Dewey on Art and Experience

Summary

In this video, philosophy professor Ellie Anderson explores John Dewey's concept of 'art as experience.' Dewey argues that art is not a separate, isolated form of experience but an intensified version of everyday experience. He emphasizes the unity, rhythm, and conclusion that characterize any experience, including artistic ones. Dewey challenges the idea of art as a detached, elitist domain, instead proposing that art’s aesthetic quality pervades all experiences and is deeply connected to both artistic creation and reception. Ultimately, Dewey believes that restoring this continuity between art and life is essential for a healthier society.

Takeaways

• 😀 Art is not a separate, unique experience but continuous with everyday life, according to John Dewey.
• 😀 Dewey defines experience as a rhythm of intake and outtake, influenced by early 20th-century biology emphasizing human embodiment.
• 😀 Experience has a Unity, a pervasive quality, that allows us to label it, e.g., as a 'wonderful meal' or 'storm'.
• 😀 Dewey's notion of experience includes a conclusion or fulfillment, exemplified by the end of a meal or a storm.
• 😀 Artistic experience shares the same continuity as other experiences, rather than being cut off from daily life.
• 😀 The aesthetic experience is defined by a unity that pervades it, and this unity is integral to all experiences, not just art.
• 😀 Dewey rejects the strict division between artistic production and aesthetic perception, suggesting they are deeply connected.
• 😀 Art is seen as an intensified form of experience, not separate from the larger continuum of everyday life.
• 😀 The rise of capitalism has contributed to the isolation of art in museums, distancing it from everyday experience and the people who produce and consume it.
• 😀 Dewey argues that society's view of art as an autonomous sphere is a symptom of broader social issues, including the class distinction in cultural patronage.

Q & A

What is John Dewey's definition of experience in the context of art?

For John Dewey, experience involves a rhythm of intake and outtake, shaped by human embodiment. It has a unity, meaning that an experience, while it may have different parts, forms a whole that is felt pre-reflectively. This unity is pervasive throughout the experience, even before reflecting on it emotionally or intellectually.

How does Dewey connect the concept of unity in experience with the aesthetic experience?

Dewey argues that the aesthetic quality of an experience is tied to its unity. Any experience that has a unifying quality can be considered aesthetic. This includes everyday experiences like a meal or a storm, where the experience has a unified and pervasive feeling, even if it's made up of different parts.

What role does reflection play in Dewey's concept of experience?

Reflection allows us to separate the emotional, practical, or intellectual components of an experience. However, Dewey emphasizes that the unity of the experience is felt pre-reflectively, before any distinction is made between its parts. Reflection merely helps us label the experience with words such as 'wonderful' or 'decent'.

How does Dewey view the relationship between artistic creation and aesthetic perception?

Dewey believes that the distinction between artistic creation and aesthetic perception is illusory. Both production and reception are deeply connected. Artistic experience encompasses both creating and perceiving art, as both are part of the continuous and integrated experience that constitutes artistic and aesthetic experience.

Why does Dewey argue that artistic experience is not separate from everyday life?

Dewey sees artistic experience as a peak of the broader continuum of experience. Although art is an intensified form of experience, it is not cut off from the everyday. The division between art and everyday life, he believes, is a social construction, particularly influenced by capitalism and the growth of the museum as an institution.

What does Dewey mean by art being an 'intensified form of experience'?

Dewey argues that art is not a separate, isolated experience but an intensified form of the same kind of experience that happens in daily life. It is heightened in quality, but still rooted in the same continuity of human experience.

How does Dewey critique the role of museums in the context of artistic experience?

Dewey critiques the structure of museums for making art appear disconnected from everyday life. By isolating art within a specialized space, museums reinforce the idea that art is an autonomous, elite sphere, separate from ordinary experience. Dewey believes this detachment contributes to a harmful social hierarchy, particularly linked to capitalism.

What is Dewey's view on the relationship between capitalism and the autonomy of art?

Dewey argues that capitalism plays a key role in the development of the museum as a space for art, which in turn isolates art from the everyday. This autonomy, according to Dewey, reinforces the social distinction between the 'elite' art world and ordinary life, perpetuating inequality and creating a 'holier than thou' attitude toward art.

Why does Dewey consider the idea of art being separate from life a symptom of social problems?

Dewey views the isolation of art as a separate, autonomous sphere as a sign of broader societal issues. He associates this separation with the negative effects of capitalism, where art becomes a commodity, rather than a natural part of lived human experience. This division reflects an unhealthy cultural and social structure.

How does Dewey believe we can restore the continuity of artistic experience with everyday life?

Dewey suggests that in order to restore the continuity of artistic experience with everyday life, we need to rethink our social, economic, and political systems. This would involve re-envisioning art's role in society so that it is not cut off or commodified, but integrated into daily experience, making it accessible and meaningful for everyone.