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OverviewThe real pleasure derived from asking what artworks mean drives us to expend so much cognitive energy analysing and discussing cultural artefacts: not just the paintings, sculptures, and installations one might encounter in mainstream galleries, but also novels, films, music, video games, poems, graffiti, comic books, theatre shows, dance performances, and whatever else. Despite both that pleasure and the seriousness with which we take that pleasure, the definition of artistic meaning is often unclear. Consequently, philosophers of art and philosophers of language tend to use a variety of non-overlapping definitions for meaning: as a matter of authorial intention, as the opinions of artworld publics, or as private exegesis. This book takes a different approach. Rather than working from within philosophy of art or philosophy of language, this book begins with the claim that artworks constitute a special class of tool. Like other tools, artworks are objects that have functions and that furnish affordances. Unlike other tools, though, the functions artworks have and the affordances they furnish are a consequence of a rich—and surprisingly recent—historical and material tradition: a tradition wherein we take artworks as meaning-making things with something to say. Full Product DetailsAuthor: Ryan Mitchell WittingslowPublisher: Rowman & Littlefield Imprint: Rowman & Littlefield Dimensions: Width: 15.90cm , Height: 1.70cm , Length: 24.00cm Weight: 0.386kg ISBN: 9781538167328ISBN 10: 1538167328 Pages: 136 Publication Date: 03 October 2023 Audience: College/higher education , Tertiary & Higher Education Format: Hardback Publisher's Status: Active Availability: Manufactured on demand We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier. Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1. Conditions Chapter 2. Functions Chapter 3. Affordances Chapter 4. Artworlds Chapter 5. Artworks References About the AuthorReviewsIn What Art Does, Ryan Wittingslow approaches the big question of the meaning of art from a surprising and interesting angle by concentrating on what artworks afford us to do. The author leads us on a philosophical journey away from the beaten tracks without ever losing sight of his destination.--Ralf Cox, senior researcher in art psychology, University of Groningen Wittingslow's engaging and beautifully written book presents art as a tool adept for meaning-making more broadly than what is commonly thought. The ambitious aim is enhanced by an in-depth understanding of contemporary and topical perspectives in fields as rich and diverse as philosophy of art and philosophy of technology. Anyone interested in broadening their understanding of how art works and why it is indispensable to us in the first place will find this book a valuable resource.--Sanna Lehtinen, research fellow, Aalto School of Arts, Design and Architecture The work is a bold and original contribution to Anglophone philosophy of art. Integrating seldom considered reflections on knowledge, artifacts, and technology, Wittingslow sets aside old arguments about representation and meaning to ask instead, what does the work of art enable us to do that we could not do as well without it?--Barry Allen, Distinguished University Professor, McMaster University The work is a bold and original contribution to Anglophone philosophy of art. Integrating seldom considered reflections on knowledge, artifacts, and technology, Wittingslow sets aside old arguments about representation and meaning to ask instead, what does the work of art enable us to do that we could not do as well without it?--Barry Allen, Distinguished University Professor, McMaster University Author InformationRyan Wittingslow is an assistant professor at the University of Groningen, a senior Humboldt fellow at TU Darmstadt, and a research affiliate of the University of Sydney. Most of his research sits at the meeting ground between aesthetics, philosophy of design, philosophy of technology, and political philosophy. Tab Content 6Author Website:Countries AvailableAll regions |