Emotional Formalism Jarrett Earnest jarrett@bhqfu.org 34 Ave. A, 3rd Fl. NY NY Wednesdays, 7-9pm class site: emotionalformalism@tumblr.com submit to tumblr: jum86qswxd2rp@tumblr.com What is important now is to recover our senses. We must learn to see more, hear more, feel more. [...] The aim of all commentary on art now should be to make works of art —and by analogy, our own experience—more, rather than less, real to us. The function of criticism should be to show how it is what it is, even that it is what it is, rather than to show what it means. — Susan Sontag, Against Interpretation (1964) Emotional Formalism will focus on how the formal elements of visual art (at its most basic: color, line, shape, texture, material, scale, etc.) combine to create gestures, compositions, images, and objects. We will bridge the conventional gap between "Form" and "Content" with the belief that formal language transmits, directly and indirectly, the art's intention: its human content, emotional charge, psychological state, philosophical message, and political statement. Through readings and class discussion participants will develop a piece of writing to be gathered into our class book, The Emotional Formalism Reader. Week 1 - September 9th — From Visible to Invisible, and Back Again reading: Dave Hickey "Formalism" Andrea Fraiser "Why Does Fred Sandback Make me Cry?" Week 2 - September 16th — "Heads it's Form, Tales it's Not Content" reading: excerpts Thomas McEvilley Art & Discontent Week 3 - September 23rd — "Feelings Are Not Facts" guest: Peter Schjeldahl reading: selection of Peter Schjeldahl's criticism Week 4 - September 30th — Sex, Death, Cubism reading: Leo Steinberg "The Philosophical Brothel" assignment: look at Pablo Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (1907) and the exhibition "Picasso Sculpture" at the Museum of Modern Art. Week 5 - October 9th — Field Trip: Materials and Meanings* guest: Matvey Levenstein at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. *meet at the Metropolitan Museum Friday October 9th Week 6 - October 14th — Class Presentations Week 7 - October 21st — Class Presentations