Is there any objective process to measure the merit of a painting?

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  1. profile image0
    PhenomWriterposted 12 years ago

    http://s4.hubimg.com/u/5748499_f248.jpg
    Was Picasso a great painter? Why? 500 dollars if you can say this!

    1. couturepopcafe profile image61
      couturepopcafeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I'm am often baffled by the terms good and great regarding art and artists.  From what I was taught in college (Art History & Theory) the art jurors consider a painting's nuances as a judging criterium.  They look beyond technique or lack thereof. 

      They look for representation of the times, political, social, religious, mythological, personal.  They look for use of color as representational also in terms of why the artist used a particular color in a particular area of the painting.  They look for personal innuendo, such as a representation of the artist himself hidden somewhere in the painting or maybe out in plain view. 
      The artists' uses of symbolism is huge in judging his 'greatness'. 

      All the old masters made their own paints so this is no longer considered part of the contest (at least with the masters) 

      In the recent past, those who were the first to integrate computer enhanced images onto canvas were considered great at what they did but technology has allowed more people to do this so now it has become watered down in terms of uniqueness.  The masters actually needed raw talent alone with no help from technology.

      As far as people like Pollack,  IMO his was also a representation of the times - chaos, change, rebellion.  In fact, and this is true, he and I were painting the same 'splash' painting at the same time, but not in the same place.  It's called simultaneious creativity.  The difference is I tthought it was crap and his ego allowed him to believe it was good.

  2. profile image0
    PhenomWriterposted 12 years ago

    Jackson Pollock. Was he a painter?

    http://s4.hubimg.com/u/5748503_f248.jpg

  3. profile image0
    PhenomWriterposted 12 years ago

    ?




    http://s3.hubimg.com/u/5748514_f248.jpg

  4. prettydarkhorse profile image55
    prettydarkhorseposted 12 years ago

    creativity is judged differently, it is subjective

  5. profile image0
    PhenomWriterposted 12 years ago

    Like truth, falsehood - and sockpuppeting?

    1. prettydarkhorse profile image55
      prettydarkhorseposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      That is not art.

      I am not a sockpuppet, sorry, so I don't know.

      1. profile image0
        PhenomWriterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        Did I ever say you are a sockpuppet?

        1. prettydarkhorse profile image55
          prettydarkhorseposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          I am just stating that I am not one so I don't know.

          This thread by the way is nice. In social science these days, there are movements towards subjectivity too.

          1. profile image0
            PhenomWriterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            I surely believe you...but there are?

            1. prettydarkhorse profile image55
              prettydarkhorseposted 12 years agoin reply to this

              yes, it used to be that you can predict behavior objectively by incorporating statistics, but now it is deeper that that. There is an intermingling of disciplines among social sciences like psych, socio, anthro, linguistics to understand deeper human behavior. Not only one discipline can understand why humans behave the way they do. it is complicated.

              1. profile image0
                PhenomWriterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                I had a friend called Dr Acharya in India - he just died few days ago. He killed a dog before his death.    ...very complicated

                1. prettydarkhorse profile image55
                  prettydarkhorseposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  I met a Ph D, Dr Acharya five years ago, she is married to an Acharya, can't remember her specialization, population or Economics, but she teaches in one of the University there. They have a beautiful daughter, she is beautiful too.


                  BTW, in connection to our topic one of my favorite author here has a latest hub about art and one of his hub is interesting

                  http://mikelickteig.hubpages.com/hub/Wh … is-Not-Art

                2. profile image0
                  PhenomWriterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  It's strange that you too met another Dr Acharya...some Acharyas are just fake, some people just smell the dirt once fakers start speaking

                  1. prettydarkhorse profile image55
                    prettydarkhorseposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                    I am trying to remember her first name, but she is intelligent too. She spent one semester in the University where I worked, some kind of exchange fellow.

                    Found it now, here..

                    Sanghmitra S Acharya, Associate Professor, JNU, was faculty in IIPS,Mumbai (1990-99),UNFPA Fellow,University of Bostwana (1995- 96); ASF Fellow (2005) UPPI,Manila,Philippines; and Adjunct Associate Professor,at Ball State University, Muncie INDIANA (US) during 2008-09. Her research is in the area of youth, health and discrimination.

                    I remember now, she is into youth population and sexuality

                  2. profile image0
                    PhenomWriterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                    Do remember...Dr Acharya, before his death, just made a person brain-sick...how complicated. She is now suffering schzophrenia.

          2. couturepopcafe profile image61
            couturepopcafeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Always good to hear from you, darkhorse.  Yes.  IMO, this is ongoing.  It will probably always be part of the human awareness and will go in cycles.  As far back (as recorded) as Aristotle, subjectivity has been the topic of discussion with regard to morality and ethics.  Socrates believed in questioning everything, keeping an open mind - which goes directly back to subjectivity and the views of others.

