From The Symbol And The Illusion Of "transfiguration"

Conceived in the logic symbolism of Whitehead, Russell and Cassirer’s human cultural symbolism, flowed into the Croce and Bell’s thought essence, combined with Freud and Jung’s psychological symbolism, Susanne K. Langer is the main representative of symbolism aesthetic. Arguably the aesthetic theory of Langer is mixed with many aesthetes’ thought essence. This article tries to carding the category of symbolism in western aesthetics, on the basis of which studies the inevitability of Langer theory’s generation. Then probe into the theory of Langer to study the relation between symbol and illusion, and point out that illusion is a form of symbol just like a "transformation". Combing with Roland Barthes’s theory of semiotics, I want to point out that illusion and symbol are symbols at the different levels which can refer to interacted generation after the divergence of signifier. Illusion is a kind of symbol, but is a visual perception in the angle of non-material symbol for the viewer. The full text will open five parts for the center of illusion:The introduction provides a brief overview of Susanne K. Langer’s symbolic aesthetic theory, and presents within the theoretical system on the relationship between symbol and illusion of the meaning and value of research. At last, I summarize the domestic and abroad situation about Susanne K. Langer’s study.The first chapter mainly presents Susanne K. Langer’s theory of symbol. Inheriting the relationship as the background, I analyze how Whitehead’s mathematical logic and Cassirer’s theory of human cultural symbolism make profound influences on Susanne K. Langer, on the basis of which comb the definition of symbol in Susanne K. Langer’s theory system.The second chapter mainly presents Susanne K. Langer’s theory of illusion. Under the guidance of the back in history, I discuss how the illusion of Susanne K. Langer take good advantages of others, on the basis of which summarize the connotation of illusion in Susanne K. Langer’s theory system.The third chapter is the core of this paper. On the basis of the first two chapters, I try to explore the relationship between symbol and illusion and point out that illusion is just a changed form of the symbol. They are located in the symbolic level of dislocation. Besides, art symbol can be seen as an intermediary which interconnects artists and recipients. This transformation process shoulder the mission of witness the process of artistic creation from object to illusion. From symbol to illusion, detached aesthetic psychological mechanism presents. And from collision to ablation, symbol and illusion releases their tension.The fourth chapter combines the specific type of art to explore the aesthetic value and practical significance of illusion. Firstly combined with Popper’s theory of "three world", I put forward a vision that illusion creates a "third world", which connects disrupt of two aesthetic extremes and bridges many opposed theory. Secondly integrated the specific works of art, I probe the realistic significance of illusion.