Ashley Fortier

AMT/PHL 254
Marjorie Hall Marjorie Hall Marjorie Hall Marjorie Hall Marjorie Hall Marjorie Hall Marjorie
11/30/16
Term Paper: First Draft
Art as Experience

Art has been explained in many ways and by many people, but when we examine art

and our interactions with it, they can almost always be described as an experience. Whether it

is in a gallery, in a theatre, or at a concert hall, we become enveloped by the art. In all forms

from pottery, to paintings, to opera, art has the capacity to engage us in a way that is both

related to and more enhanced than the everyday. With an understanding of these

characteristics of art, the question of how art creates these experiences comes to the forefront.

Through an investigative experiment of live music, I intend to answer this question with the

help of those philosophers that have come before me.

One of the first philosophers to talk about art as experience was the pragmatist, John

Dewey. As a pragmatist, Dewey believed in certain qualities relating to art, like the idea that

art and life are not separate entities. He believed that our aesthetic experiences with art are

directly tied to our natural experience from everyday life. Dewey later in his piece outlines the

specifics of what he considers the qualities of an aesthetic experience, they include:

1. The experience has a sense of going somewhere

(The art experience has a sense of moving or developing. Although it may not be clear

in the moment the purpose or the goal of the experience, it will at some point reach its

completion)

2. The experience plays out over time

 (it may have begun as a piece or a thought or idea, that felt incomplete but will some

day feel complete-another characteristic as stated in his theory)

3. We are left with a sense of fulfillment

(Whatever the experience may be, it makes us feel a sense of completion because it has

happened and developed over time, and has had this sense of movement or forward

motion toward a larger goal; aesthetic experience)

4. The experience has a sense of unity

(The experience has lead to a sense of connection between our everyday and the

aesthetic. It was profound in some way or was a more enhanced than what we feel in

our ordinary life)

5. The experience engages our intellect, and satisfies the emotions

(The experience has gone beyond our emotional need for satisfaction and has

connected to the intellect of our being in some way, because both our intellect and our

emotional being are connected through our physical body.) 1

Another philosopher that speaks a lot about experience and believes that art is much

more than just something to look at passively, is Hans-Georg Gadamer. One of the most

profound things he notes in his text Truth and Method is The fact that through a work of art a

truth is experienced that we cannot attain in any other way constitutes the philosophic

importance of art, which asserts itself against all attempts to rationalize it away2 This implies

1 John Dewey, Art as experience (New York: Minton, Balch & Company, 1934)
2 Hans-Georg Gadamer, Truth and method (New York: Seabury Press, 1975), xxi.
that even when people try to make an argument for judgments or purpose of art being

something unbiased or unemotional, they cannot be found valid.

He goes on to say The experience of the work of art always fundamentally surpasses any

interpretation, whether that of the artist or of the recipient.3 This means that by experiencing

a work of art, we are having a more meaningful experience that he describes as entering into a

relationship with the work of art.

To engage this theory of connections between everyday life and the aesthetic

experience as outlined by Dewey, I conducted an experiment of hoping to create one of these

experiences. I bought a ticket to a live music event of three bands I had never listened to before

in search of a connection to my everyday. This connection had to go deeper than just

enjoyment of the music and the experience, but had to follow the outlines set out by Dewey. I

was also hoping to find a connection to emotion in this experience. I had to go in with a

completely open mind but also focusing on my feelings, the connections I felt throughout the

performance, what made me feel that way specifically throughout the experience, and overall

did this fit the criteria of an experience as explained by Dewey. After reflecting on the live

music event, I do believe I had an aesthetic experience, even though it does not fit exactly into

the ideas of Dewey.

I was able to experience not just one band, but three bands, for the first time

performing live. The three bands were: KAYE, 888, and The Moth & The Flame. All three of the

bands could be categorized into the genre of indie pop/rock. They all had their own unique

qualities and brought me an overall feeling of joy. I believe that the first characteristic of

3 Hans-Georg Gadamer, Truth and method (New York: Seabury Press, 1975), xxxiii.
Deweys experiences of an experience having a sense of going some where was something I

could definitely feel throughout the show. I had an ever-growing feeling of happiness, and

excitement throughout each set, that only increased throughout the night. Some of the pieces

brought me to feelings I had not known I needed to express. These pieces gave me words or

lyrics that helped me process feelings I had felt before but had not been able to put into words.

This relates to the idea presented by the philosopher, R.G. Collingwood who was thought of as

an expressionist. He says If a poet expresses, for example, a certain kind of fear, the only

hearers who can understand him are those who are capable of experiencing that kind of fear

themselves. Hence, when someone reads and understands a poem, he is not merely

understanding the poets expression of his, the poets emotions, he is expressing emotions of

his own in the poets words4. Although it is key that the audience feels those emotions, they

do not have to present themselves at that moment. This relates back to what Dewey has said

about things playing out over time and how at some point we will be left with a sense of

completion. I think it is also an interesting way to think about finding that unity between the

aesthetic and our lives. We can find those ties between our daily lives and the emotions we

encounter and the resolution we find in the art we experience. This accurately captures the

connection and relationship I developed with the music I heard and most especially with the

lyrics.

