Artistic Intent
Reflective Art | Visceral Art | |
Aesthetic Focus: | Depth of Content | Immediacy of Impact |
Motivation: | Educate/Edify | Entertain |
Perceiver Involvement: | Requires Effort | Easy/Accessible |
Language/Tradition: | [Imported] | Vernacular/Indigenous |
Beyond this, reflective works generally have as a motivation an attempt to educate or edify, require some effort to be appreciated, and, in many cases, derive from an “imported tradition.” Works which are primarily visceral in character emphasize immediacy of impact, attempt to entertain, are characterized by ease and accessibility, and, often, derive from an indigenous cultural tradition. These categories are not hard and fast, and, like aesthetic focus, they are not mutually exclusive. However, understanding this makes it clearer why what is known as “popular” (or visceral) art can survive what economists call the market test and why reflective art should not be expected to do so.