            1. prettydarkhorse profile image55
              prettydarkhorseposted 12 years agoin reply to this

              thanks for the info about Socrates etc - about subjectivity. I just thought that subjectivity was the name of the game now and before they are objective = they see the world more in blue or black

    2. couturepopcafe profile image61
      couturepopcafeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Exactly like truth and falsehood but the OP question pertained to the existence and/or validity of criteria used in judging paintings.

  6. prettydarkhorse profile image55
    prettydarkhorseposted 12 years ago

    Perhaps among those who go to school for arts, maestro or teachers -- they have criteria on how to judge works of students of arts.

    But for laymen, it is subjective.

    1. couturepopcafe profile image61
      couturepopcafeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I can absolutely agree with you there.  The beauty of art is subjective throughout the field, even among the masters.  A patron who commissioned a piece didn't care whether he imposed his own secret agenda onto the painting.  They just wanted something beautiful, subjectively judged by the aesthetic of the times.

  7. prettydarkhorse profile image55
    prettydarkhorseposted 12 years ago

    we are the only one answering back and forth here in this post, LOL.
    Somebody with an artist mind or interested should chip in. I am also interested in the answers in your OP

    1. profile image0
      PhenomWriterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      LOL? I guess the dog is showing her character somewhere?

      1. prettydarkhorse profile image55
        prettydarkhorseposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        To be honest, I really don't understand what you are talking about.

        If you are talking about sockpuppets, they have reason on their own if they like to be one. Only that they should not create havoc, they are just fooling themselves if they do that.

    2. couturepopcafe profile image61
      couturepopcafeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      pdh - many like the venom in the political, economic and religious forums.  Those wouldn't be bad if they would stick to the facts with backup.  I'm better at forums of art, ethics, philosophy.  Forums where I have to think for myself.  Of course, we can rarely lay claim to being original thinkers. 

      This forum is actually sane.  Well, except for the psychodog.

      1. prettydarkhorse profile image55
        prettydarkhorseposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        Me too, I don't join the religious forums because I am a Christian and I don't want to quarrel with the non Christians.

      2. profile image0
        PhenomWriterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        "yes, it used to be that you can predict behavior objectively by incorporating statistics, but now it is deeper that that. There is an intermingling of disciplines among social sciences like psych, socio, anthro, linguistics to understand deeper human behavior. Not only one discipline can understand why humans behave the way they do. it is complicated."

        -search this thread and find...good luck

  8. profile image0
    PhenomWriterposted 12 years ago

    ...neurotic pleasures? Hurt others' feelings? Does that dog think it will be freed?

    1. profile image0
      PhenomWriterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      ...a person talking so long on void that does not affect its feelings roll

      something is called conscience

      1. couturepopcafe profile image61
        couturepopcafeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        PW - you probably have some interesting thoughts but I'm only able to grasp parts of them.  It would be helpful to discussion if you would write out your complete thought so we can interact.  Not a slam, just interested.

        1. profile image0
          PhenomWriterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          Go through this forum post, you will learn a great deal about sockpuppeting-       http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/85441

          May that Enlighten you...about the human character...and how some people are just just dogs.

          1. couturepopcafe profile image61
            couturepopcafeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Yeah, pretty hard to pick up on a thought process from another forum if you don't know it existed.

  9. prettydarkhorse profile image55
    prettydarkhorseposted 12 years ago

    oh My that forum, I wasn't able to respond, I think they closed that one already??

    1. couturepopcafe profile image61
      couturepopcafeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      So let's bring Freud into the mix.  If subjectivity is to be applied to all arts, it's fair to assume that what we determine to be good or bad art is governed by our 'programming' from infancy.

      1. prettydarkhorse profile image55
        prettydarkhorseposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        could be, your upbringing, emotions and influences from the culture you are in plus desires perhaps

        It is complicated

        1. couturepopcafe profile image61
          couturepopcafeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          And even the time of life you are viewing the painting.  I may hate a painting at age 17 but as I mature in layers, over time, if I begin to understand what the artist was trying to say or portray, even the work and skill involved in the creation, I may like the painting more, even if I don't think it's beautiful.

    2. profile image0
      PhenomWriterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Did I say I was pointing at you? I wanted someone to see where sockpuppeting can go...nothing else

      1. profile image0
        PhenomWriterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        But again you are saying you are not a faker or something roll

  10. prettydarkhorse profile image55
    prettydarkhorseposted 12 years ago

    I and Evo Guy are not one. Period. I want to answer that but I think they closed it already.

  11. prettydarkhorse profile image55
    prettydarkhorseposted 12 years ago

    you're right. And how you received the message the painter want to impart

  12. profile image0
    PhenomWriterposted 12 years ago

    "If you are talking about sockpuppets, they have reason on their own if they like to be one."

    -Please explain why and how are you saying this. That is not defending sockpuppets I guess?

 
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