Art, Truth, and the American Way

Art, Literature and Philosophy tend to work hand in hand. While this communion was clearer in centuries before the advent of television, film, and radio, we still see this marriage today. Contemporary mass media is presented as an objective information source, but it finds it’s true desire is to serve up a new art and an audio/video literature. Art’s purpose and perspective has shifted over the course of time with the changes to what source people go to find truth. Initially, art’s desire was to present reality (Realism) both in history and present day. This reality was fixed in the understanding that we could know truth both historically and presently. The renaissance shook the foundations of truth and questioned all that can be questioned. People began to question what is really true and how we could attain knowledge. During this renaissance period the source of truth shifted from the church and God to science and reason. Once science was challenged and tapped dry and seen as unable to hold infallibly true, the Romantics searched for truth in intuition. They quickly learned that without a God or at least a basic metaphysical understanding, we have no reason to trust our intuition. Quickly truth became less of something to be sought, and more of something to be created. Art walking hand in hand with these shifts had previously desired to present some form of truth, but now sought to present perception. The realism of the renaissance died out and the mysticism of the Romantics was ushered into art. As mystic/romantic ideas dwindled, impressionism became the art form. Impressionism sought to present the artist’s impression of reality rather than reality itself. The artist was not bound by what is real or true, but only what he/she perceived to be real or true. Again, the foundation of truth was shaken by Kant’s and Hegel’s questioning of perception. They asked if we could even have a right perception of reality since we are biased and are always looking from our own particular perspective (for a discussion of this, see my post on ‘knowing’ parts 1-5). Sliding once again down the slippery slope, we find an anthropocentric truth where symbolism arose. Symbolism “combined the Romantic preoccupation with emotion with an emphasis on sensory perception” (Grasping For The Wind, Whitehead). Symbolism was focused on experience and perception. Drugs, alcohol and sex became useful tools to understanding. Why? Because reality was not found outside one’s self, but inside one’s self. As we manipulate our perceptions, emotions and experiences, according to this thinking we are manipulating truth as well. We find similar tendencies of Impressionism to be true today. TV, radio, and film (today’s art and literature) is not focused as much upon truth in reality, but truth inside ourselves. We focus more one what we see to be true. We have seen a much quicker changing of the guard in century, though. The 50’s focus on the good and the true had a sense of realism. The 60’s and 70’s ushered in a mystic/romantic grasp for truth. 80’s and 90’s more bland desire to find truth in one’s self (if it’s true for you…). We find humor and truth in that which we experience. My question is this: will we/have we seen a change toward symbolism where we forsake even trying to describe reality, but simply live for the experience of today? Do you think American culture will cease trying to seek truth, morality, and realism and simply “feel”? I have to say, it seems to be the trend of postmodernism to do such a thing. Such advertising slogans in media as “feed your crave”, and “it just feels good” have been pervasive. But I am interested in what you think. Please post any comments.