Contemporary theorizing about art is dominated by a clash between two approaches: philosophers have characteristically taken the view that art is a vehicle of some universal meaning or truth, while art historians, and others working in the humanities, emphasize the concrete nature and historical particularity of the work of art. Is art capable of sustaining these two approaches? Or, as Kelly argues, is art rather determined by its historical particularity? If so, then if philosophers continue to pursue mainly the universality of art, they inadvertently end up exhibiting a disinterest and…mehr
Contemporary theorizing about art is dominated by a clash between two approaches: philosophers have characteristically taken the view that art is a vehicle of some universal meaning or truth, while art historians, and others working in the humanities, emphasize the concrete nature and historical particularity of the work of art. Is art capable of sustaining these two approaches? Or, as Kelly argues, is art rather determined by its historical particularity? If so, then if philosophers continue to pursue mainly the universality of art, they inadvertently end up exhibiting a disinterest and distrust in art. Kelly calls such disinterest and distrust 'iconoclasm', and in this book he discusses four philosophers - Heidegger, Adorno, Derrida, and Danto - who are ultimately iconoclasts despite their deep philosophical engagement with the arts. He concludes by suggesting ways in which iconoclasm in aesthetics can be avoided in the future.
Michael Kelly, thirty-eight, is a survivor whose life has been a remarkable journey of transformation. From a troubled teen to a soldier, criminal, and drug addict, his path was fraught with challenges and adversity. Later, as an undercover operator, Michael navigated the darkest corners of human experience. Yet, through the grace of God, he found redemption and a renewed sense of purpose. Today, Michael dedicates his life to making a difference, channeling his resilience and hard-earned wisdom into creating lasting change. He is passionately working to establish an NGO focused on building orphanages and schools worldwide, providing hope and opportunity to vulnerable children. Guided by faith and a profound love for humanity, Michael's mission is to bring light where there was once darkness, proving that no matter how broken a life may seem, redemption and purpose are always within reach.
