Art History Survey – Final Assignment
The notion of what makes an artwork effective has been a point of discussion since the first painting was made on caves. It is almost impossible to explain what art is, therefore defining what makes an artwork effective or ineffective is a broad subject. Therefore in this paper, I will analyze artworks based on three criteria which include Emotionalism, instrumentalism, and mimetic.
An effective artwork should be able to imitate real life. It should be realistic to an extent where if you see it from far, you can mistake it for a real thing and not just a copy. For instance, in Myron of Eleutherae’s, Diskobolos, we see a man throwing a disc. It is easy to imagine the posture of a man ready to throw a disc, the effort applied, and even the expected distance of throw. The posture of the man looks real enough to imitate. We do not need to think so much to imagine the scene unfolding right in front of us. However, if we consider Erechtheion by Phidias, it is clear that the artwork does not come close to anything real. The artwork was meant to replace shrines and caves but the first impression it gives is that of ruins. The artwork is considered ineffective since from the first impression it does not give the intended meaning.
The instrumentalism of art depends on its context. An effective artwork should be able to speak a message or impact our view towards the world. Good and effective artwork should be able to impact or transform society. Referring to Diskolobos, the artwork draws an intuitive reaction from the instance you see it. It leaves the viewer trying to ask what the artist was trying to say. The artwork shows a masculine and well-crafted youthful athlete swinging the arm backward about to release a disc. These instruments clearly show that the artwork represents an athletic spirit and skills needed for such an endeavor. The artwork is effective because, from just the look of it, a viewer can discern its intention without further research. On the other hand, if we consider Erechtheion, we can say the artwork is ineffective because it doesn’t evoke a single line of thinking. From the first impression, one can think that it is a house under construction or a building being demolished. This is even far away from its intended meaning. Therefore, for an artwork to be effective, it should convey a specific message through the instruments used.
The third criterion is emotionalism. This emphasizes the expressive qualities of an artwork. The interaction between the viewer and the artwork is essential. An effective artwork should be able to arouse feelings from the viewer. Different aspects of artwork captivate different audiences, but regardless of the composition, narrative, or idea, effective artwork should evoke a mood. Diskolobos is an effective artwork because it elicits the mood and spirit of an athlete. By just viewing it, one can feel the athletic spirit inside the artwork. However, Erechtheion is ineffective since it is just a building that looks abandoned and does not elicit any emotion. It is just a dull artwork that can hardly attract the observer or evoke any kind of an idea or emotion.