A Study On Arthur C.Danto’s Art Criticism

In face of subversive changes in the creation,practice,and theory of art in the20 th century,Arthur Danto committed to seek a legitimate historical position for modern art by dint of art criticism when traditional art theory declined.Not limited to the level of metaphysical philosophy,his art criticism focuses on the practicality of criticism of realistic art activities and,meanwhile,is endowed with the universality of theory.The thesis recurs Danto’s critical practice in methodology,artistic language,and artistic interpretation,with differentiation as main perspective.The introduction centers on Danto’s research vision,and briefly describes the development of artistic form and analytical aesthetics of the 20 th century as well as their impact on him,thus to outline the background of his art criticism.Then,the author explores researches on Danto at home and abroad in the form of questions,and on this basis,puts forward main issues discussed in this dissertation.Starting from the methodology of Danto’s art criticism,the first chapter traces the roots of his analytical philosophy and the historical formations given by him.Hence the chapter summarizes his analytical methods as differential analysis integrating the analysis of abstract concepts and of concrete objects.Then the chapter further explores the influence of this methodology on his artistic analysis.There are two effects: one is to continue the research of Danto’s historical philosophy,trying to construct an art narrative history;the other is to consider the artistic connotations of artwork,art theory,art practice,etc.as the product as well as development momentum on the basis of the former.As a result,art,theory and history form an inseparable relationship under his analysis,which also represents the inner working mechanism of the "art world" proposed by him earlier.The second chapter shifts overall perspective to Danto’s analysis of specific artworks.It analyzes contradictions in his specific criticism practice,and his thought development in the process of his correction of the contradictions in terms of differences between his early criticism viewpoint and later criticism mode,The authordeems that such contradictions resulted from his practical experience of criticism.As regards the overall ideological guidance,however,he carried out critical analysis with interpretation as the core,maintaining the consistency of theory.Thus,his contradictions are in essence a different presentation of his views on essentialism and historicism.The third chapter concentrates on Danto’s construction of criticism theory,sketches out his theoretical criticism according to his logical analysis of "interpretation" as well as the operation mechanism of interpretation and other criticism activities The thesis counts that Danto’s understanding of "interpretation" is constantly evolving with his personal aesthetic experience,thus demonstrating inconsistencies in the development of ideas.On the other side,it is mainly due to the concept’s inevitable ambiguity in specific context,which undermines the practicality of his critical theory.