Art Criticism and Aesthetic
Judgment
Have you ever been so involved in watching a
movie that you react emotionally or feel a part
of the action?
If so, then you have been deeply involved
with a work of art.
• After you see a new movie or TV program you
might recommend it to a friend or tell them
not to waste their time. You are judging the
show and making decisions about why it was
a failure or success.
• You are acting like a critic!
Critics have opinions you might not
agree with.
• Your CRITERIA, or standards of judgment
may be very different from someone else.
• ART CRITICISM is an organized system for
studying a work of art.
• AESTHETICS is the philosophy or study of the
nature of beauty and art.
Criticism is not always negative.
Personal Experience is Important
• When you try on clothes or form an opinion about a
movie, you use your own personal criteria to
determine what suits you.
• One movie (or pair of jeans) might be great for
someone else.
• You make choices based on your personal experiences
and have developed your own criteria.
Art Criticism; Eyes and Brain
• Your own life experiences will help you
understand each work of art.
• NO ONE has done or seen exactly the same
things YOU have, so no one will see exactly
what you see.
What is it? What do you see?
Nancy Graves
4 Easy Steps
• DESCRIPTION- What do I see? Simply collect facts.
• ANALYSIS- How is the work organized?
• INTERPRETATION-What is the artist saying? This is a
guess, what you think.
• JUDGMENT- Is this a successful work of art? Making
your own decisions about the artistic merit of the
work.
Description
Size and medium used. This info will be in the credit line used in museums
and books. Slow down and look at the facts of what is there.
Analysis
• Paying attention to the elements and principles you discover how the
work is organized. What is the style? Realism? Impressionism?
• Shape, line, texture, color, balance, emphasis, unity, movement…
Interpretation
• Explain or tell the meaning or mood of the work. You must dare to be
different. In this step there are no wrong answers.
• You must use your intelligence, imagination and courage.
Judgment
• You determine the degree of artistic merit in this final
step.
• Make up your own mind and be honest with yourself.
• Qualities to consider are the literal, design and
expressive qualities.
• Judging functional objects; looks vs. proper
functioning (furniture, car, cup)