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Challenging Partial Intentionalism

Maes, Hans R.V. (2008) Challenging Partial Intentionalism. Journal of Visual Art Practice, 7 (1). pp. 85-94. ISSN 1470-2029. (doi:10.1386/jvap.7.1.85_1) (KAR id:31436)

Abstract

Paisley Livingston claims that an artist’s intentions are successfully realized and hence determinate of the meaning of a work if and only if they are compatible and “mesh” with the linguistic and conventional meanings of the text or artefact taken in its target or intended context. I argue that this specific standard of success is not without its difficulties. First, I show how an artist’s intention can sometimes be constitutive of a work’s meaning even if there is no significant meshing between the artist’s intention and his work. Second, I argue against the claim that the artist’s intentions need to be compatible with the linguistic and conventional meanings of a text. Third, I discuss a case that creates a particular puzzle for Livingston since the intentions of the artist concerned are clearly not successfully realized, though they are compatible and mesh with all the relevant data. I conclude my paper by suggesting a solution to this puzzle.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1386/jvap.7.1.85_1
Uncontrolled keywords: intention; interpretation; art; intentionalism
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BH Aesthetics
N Visual Arts > NX Arts in general
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Arts and Humanities > School of Arts
Depositing User: Hans Maes
Date Deposited: 09 Oct 2012 13:00 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:09 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/31436 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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