The Relationship between Greenberg’s Art Theory _2

The Final Exit to reach for the Art

 

3. Limits of Greenberg’s art theory

  

Immanuel Kant & His Tombstone

 

Even though Greenberg was the most influential art critic in
modern era his theory of art was challenged by many other artists,
art historians, and art critics. I would like to point out two problems
with his theory of art.

Greenberg in his article “Towards a Newer Laocoon,”insists
the autonomy art is separated from all social, political aspects for
purity, pure art form. However, I am dubious as to whether this is
possible. I think art reflects a certain meaning or circumstances in
any rate related to society at the time, because art works are the
product of society. And as he insists on the autonomy of art he
denies all contents and meanings of art - any story telling, theatricality
by using Kant’s theory. It seems to me that this is problematic
and that he applies Kant’s theory in an incorrect manner. Kant

admits art work has some contents and meaning in it. For this matter
Greenberg separates the theme of art from the meaning.
According to Greenberg art could exist without the theme though
the content and meaning in it. This is somewhat ambiguous to me.
And I believe this is ironic as he denies the masses, in other words
the general public, even though his theory is based on the socialist
concept. As previously mentioned he was disappointed with the
reaction of the masses during the socialist movement around the
1930s.

The other problem is that Greenberg changes his attitude to
support bourgeois for which in return, he got some financial support
from them. I can understand that it is his decision to maintain
avant-garde art and culture during a period when avant-garde
artists were severely suffering from their financial hardship, but
my point is that avant-garde artists could get other positions such
as teacher, worker, etc. to solve their economic problem. In Asia,
elites such as scholars and scholar officials create art as an
extracurricular activity. They do not wish to make money for their
artistic activity to maintain the purity in art.

Even though Greenberg’s art theory has some weak points,

his idea is meaningful and valuable, and by criticizing his idea of
art we could move to post-modern era in the history of art.

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