Analyze Susanne K. Langer’s View on Art
Introduction
Susanne K. Langer, an American philosopher, made significant contributions to the philosophy of art with her theory that art is a symbolic form of expression. Her ideas offered a shift from the traditional focus on imitation or emotional expression to art as a mode of understanding and communicating human experience through symbols.
Art as Symbolic Form
Langer viewed art as a non-discursive symbolic system, different from language but equally capable of conveying meaning. While language is used to communicate specific, linear thoughts, art communicates the feeling or the form of life. This symbolic nature allows art to express complex emotional and experiential realities that language often fails to capture.
Expression of Feeling
According to Langer, the function of art is not to arouse emotion but to present the form of feeling. A painting, musical composition, or dance does not simply replicate emotions; it symbolizes them in an abstract, perceivable way that can be universally understood.
Importance of Structure
Langer emphasized the role of form and structure in art, as these elements are what shape the symbolic meaning. The coherence and unity in a work of art mirror the structure of emotions and life itself.
Conclusion
Susanne Langer’s view redefined art as a vital symbolic activity through which we understand and express human emotions, not through direct imitation, but through abstract, structured representation.