Art as experience: John Dewey's philosophical framework

¶ … Art as Experience" by John Dewey

The Function of Aesthetics in John Dewey's "Art as Experience"

In the book, "Art as Experience," author John Dewey offers an alternative method through which aesthetic or esthetic theory can be discussed and thoroughly explained. In the midst of art studies dealing with the theme "art for art's sake," Dewey argues in his book how a gradual deviation from this popular maxim will provide art theorists, critics, and even artists themselves create a proper perspective in which works of art can be viewed and discussed for what they really are -- that is, products and artifacts of human culture.

Indeed, art as a functional object for human culture becomes the central theme of the "Art as Experience." The author puts much emphasis on the distinction between fine art that is 'mystified' and functional: the former is the product of the humanity's putting a large premium on the object rather than experience, while the latter puts experience as the primary factor towards its creation and the objects as a means only to an end (which, ultimately, is human expression). Art becomes a human product that is autonomous to human society, an effect of what Dewey explicates as a 'separation' "from both conditions of origin and operation in experience, a wall is built around them that renders almost opaque their general significance ... Art is remitted to a separate realm, where it is cut off from that association with the materials and aims of every other form of human effort, undergoing, and achievement" (3).

The preceding passage becomes the primary message that the book puts forth. In some way, Dewey offers a critical point-of-view about the process of mystification of works of art, in the same manner that critical theorist John Berger has elucidated on the process of mystification that becomes an inevitable result of the prevalence of a capitalist economic system. In Berger's thesis, works of art are elevated to a status that goes beyond human understanding and experience, a product of the process of mystification. This process makes works of art available only to those who are able to 'understand' and possess or own these man-made objects and artifacts, thus rendering it unavailable and not understandable to the very people in which this work of art was based upon and created for.

This should not be the case, the book argues. As each chapter progresses, the author develops his argument about how art is initially and primarily functional rather than pure aesthetics. For him, "[a]rt denotes a process of doing or making," and works of art are but a manifestation of human experience from a particular period in time. He further defines art as " ... something with some physical material ... And with a view to production of something visible, audible, or tangible" (47). Works of art are not alien forms of human production and expression, but are subjective interpretations of an individual-creator experiencing a unique experience in a particular moment in time. In effect, Dewey tries to make sense of the reality that art should be a familiar concept to all of us humans, and not an autonomous one, leaving art theorists and critics at a loss for words to further describe the motivation, reason, or simply describe the process of creation embedded within a particular work of art.

The functional nature of art is manifested if put in the proper context. That is, a work of art or any material or object that is man-made is given function if one can identify and trace the origin and purpose of its production. In his Parthenon example, Dewey makes clear that this famous work of art is more than a symbol of a great civilization in early human history. Further, the Parthenon is a product of early Athenian society, a product of human thinking at the time combined with the social, economic, and political forces that inevitably affects human life. From this example, function and its meaning in the book becomes clear: every art object is made with a purpose and function. Embedded in its purpose and function is the unique experience of its human creator(s) (231).

Evidently, Dewey's framework differs radically from the now prevalent concept of postmodernism. However, looking at his arguments in the book, there is evidence of postmodernism in his assertion that art is a product of human experience. But instead of making this 'product of human experience' indiscernible, Dewey explains it, makes this human experience manifest and understandable. In effect, Dewey 'demystifies' works of art, gives them a new role in humanity's life, and re-joins them (art objects and materials) to its creators -- human society.