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In "Aesthetics: Thinking about a Work of Art" we learn that "Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy concerned with the nature and value of art. Physical beauty was once the only criterion for judging the quality of art. Today, artwork is judged by a different set of criteria and instead of being called "beautiful," a good work of art is called "successful."
Some successful works of art may not look pretty, but they may be well-organized, and/or elicit emotional responses from viewers. If a work of art contains strange, disturbing images, yet makes you think, it may be successful."
The three main aesthetic theories of art criticism are commonly referred to as Imitationalism, Formalism, and Emotionalism.
Art can fit under more than one category, and may be art even when it doesn't strike us as being beautiful or have taken skill to make. We can miss exciting art around us if we limit ourselves to our limited perception of what is art.
Imitationalism and Literal Qualities
Some critics think that the most important thing about a work of art is the realistic presentation of subject matter. It is their opinion that a work is successful if it looks like and reminds the viewer of what he or she sees in the real world. People with this point of view feel that an artwork should imitate life, that it should look lifelike before it can be considered successful. This aesthetic theory, called Imitationalism, focuses on realistic representation.
Formalism and Design Qualities
Other critics think that composition is the most important factor in a work of art. This aesthetic theory, called Formalism, places emphasis on the design qualities, the arrangement of the elements of art using the principles of art.
Emotionalism and Expressive Qualities
This theory is concerned with the content of the work of art. Some critics claim that no object can be considered art if it fails to arouse an emotional response in the viewer.
For the entire PDF, please visit Aesthetics: Thinking about a Work of Art at
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