Introduction
This paper focuses on an in-depth and comprehensive analysis of Martin Gardner’s theory of objectivism in art. The document lists the main aspects of Gardner’s ideas, their strengths and weaknesses, the student’s opinion, and an example related to the theory. The information presented will help readers better understand the concept’s basic meaning, evaluate it, and draw certain conclusions about its importance for art in general.
Martin Gardner’s Argument
According to Martin Gardner’s ideas, people share the exact human nature and needs in the context of aesthetic aspects. In this case, art serves human cognitive needs, allowing people to comprehend concepts as perceptions (Vaughn, 2021). In brief, objects that most people like have objective aesthetic value. In my opinion, Gardner is only partly correct, and aesthetic pleasure is mainly connected with the basic attitudes inherent in each individual. Practice shows that people like things they are already familiar with.
Nevertheless, not all popular art is valuable, and not every true masterpiece can be appreciated. Much depends on a person’s aesthetic taste, the development of which is influenced by many factors. Art historians and critics can also promote artists whose paintings have mediocre ideas.
On the contrary, true masterpieces may remain in the shadows for a specific period. For example, world-famous artists like Van Gogh or Paul Gauguin lived and died in poverty, and their paintings went unrecognized for a long time (Nguyen, 2023). However, this fact did not mean that their images were useless to humanity and not aesthetically significant.
Explaining Gardner’s Theory
With Vaughn’s textbook, it seems possible to explain the following critical elements of Gardner’s theory. The book presents comments by Martin Gardner and claims that people “share a common human nature, with common needs, and if they can be ranked (albeit crudely) in their capacity for responding to art, we have a basis for believing in some universal standards” (Vaughn, 2021). Thus, Gardner’s theory explains the essence of aesthetics, its fundamental principles, and concepts.
Strengths
Martin Gardner’s theory offers an entirely new, fresh perspective on works of art, combining several humanities such as biology, psychology, sociology, history, philosophy, and more. For instance, he says that the Sistine Chapel is undoubtedly one of the best works of art because it reflects the emotions and feelings of most people, unlike a picture painted in 10 minutes (Vaughn, 2021). The author explains his thoughts in detail and thoroughly, backing them up with examples and evaluating them. Furthermore, he provides an explicit criterion for assessing the significance of a work.
Weaknesses
On the other hand, the author’s words lack a clear argument supported by scientific facts or statistical data. He expresses a subjective view of certain things, relying primarily on his observations, opinions, perceptions, and intuition. The theory is relevant in applying old works of art and trends, but utterly useless concerning the evaluation of modern art. Only time will show the suitability of this theory, but for now, it is unreliable and unstable.
An Example
J. D. Salinger’s world-famous book The Catcher in the Rye is an example that reflects the theory. Gardner’s theory classifies this piece of writing as a work of art because it has become a classic and passed the “test of time.” It is taught in schools, recalled in literary circles, newspapers, and magazines, and often quoted. Many people like the book for its funny moments and simplicity of language. Simply put, it is accessible to a broad audience for understanding, yet it makes profound sense, and the idea behind it runs like a red thread through the ages, as it reflects human nature and essence.
Conclusion
Martin Gardner explains a particular view of the works of writers, artists, musicians, and other artists regarding their importance to society. The author believes that the more people like their work, the more valuable it is. This statement has a certain amount of truth, but on the other hand, these words need to be thoroughly confirmed through additional research and tested over time.
References
Nguyen, S. (2023). Top 7 famous artists who have died poor. 1st-art-gallery.com. Web.
Vaughn, L. (2021). Philosophy here and now: Powerful ideas in everyday life (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.