all of them back. It is my … Continue reading →

Formalism Formalism is a way someone approaches interpreting a piece of art. Under formalism the viewer of the art assumes that everything they need to know about that particular piece of art is already represented by the piece. No outside … Continue reading →

One of my favorite things about studying art history in school was being able to take a general history class simultaneously as my art history class. Being able to connect art and seeing how art (and the artists) were reacting … Continue reading →

Even as I try to keep my head above water, the waves of Formalism and Postmodernism crash over me, leaving me fighting for air in these dense, rough waters. When I think of art, I think of the artist. I … Continue reading →

The Short – Formalism – Calculated Expressionism – Free spirited Post Modernism – “Fuck Off” Realism – Actuality The Slightly Longer – Discussing art in terms of theory or styles can be difficult. Even more ambitious can be placing labels … Continue reading →

Formalism “Art for the sake of Art”. Formalism is a theory of art. “Formalism is the belief that aesthetic values can stand alone and that judgements of art can be detached from other considerations such as ethical or social ones.” … Continue reading →

From the Formalist perspective, art exists to be beautiful, or as their mantra neatly sums up: “art for art’s sake.”  What was considered beautiful was a matter of contention for art theorists and philosophers just as what was considered good … Continue reading →

Formalism is a theory of art that is entirely determined by its form. Formalists focus on the compositional aspects (color, line, shape, and texture) instead of expression or narrative. Art does not need to have a purpose or a story … Continue reading →

As someone who has spent a small amount of effort avoiding art classes, I was a little dejected when the first few weeks of class effectively turned out to be an art class. I’ve tended to feel very private about … Continue reading →

As an undergraduate majoring in studio art, I bought this shirt off a sidewalk vendor after visiting every art museum I could while on my first trip to Paris.  I thought it was pretty funny, and I still do. For … Continue reading →