17.140 metaphors for art

From: Humanist Discussion Group (by way of Willard McCarty willard.mccarty@kcl.ac.uk)
Date: Tue Jul 08 2003 - 01:41:06 EDT

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                   Humanist Discussion Group, Vol. 17, No. 140.
           Centre for Computing in the Humanities, King's College London
                       www.kcl.ac.uk/humanities/cch/humanist/
                         Submit to: humanist@princeton.edu

             Date: Tue, 08 Jul 2003 06:38:10 +0100
             From: rddescha <rddescha@dal.ca>
             Subject: RE: 17.133 the hammer of art (or computing, for that matter)

    For interest sake:

    Another contender to the art as mirror metaphor is Margaret Atwood's
    _Survival_ who contends that art is not only a mirror, but a map.

    Perhaps it could be useful to catalog these metaphors here?

    Mirror: art as an (imperfect/ultimately distorted) reflection of life; with
    the distinct advantage of allowing the viewer to see behind him/herself. (cf.
       Plato's "illusion").

    Hammer: art as a tool with which to access a reflection of life, suggesting a
    more interactive role for the viewer (as well as the artist).

    Map: art as an orientation device -- not the real world, but representative
    enough that a viewer can use it to "find one's way around" real life.

    Any other significant metaphors for art?

    Ryan. . .

    Ryan Deschamps

    MLIS/MPA Candidate -- Faculty of Management, Dalhousie University



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