Representational art=literature, Abstract Art=Music.

[I.J. Cockburn]

For "=" read "has affinities with".

I'm writing about how Modernism prided itself on how it freed
fine art from having to tell a story and thus forcing on it
the characteristics of literature, a totally different art
form.
However, it seems to me that, while valid, this basically
amounts to concerns of form replacing those of subject, and
creating art that simply has the characteristics of music
instead.
Has anyone any comments or suggestions for reading on this
subject?
(BTW, my own viewpoint is that there should be both abstract
and narrative painting and sculpture, and indeed anything
that the possibitilies of any medium will allow.)

Thanks very much,
Ian Cockburn

[Andrew Werby]

In article <7dqahr$8ds...@leeds.ac.uk>, ENG...@leeds.ac.uk (I.J.
Cockburn) wrote:

> For "=" read "has affinities with".
>
> I'm writing about how Modernism prided itself on how it freed
> fine art from having to tell a story and thus forcing on it
> the characteristics of literature, a totally different art
> form.
> However, it seems to me that, while valid, this basically
> amounts to concerns of form replacing those of subject, and
> creating art that simply has the characteristics of music
> instead.

[Well, music has its own characteristics, which visual art can no more
replicate than it can those of literature. This identification is more
in the nature of an analogy. There was, by the way, a 19th century
movement called "program music" which insisted that music, like the art
of the time, should properly have a "subject".]

> Has anyone any comments or suggestions for reading on this
> subject?

[Try Kandinsky's writings- he was one of the prime movers in this direction.]

> (BTW, my own viewpoint is that there should be both abstract
> and narrative painting and sculpture, and indeed anything
> that the possibitilies of any medium will allow.)

[Sounds good to me...]

Andrew Werby

UNITED ARTWORKS- Sculpture, Jewelry, and other art stuff
http://unitedartworks.com
http://www.computersculpture.com for 3d design tools

[peter nelson]

Representational art and abstract are not mutually exlusive.
All representational are is deliberately abstract to some
degree.

Also you should note that a great deal of music is
representational to some degree (e.g., impressionist
music or programmatic music).

---peter