What Is Art? · Question
How does What Is Art? develop the theme of Religious Perception as the Guide for Art?
Answer
What Is Art? by Leo Tolstoy develops Religious Perception as the Guide for Art across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.
The author asserts that true art must be guided by the highest religious perception of its time, which in the modern era is the ideal of universal brotherhood and unity, rather than by doctrines of any particular church.
Tolstoy argues that art transmitting feelings from religious perception has been given special importance, contrasting with modern art that only seeks pleasure.
Tolstoy argues that throughout history, the value of art has been determined by the religious conception of what is good and evil in a society.
He asserts that only art based on religious perception can transmit fresh, new feelings, and that the upper classes' lack of belief has impoverished art's subject-matter.
Evidence in the book
- Chapter V: The Infection Theory of Art
Tolstoy argues that art transmitting feelings from religious perception has been given special importance, contrasting with modern art that only seeks pleasure.
- Chapter VI: The Religious Basis of Art and Its Decline
Tolstoy argues that throughout history, the value of art has been determined by the religious conception of what is good and evil in a society.
- IX
He asserts that only art based on religious perception can transmit fresh, new feelings, and that the upper classes' lack of belief has impoverished art's subject-matter.
- Chapter XVI
Christian religious perception is the ultimate criterion for distinguishing good art from bad.
- XVIII
Tolstoy argues that the religious perception of the age—the union of mankind—must consciously guide art, replacing the false theory of beauty.
- XX: The Conclusion
He insists that art must be guided by the religious perception of the age, which is the consciousness of brotherhood.
