| Author |
Tolstoy, Leo, graf, 1828-1910 |
| Translator |
Maude, Aylmer, 1858-1938 |
| Title |
What Is Art?
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| Note |
Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_Is_Art%3F
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| Note |
Translation of: Что такое искусство? (Chto takoe iskusstvo?)
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| Note |
Reading ease score: 51.7 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read.
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| Credits |
Tim Lindell, David King, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Archives.)
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| Summary |
"What Is Art?" by Leo Tolstoy is a philosophical treatise that wrestles with the meaning and value of art, written in the late 19th century. In this work, Tolstoy examines how art functions within society, particularly its moral implications, and questions whether it serves the true emotional and spiritual needs of mankind. The text probes the distinctions between various forms of art and discusses the role that art should play in our lives, aiming to characterize art as a human activity that impacts communal feelings and ethical progress. At the start of the book, Tolstoy raises significant questions regarding the nature and purpose of art, arguing that much of what is traditionally accepted as art may be superficial or harmful. He reflects on his personal experiences and observations of the art world, including a poignant critique of the artistic process behind operations like opera rehearsals, illustrating the often dehumanizing labor involved. He challenges readers to reconsider the definitions and criteria of art and to understand it as a means for emotional connection and societal betterment, rather than self-indulgence or elitism. Through these reflections, he sets the tone for a thorough investigation into what constitutes genuine art and how it aligns with the betterment of humanity. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
BH: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion: Aesthetics
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| Subject |
Arts -- Philosophy
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| Subject |
Arts and morals
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
64908 |
| Release Date |
Mar 23, 2021 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
1824 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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