Forms and Content, Take 2:
Noël Carroll, “The Specificity Thesis”
Noël Carroll’s essay, “The Specificity Thesis”, works to address the flaws in the idea that each art form has one subject matter that it alone is best suited to represent and express. Early on in the essay Carroll explains how the theories on art changed from pre-Enlightenment, during which theorists often analyzed different art forms based on the form of their subject, and how during the eighteenth century art theorists shifted their thinking to what made each art form unique. Although theorists such as Lessing and Arnheim differ in opinion in terms of what aspect of art they focus their attention on, both men want to “establish a special domain for each medium” (279). That …show more content…
That being said, each of the authors approaches this idea from a different perspective. For example, Postman looks closely at the different forms of media that have existed throughout history and how they have evolved to express different content. Postman uses clocks, glasses, as well as the news media, to address how people’s creations have drastically changed society’s values in such a way that people are indifferent to the fact that in many ways they value entertainment over truth, and perfection over uniqueness and flaws. Postman’s argument is intriguing because it still applies to the world today, even though it was written roughly 20 years ago. The world has become increasingly self-absorbed and intent on being entertained, despite the harsh realities that many people live in. For example, if one were to look at the current presidential election and how it is portrayed by the news, it would be quite apparent that the divide between entertainment and serious news remains unclear. McLuhan would agree with much of this, given that during his interview he focuses on how people have become numb to the changes that are occurring and that the world has become a place where people are not necessarily closer or more connected, but that they have a …show more content…
Carroll’s entire essay is addressing the specificity thesis and the ideologies that have been used to segment art and what different forms are capable of expressing. One of his main points that digresses from what McLuhan and Postman would believe is that it is a simple accident when a new medium is formed. The other two authors, especially Postman, would disagree because they believe that people are responsible for the mediums that come into play in society and that by inventing new forms of expression, people are continuing to shift cultural values. Carroll seems to remove people from the equation when he examines how mediums, specifically art mediums, affect culture. In this case, McLuhan and Postman present a more reasonable analysis because without people to use and create mediums, they would not have a purpose and would likely cease to exist. That being said, Carroll’s idea that mediums evolve from their original purpose to be able to do more than what was intended is something that Postman would agree with. This idea applies to the invention of glasses, which Postman says changed how people viewed physical imperfections and their power to change them, an outcome that was not necessarily intended. Additionally, the point that Carroll makes about how a fully formed art medium can exist even if a part of it is redundant is one that
Noël Carroll, “The Specificity Thesis”
Noël Carroll’s essay, “The Specificity Thesis”, works to address the flaws in the idea that each art form has one subject matter that it alone is best suited to represent and express. Early on in the essay Carroll explains how the theories on art changed from pre-Enlightenment, during which theorists often analyzed different art forms based on the form of their subject, and how during the eighteenth century art theorists shifted their thinking to what made each art form unique. Although theorists such as Lessing and Arnheim differ in opinion in terms of what aspect of art they focus their attention on, both men want to “establish a special domain for each medium” (279). That …show more content…
That being said, each of the authors approaches this idea from a different perspective. For example, Postman looks closely at the different forms of media that have existed throughout history and how they have evolved to express different content. Postman uses clocks, glasses, as well as the news media, to address how people’s creations have drastically changed society’s values in such a way that people are indifferent to the fact that in many ways they value entertainment over truth, and perfection over uniqueness and flaws. Postman’s argument is intriguing because it still applies to the world today, even though it was written roughly 20 years ago. The world has become increasingly self-absorbed and intent on being entertained, despite the harsh realities that many people live in. For example, if one were to look at the current presidential election and how it is portrayed by the news, it would be quite apparent that the divide between entertainment and serious news remains unclear. McLuhan would agree with much of this, given that during his interview he focuses on how people have become numb to the changes that are occurring and that the world has become a place where people are not necessarily closer or more connected, but that they have a …show more content…
Carroll’s entire essay is addressing the specificity thesis and the ideologies that have been used to segment art and what different forms are capable of expressing. One of his main points that digresses from what McLuhan and Postman would believe is that it is a simple accident when a new medium is formed. The other two authors, especially Postman, would disagree because they believe that people are responsible for the mediums that come into play in society and that by inventing new forms of expression, people are continuing to shift cultural values. Carroll seems to remove people from the equation when he examines how mediums, specifically art mediums, affect culture. In this case, McLuhan and Postman present a more reasonable analysis because without people to use and create mediums, they would not have a purpose and would likely cease to exist. That being said, Carroll’s idea that mediums evolve from their original purpose to be able to do more than what was intended is something that Postman would agree with. This idea applies to the invention of glasses, which Postman says changed how people viewed physical imperfections and their power to change them, an outcome that was not necessarily intended. Additionally, the point that Carroll makes about how a fully formed art medium can exist even if a part of it is redundant is one that