Comments on: The Thinker’s Job http://micahtillman.com/2008/03/21/the-thinkers-job/ Philosophy, Politics, Religion, Etc. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:55:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: jeffsdeepthoughts http://micahtillman.com/2008/03/21/the-thinkers-job/#comment-1920 jeffsdeepthoughts Sat, 22 Mar 2008 20:21:05 +0000 http://micahtillman.com/2008/03/21/the-thinkers-job/#comment-1920 I'm wondering whether the definition posited for thinkers might not also serve for artists. The truth which artists seek to express might be less propositional in nature, and the medium they are working in is a more important part of the message itself. In terms of the window analogy, the artist is a little more focused perhaps an fashioning a good window. The thinker is perhaps a little more focused on what is actually being viewed. This view, I think, accounts for Tim's rather interesting point that many artists (particularly in the last hundred or so years) are not interested in beauty per se. I’m wondering whether the definition posited for thinkers might not also serve for artists. The truth which artists seek to express might be less propositional in nature, and the medium they are working in is a more important part of the message itself.
In terms of the window analogy, the artist is a little more focused perhaps an fashioning a good window. The thinker is perhaps a little more focused on what is actually being viewed.
This view, I think, accounts for Tim’s rather interesting point that many artists (particularly in the last hundred or so years) are not interested in beauty per se.

]]> By: Tim http://micahtillman.com/2008/03/21/the-thinkers-job/#comment-1917 Tim Sat, 22 Mar 2008 02:14:07 +0000 http://micahtillman.com/2008/03/21/the-thinkers-job/#comment-1917 I know this isn't about your current topic but you referenced your earlier post about the Artist and since I wasn't lucid enough at the time to comment to that post, I'm commenting to this one. I disagree with you. To state that the Artist's job is to "discover where beauty is happening and then capture it" is to severely over simplify all that an Artist is capable of doing. Many Artists have drawn attention to significant problems or evils by creating ugliness. However, many aesthetically ugly objects are intrinsically beautiful because of attributes they possess outside of their appearance. The death of Christ on the cross was hideous visually but it is the most beautiful Thing that has ever existed other than the person on God himself. I have no answer to the question of what the job of the Artist is, but I'm certain it is far broader than the discovery and presentation of beauty. We'd be more than happy to put you and the Wife up for a week or so if you'd like to visit with us this summer to discuss. :) I know this isn’t about your current topic but you referenced your earlier post about the Artist and since I wasn’t lucid enough at the time to comment to that post, I’m commenting to this one.

I disagree with you. To state that the Artist’s job is to “discover where beauty is happening and then capture it” is to severely over simplify all that an Artist is capable of doing. Many Artists have drawn attention to significant problems or evils by creating ugliness.

However, many aesthetically ugly objects are intrinsically beautiful because of attributes they possess outside of their appearance. The death of Christ on the cross was hideous visually but it is the most beautiful Thing that has ever existed other than the person on God himself.

I have no answer to the question of what the job of the Artist is, but I’m certain it is far broader than the discovery and presentation of beauty. We’d be more than happy to put you and the Wife up for a week or so if you’d like to visit with us this summer to discuss. :)

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