A Political Life
Arendtian Aesthetics and Open Systems
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15021719 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Sue Spaid (Indiana University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2003 |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 93-101 |
| Publication date | 2003-03-01 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Ethics & the Environment (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1085-6633 • E-ISSN: 1535-5306 |
| Publisher | Indiana University Press (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.2979/ete.2003.8.1.93 |
| OpenAlex | W2014646284 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 2 |
Since the 1990s, artists have broken ground by producing works that are "open systems." That is, they are incomplete, participatory, and elastic. In this paper, I will argue that open systems exemplify Hannah Arendt's conception of vita activa, in contrast to art's traditional role as inspiring vita contemplativa. Since they do not explicitly affirm or refute political policies, such works are generally not considered "political" art. However, they accommodate Arendt's notion of the political life, since they incorporate process, durability, pluralities of spectators, and unpredictability. Furthermore, because they do not resemble what ordinarily passes for art, reflective judgment is required to engage them, and to determine whether they are art
Aesthetics · Art · Political science · Politics · Hannah Arendt's Political Philosophy · Law
| Citations per year | 0.05 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2006 - 2006 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |