What is Art? By Leo Tolstoy

Edward John Padilla

13 Aug 202008:15

Summary

TLDRIn the late 1800s, Leo Tolstoy explored the complex nature of art through his book 'What is Art?', challenging its value and impact on society. His visit to an opera rehearsal led to profound questions about the sacrifices made for art, including stunted lives and compromised morality. Tolstoy criticized the harsh working conditions, salary discrepancies, and government funding of art, questioning its relevance and accessibility to the masses. He also addressed the hypocrisy of art patrons, suggesting that art was enjoyed by neither the cultured nor the working class, but perhaps only by those aspiring to upper-class status. This video script invites viewers to consider Tolstoy's views and their applicability to today's art world.

Takeaways

🎨 Leo Tolstoy, born on September 9, 1828, in Russia, is renowned as one of the greatest writers of all time, known for works like 'Anna Karenina' and 'War and Peace'.
🤔 Tolstoy's book 'What is Art?', published in 1897, was inspired by his visit to an opera rehearsal and challenged conventional views on art, causing offense among some readers.
👷‍♂️ Tolstoy observed the harsh working conditions of laborers in the opera house, questioning whether their lives were being stunted in the service of art.
🎭 He noted the dedication of performers who spent their lives perfecting their craft, often at the expense of a well-rounded life, leading to the question of whether art justifies such sacrifice.
👀 Tolstoy was morally disturbed by the backstage scenes, where performers dressed in revealing costumes and engaged in behaviors that he found inappropriate.
💬 He questioned the morality of art, particularly the lewdness he perceived in dance performances, and the anger and mistreatment of performers by directors.
💸 Tolstoy pointed out the discrepancies in salaries, with some earning significantly more than others, highlighting the economic disparities within the art world.
🏛️ He critiqued government funding for art, suggesting that it was a luxury enjoyed by the few and funded by the many, including the working class.
🤥 Tolstoy accused art patrons of hypocrisy, suggesting that they did not truly appreciate art but engaged with it to appear cultured.
📚 The professor encourages USC students to read 'What is Art?' and prepare to discuss Tolstoy's points and their relevance to today's art scene in the next class.

Q & A

Who is Leo Tolstoy and what is his significance in literature?
-Leo Tolstoy, born on September 9, 1828, in Russia, is renowned as one of the greatest writers of all time, known for his monumental literary works such as 'Anna Karenina' and 'War and Peace'.
What was the inspiration behind Tolstoy's book 'What is Art?'?
-The inspiration for 'What is Art?' came from Leo Tolstoy's visit to an opera rehearsal, which led him to question the nature and purpose of art.
What were the three vital questions Tolstoy asked about art?
-Tolstoy's three vital questions were: 1) Should lives be stunted in the service of art? 2) Should we compromise our morality for art? 3) Is art enough justification for anger?
How did Tolstoy perceive the working conditions of laborers in the opera house?
-Tolstoy noticed the harsh working conditions of laborers, such as carpenters working long hours, and considered their lives to be stunted by their service to art.
What moral concerns did Tolstoy raise about the performers in the opera?
-Tolstoy found the backstage behavior of performers, including undressing in front of others and wearing skimpy costumes, to be morally disturbing.
How did Tolstoy feel about the treatment of actors by directors during the opera rehearsal?
-Tolstoy was deeply bothered by the inhumane treatment of actors by directors, who shouted at and insulted them, which led him to question if anger should be justified by art.
What were the issues Tolstoy pointed out regarding art during his time?
-Tolstoy pointed out issues such as discrepancies in salaries, government funding for art, and the hypocrisy of art patrons.
What was Tolstoy's view on the accessibility of art to the general public?
-Tolstoy questioned the accessibility of art, suggesting that it was enjoyed by only a few and was incomprehensible to the working class.
How did Tolstoy's opinions on art differ from the mainstream views of his time?
-Tolstoy's opinions were radical for his time, as he challenged the conventional views by questioning the value and morality of art, which was often seen as a cultural necessity.
What was the reaction to Tolstoy's book 'What is Art?' upon its publication in 1897?
-The book 'What is Art?' was controversial and offended readers upon its publication due to its critical stance on the art of the time.
What assignment does the speaker give to their USC students regarding Tolstoy's 'What is Art?'?
-The speaker asks their USC students to read the book 'What is Art?' and be prepared to discuss whether they agree with Tolstoy's points and if they are still relevant today.

Outlines

00:00

🎭 Tolstoy's Critique of Art's Impact on Lives

In this paragraph, the script introduces the renowned Russian writer Leo Tolstoy and his exploration of the concept of art. Born on September 9, 1828, Tolstoy, known for his literary masterpieces like 'Anna Karenina' and 'War and Peace', ventured into the philosophical realm with his book 'What is Art?' published in 1897. The book was inspired by his visit to an opera rehearsal, which led him to question the value and impact of art. He observed the harsh working conditions of laborers and performers, suggesting that their lives were stunted in service to art. Tolstoy also noted the extensive off-stage work required for a performance, such as costume adjustments and set preparations, and questioned the sacrifice of personal lives for the sake of art. He pondered whether the dedication of performers to their craft, often at the expense of a well-rounded life, was justified.

