Art ¡¤ Truth Modernity Criticism

"Aesthetic Utopia", as a synonym for art theory of Frankfurt School, although is a quite general description, it actually has been accepted in the sense of mostly widespread. However, the author still thinks that this accepted evaluation is still open to question. Therefore, this paper will try to reexamine the appraisal of "Aesthetic Utopia", and further recognize and clarify the basic nature of art theory of Frankfurt School as its basic subject. The research is carried out in two steps.As the art research of Frankfurt School takes it as its basic starting point which art undertakes the duty of modernity criticism, i.e. they advocate achieving reality criticism and the human salvation by art. But this understanding regarding art and the anticipation for the revolutionary function of art is incompatible with our ordinary thoughts regarding art. Therefore, the opinion of Frankfurt School regarding art is then regarded as an impractical romantic presumption, the appraisal of "Aesthetic Utopia" is precisely derived from this. But in fact, the appraisal established itself by general conviction, i.e. art incapable of undertaking duty of the modernity criticism, is certainly lack of solid foundation, which actually stems from our narrow-minded or even erroneous understanding regarding the nature of art. In order to clarify the appraisal of "Aesthetic Utopia", this article first to analyze the nature of art. Through this kind of analysis, the article attempts to indicate that art is the source of beginning which truth occurs, which is the basic construction of sensuous activity. In the way of the truth nature of art unfolding, the relationship between art and modernity criticism, which is the most important topic and task in our times, is none of Utopia. As a result, the appraisal of "Aesthetic Utopia" is untenable in such a sense.However, if the recognition for the truth nature of art attempts to avoid becoming an empty talk, in other words, if art really becomes the power of truth in reality and resists and disintegrates the governance of modernity effectively, art cannot be separated from its contemporary carriers. But contemporary art practice itself is falling into an unprecedented crisis. This crisis will not only directly be threatening the truth nature of art, making art descent to the vassal, thus as the associated popular cultural phenomenon; simultaneously, through this kind of threat, namely the deprivation of the truth nature of art, it will cause the appraisal of "Aesthetic Utopia" to become reality. Therefore, to analyze the essence of facing crisis of contemporary art practice and to overcoming it effectively, is becoming the key that Frankfurt School could achieve the aim of art research which enables art to take on the mission of truth for opening up a realistic path for human's liberation. At the same time, it is the only way to get rid of the Utopia appraisal. Therefore, after the demonstration and the elaboration of the truth nature of art, this article conducts the critic exploration of Frankfurt School's research on the contemporary art practice. Through this exploration, we found that not only "Aesthetic Utopia" is not a valid evaluation in terms of the starting point of the art theory of Frankfurt School, but also "Aesthetic Utopia" is still inappropriate in terms of the concrete research and claims of contemporary art practice of Frankfurt school. Indeed, a lot of the specific research and ideas are really unsuccessful, we can say that these propositions is a Utopia. However, Adorno is an exception, at least through my own analysis I think it is not utopia that Adorno explored the nature of contemporary art and that contemporary art should adhere to the principle of how art can overcome this crisis and take up the mission of truth, which really is a resolute, profound and far-sighted of the "scientific" study.