The space in which one looks or examines (the gaze) is philosophically very different from the space in which one sees. The space in which we see is always a represented space. Composers often think that audiences will or should be in the same space they inhabit. The pure gaze is inseparable from the existence of an autonomous artistic field. Access to works of art cannot be defined solely in terms of physical accessibility, since works of art exist with the presence of those who have the means of understanding them.
Comprehension involves a decoding operation, which in itself is a form of cultural capital. The role of the educational system is important in this respect for establishing the ability to decipher and derive meaning from the codes.
1 comment:
I'm curious. Is this another way of saying that art is relative to the one who experiences it? In other words, how must a composer approach this type of inevitable autonomy? Has he no control of this "space"?
BTW, I enjoyed reading your blog.
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