One of the most profound moments of the evening came during the first opener, a

female lead band, KAYE. The overall sound of the group is indie with a lot of interesting and

retro beats and sounds intertwined with catchy and meaningful melodies. All of this is married

4 R. G. Collingwood, The principles of art (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1938), 116.

nicely with lyrics that tell a very relatable story and a vocalist who can portray and perform

them effortlessly. Immediately before preforming her song A million years, Kaye said to the

crowd that this song was about feeling isolated but also feeling a really strong connection that

will be fulfilled in the future. I was astounded by this thought as I reflected on my purpose for

being at the concert. This concept is a beautifully articulated parallel to having a Deweian

experience. The song does not disappoint as it brings about feelings of nostalgia for something

that has yet to happen. One of the most powerful lyrics of the song, comes from the chorus

when she sings And times the only lonely curtain in between5. This lyric depicts the veil

between what we are feeling and the resolution to that feeling. It drives home this almost

helpless and hopeless idea of needing an end to this feeling of longing but it being just a bit out

of touch. Kaye is a very dynamic performer and through her motions and talents, was able

engulf me in the message of this song. It was a combination of lyricism, environmental factors,

and an open mind that lead me to this overwhelming feelings.

The next band, 888, a three-person band of all boys, has a little bit of an edgier sound.

With a clear influence of rock, the indie band blends the two styles together with a lot of synth

and a lot of bass. They took the sense of engulfing the audience with the music and imagery a

step further during their performance. While their songs were interesting and enjoyable, it was

actually the instruments that drew my attention during their set. They each played with

incredible dynamics. During the final song of their set, they each came down into the crowd,

one by one, with single drums and played while a back track continued to create an

atmospheric affect. They physically placed us in the music and made us apart of the

5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8_F2Nv4LZQ
performance. It was something that really intrigued me and was a moment where I truly

engaged with the piece of music and was able to reflect on my feelings in that moment. The

backtrack was made up of various whistle like sounds that gave a bouncing and joyous feel,

that was in contrast to the passionate yet simple drumming of the band. It felt like a bit of

catharsis, as if something great was happening or coming soon. Something that would help me

feel that completeness we look for in a Deweian experience.

The final and main act of the evening, The Moth & The Flame, to my excitement

provided that feeling of completeness although it wasnt until later that evening that it truly

overcame me. The song I connected with the most was called Live While I Breathe. It is a

song about overcoming challenges, and fighting back. The lyrics that stand out to me the most

from this piece are Im chasing a ghost, a feeling thats haunted me for years, every time I get

close its gone6. This stands out to me as I compare it to the lyrics from Kaye because its about

chasing a feeling but every time you are about to reach it, it goes away. As if, you are not aware

of what the feeling is or why it disappears so suddenly. In the piece by Kaye, the message is

that you are aware of the feeling (and that you could almost name it), but also aware that there

is time or space in between you and the resolution to the feeling. It provides two sides of this

very similar message, one of awareness, and the other of curiosity and bewilderment. While I

didnt recognize at first that I needed this song, my emotions were undeniable during this

performance. Upon further reflection of my experience, I have come to realize that I have been

draw to the same type of songs from each band. Especially in the pieces by Kaye and The Moth

6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJAntPiPLrE
& The Flame, I feel drawn to songs that describe this feeling of something more waiting. Both

of the songs describe a longing for resolution in a specific feeling. They put you into the

emotions and the story and made me realize this truth about myself as described by Gadamer.

This kind of information and self-realization has left me feeling even more complete than I did

leaving the concert. With the understanding of my own ties and attractions to music, is is

easier to get to the resolution I am often unintentionally searching for in a piece of art and

especially in a piece of music. The lead singer provided an excellent performance that

overflowed with passion for the music that only created a stronger connection. Recently I have

faced many adversities and struggled to overcome them, having a lack of motivation. Through

this song, I found that motivation. The constant pounding of the drums and underlying tempo

that feels like a march, I felt a call to do those things I didnt think I could do.

This experience was one that built throughout the concert and continued to unravel for

weeks to come. From the moment that the first band hit the stage, it was clear that being in

the presence of live music was going to have a profound impact on me. It was not just about

the music or the lyrics but also about the environment and sense of community that I could feel

all around me. The music and incredible talent of the groups impressed me and I found myself

enchanted by the sound of the drums or the interesting sounds and beats that had been

premixed to be played over. I think the most impactful piece about the music as the lyrics and

the way they were performed. I believe that lyrics are just a story set to a melody, but when

they are performed for you to experience, they come alive. They take on a whole new meaning

and for this being my first interaction with any of them, it was a really powerful one. At the end

of the night, I had the opportunity to speak with Kaye, and the members of The Moth & The
Flame to explain to them what I had done. It was important for me to take these people

outside of the idea, and place them into some state of reality so that in my analysis I would not

idealize them. They both were so humble in their work and they were encouraged by my

authentic first reaction to their music. This only furthered my experience and I believe that it

created a more meaningful tie to the experiment because of the sense of fulfillment I felt.

The overall outcome of my experiment was so much more than I could have ever

imagined. I have often felt a longing for a greater moment or that in class discussions I am one

step closer to a profound or aesthetic experience, and I believe I truly achieved one of those

moments through this experience. It was extraordinary to come face to face with emotions

and connection for the first time in a live environment, but it led me to discover, the energy of

others, the overall tone of the music, and for me personally the bass of a musical performance,

hold the most significance. The music of the night created an atmosphere that engaged my

mind and imagination so that I may reflect on my recent endeavors and the path I am on. It

brought meaning and definition to feelings, and clarified my perspective on my life. These

artist and aesthetic experiences allow for self-discovery and acknowledgement in a way I have

not know before. The value of an aesthetic experience by the terms of Dewey, are priceless.
 Work Cited

Work Cited (to be completed in Chicago Format)

Collingwood, R. G. The principles of art. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1938.

Dewey, John. Art as experience. New York: Minton, Balch & Company, 1934.

Gadamer, Hans-Georg. Truth and method. New York: Seabury Press, 1975.

Musical Links:

KAYE LINK
A Million Years-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8_F2Nv4LZQ

The Moth & The Flame LINK

Live While I Breathe-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJAntPiPLrEHume

Also include a contrast to Kant (connections to emotion and bias/no connection at all)

Collingwood