05:01

🤔 Tolstoy's Challenges to Art's Morality and Justification

The second paragraph delves deeper into Tolstoy's critique of art, focusing on moral issues and the justification of anger in artistic contexts. Tolstoy was disturbed by the backstage scenes where performers dressed in revealing costumes and engaged in inappropriate behavior, which he found morally questionable. He also criticized the treatment of performers by directors, who he observed as being verbally abusive and demeaning. These observations led him to ask whether art justifies compromising morality or inciting anger. The paragraph concludes with Tolstoy raising broader questions about art, such as salary discrepancies, government funding for art, and the hypocrisy of art patrons. He questioned the relevance and accessibility of art to the general public, suggesting that it catered to a select few rather than the masses. The script ends with a call for students to read Tolstoy's book and prepare to discuss its relevance to today's art scene.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Art

Art, in the context of the video, is a broad concept that encompasses various forms of creative expression, including literature, music, dance, and visual arts. The video discusses the difficulty in defining art and the philosophical debates surrounding its nature. Leo Tolstoy's exploration of art in his book 'What is Art?' challenges conventional views and raises questions about the purpose and impact of art on society.

💡Leo Tolstoy

Leo Tolstoy, born in Russia on September 9, 1828, is a central figure in the video. He is renowned for his literary works such as 'Anna Karenina' and 'War and Peace.' The video highlights his critical perspective on art, as expressed in his book 'What is Art?', where he questions the value and morality of artistic pursuits.

💡Defining Art

The act of defining art is presented as a complex and elusive task in the video. It points out that there is no universal agreement among philosophers and art experts on what constitutes art, suggesting that art's very nature resists easy categorization.

💡Opera Rehearsal

The opera rehearsal serves as a catalyst for Tolstoy's contemplation on art in the video. His observations of the harsh working conditions and the demands placed on performers lead him to question the sacrifices made in the name of art.

💡Laborers

Laborers in the video represent the workers behind the scenes of artistic productions. Tolstoy notices their strenuous work and the stark contrast between their efforts and their lack of engagement with the art they help create, leading to a discussion on the value of art in relation to the lives of those who support it.

💡Morality

Morality is a recurring theme in the video, particularly in Tolstoy's critique of art. He questions whether the pursuit of art should come at the expense of moral values, as he finds certain aspects of the opera rehearsal, such as the revealing costumes and suggestive movements, to be morally questionable.

💡Anger

Anger is mentioned in relation to the treatment of performers by directors during the opera rehearsal. Tolstoy is troubled by the anger and demeaning language used, leading him to question whether such behavior is justified in the creation of art.

💡Discrepancies of Salaries

The video discusses the economic aspect of art through the lens of salary discrepancies. Tolstoy points out the vast gap between the earnings of high-ranking artists and the laborers, highlighting the economic inequalities within the art world.

💡Government Funding

Government funding for art is another point of contention in the video. Tolstoy criticizes the allocation of public funds to support art forms that are inaccessible to the majority of the population, suggesting a disconnect between the state's priorities and the needs of the people.

💡Hypocrisy

Hypocrisy is a term used to describe the attitude of art patrons, as mentioned in the video. Tolstoy suggests that these patrons may not genuinely appreciate art but engage with it to emulate the upper class, revealing a superficial engagement with artistic culture.

💡Cultural Relevance

The video concludes with a call to consider the cultural relevance of Tolstoy's ideas in today's art scene. It prompts viewers to reflect on whether his criticisms and questions about art's purpose and impact are still pertinent in contemporary society.

Highlights

Art is difficult to define, even for philosophers and art experts.

Leo Tolstoy, born in Russia on September 9, 1828, was a great writer known for works like 'Anna Karenina' and 'War and Peace'.

Tolstoy's book 'What is Art?' was controversial upon its publication in 1897.

Tolstoy's inspiration for 'What is Art?' came from his visit to an opera rehearsal, which he did not enjoy.

Tolstoy questioned whether lives should be stunted in the service of art, noting the harsh working conditions of laborers in the opera house.

He observed that many performers dedicate their lives to their craft, potentially neglecting other aspects of life.

Tolstoy found the backstage environment morally disturbing, with performers undressing in front of others.

He criticized the skimpy costumes and provocative movements of dancers, deeming them lewd.

Tolstoy questioned whether anger should be justified by art, after witnessing directors berating actors.

He pointed out the discrepancies in salaries, with some earning significantly more than others in the art world.

Tolstoy questioned the government funding of art when the working class was taxed for something they rarely enjoyed.

He criticized the hypocrisy of art patrons, suggesting that only a select few could appreciate the art they funded.

Tolstoy's views on art were not impressed by the art forms of his time, and he had strong opinions about it.

Students are encouraged to read 'What is Art?' and prepare to discuss Tolstoy's points in a future meeting.

Discussion questions for students include whether they agree with Tolstoy's points and if they are still relevant today.

The instructor expresses anticipation for the students' ideas on Tolstoy's views on art.