John Dewey maintains that artistic experience of creation is not wholly unlike common everyday experience; it is not significantly unique. Dewey at times uses exclusive terms as "human being" and other times tends to painstakingly avoid talking of the subject, of the artist. And yet in still other locations he speaks about non-human animals. "A bird builds its nest and a beaver its dam when internal organic pressures cooperate with external materials so that the former are fulfilled and the latter are transformed in a satisfying culmination. We may hesitate to apply the word 'art,' since we doubt the presence of conscious intent..." He goes on to mention a distinguishing contribution of man (sic).
My question then is this: from what you understand of Dewey's artistic theory, what would be his response to the possibility of non-human art? Would he rule it out? Would he admit the possibility? Would he be certain it exists? Or yet some other answer?
I responded to your question on my blog.
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ReplyDeleteI responded to your question on my blog
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