Question 1

Aesthetic values are examined in the field of philosophy known as
A) epistemology.
B) graphic design.
C) logic.
D) aesthetics.

Accepted Answer

Aesthetics is the branch of philosophy that deals with the nature of beauty, art, and taste, and with the creation and appreciation of beauty.

Question 2

Aesthetics deals with objects that are
A) not essential to our existence.
B) essential to our existence.
C) unimportant to most people.
D) rarely viewed.

Accepted Answer

Aesthetics is concerned with the nature of beauty and art, dealing with objects and experiences that are not necessarily essential to our existence but are appreciated for their beauty and emotional power.

Question 3

Traditionally art has been defined as
A) wealth.
B) utility.
C) representation.
D) well-being.

Accepted Answer

Traditionally, art has been defined as representation, meaning it is seen as a depiction or expression of something else, such as an idea, emotion, or physical object.

Question 4

Da Vinci's Mona Lisa is
A) abstract.
B) nonrepresentational.
C) obscure.
D) representational.

Accepted Answer

The Mona Lisa is a representational painting because it depicts a recognizable subject matter, specifically a portrait of a woman.

Question 5

Disagreements about the aesthetic value or social relevance of a piece of art are
A) uncommon.
B) never serious.
C) vacuous.
D) common.

Accepted Answer

Disagreements about the aesthetic value or social relevance of a piece of art are common because people have diverse tastes, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds, leading to varied interpretations and opinions about art.

Question 6

Leo Tolstoy says that art is
A) expression.
B) representation.
C) form.
D) abstract.

Accepted Answer

Leo Tolstoy defines art primarily as a means of expression. He believes that art is a way to convey emotions and connect the artist with the audience.

Question 7

The view that art is defined by its form is known as
A) informalism.
B) formalism.
C) expressionism.
D) structuralism.

Accepted Answer

Formalism is the view that art is defined by its form, structure, and the arrangement of its elements, rather than its content or context.

Question 8

A prominent view is that an object has aesthetic value if it
A) has no meaning.
B) has no utility.
C) cannot be defined.
D) serves some important function.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A prominent view is that an object...

Question 9

An important formal characteristic of art is
A) social meaning.
B) coherence.
C) its power to evoke strong emotions.
D) faithful representation.

Accepted Answer

Coherence is a formal characteristic of art, referring to the internal consistency and logical arrangement of elements within an artwork, ensuring it is unified and comprehensible.

Question 10

The view that works of art have objective properties by which we can judge their aesthetic goodness or badness is known as
A) nihilism.
B) subjectivism.
C) materialism.
D) objectivism.

Accepted Answer

Objectivism in the context of aesthetics argues that works of art possess inherent, objective properties that can be evaluated to determine their aesthetic value, independent of individual opinions or cultural contexts.

Question 11

The view that the aesthetic properties of an art object are solely in the eye of the beholder is known as
A) objectivism.
B) subjectivism.
C) formalism.
D) expressionism.

Accepted Answer

Subjectivism is the philosophical view that asserts that beauty and aesthetic value are determined by individual preferences and personal responses, rather than being inherent qualities of objects. This aligns with the idea that aesthetic properties are solely in the eye of the beholder.

Question 12

Gardner argues that
A) there are objective standards in art.
B) no genuine disagreements can exist in discussions of aesthetic value.
C) aesthetic tastes do not vary.
D) there are no objective standards in art.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Gardner argues that
A) there are objective standards...

Question 13

Plato's view is that true beauty is
A) found in everyday objects.
B) not of this world.
C) everywhere in the natural world.
D) nonexistent.

Accepted Answer

Plato believed that true beauty, along with other Forms or Ideas, exists in an immaterial realm and is not found in the physical world. He argued that the beauty we perceive in the physical world is merely a reflection of the true, ideal form of beauty that exists in a non-physical realm of Forms or Ideas.

Question 14

Danto is probably best known for his
A) institutional theory of art.
B) idealist notion of art.
C) rejection of Andy Warhol's work.
D) embrace objectivism.

Accepted Answer

Arthur Danto is most renowned for his institutional theory of art, which suggests that what makes something a work of art is its acceptance by the art world (institutions such as museums, galleries, and critics). This theory was significantly influenced by his encounter with Andy Warhol's Brillo Boxes, which challenged traditional notions of what could be considered art.

Question 15

Aristotle is a(n)
A) Platonist.
B) subjectivist.
C) formalist.
D) objectivist.

Accepted Answer

Aristotle is known as an objectivist because he believed in the objective reality of the world outside the mind, in contrast to subjectivism, which posits that reality is mentally constructed or subjective. Unlike Plato, who is a famous Platonist and believed in the existence of abstract Forms or Ideas, Aristotle grounded his philosophy in the concrete and physical reality, emphasizing the importance of empirical observation and experience.

Question 16

The purging of the emotions of pity and fear by experiencing them vicariously in a theatrical context is known as
A) mimesis.
B) catharsis.
C) representation.
D) dissonance.

Accepted Answer

Catharsis refers to the emotional release or purification an audience experiences through the emotions of pity and fear as depicted in a drama, leading to a state of emotional renewal or restoration.

Question 17

For Aristotle, the poet's job is saying not what did happen but what
A) is not probable.
B) is sure to happen.
C) could never happen.
D) would happen.

Accepted Answer

Aristotle believed that the poet's role was to depict not what actually happened but what could happen according to the laws of probability or necessity. This means the poet focuses on events that are possible and could logically occur, which is what makes poetry a higher art than history for Aristotle, as history merely recounts what has already happened.

Question 18

Aristotle says that the good plot must
A) have a double line of development.
B) not end in tragedy.
C) be complex.
D) have a single line of development.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Aristotle says that the good plot must
A)...

Question 19

Hume argues that the criteria for judging aesthetic value are
A) unchangeable.
B) entirely subjective.
C) entirely objective.
D) unknown.

Accepted Answer

Hume argues that aesthetic judgments are subjective, meaning they are based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions. He believes that while there may be general standards of taste, ultimately, the appreciation of beauty is a personal experience.

Question 20

Hume says that beauty is
A) a quality in things themselves.
B) a matter of a priori knowledge.
C) no quality in things themselves.
D) judged by logical standards.

Accepted Answer

Hume argues that beauty is not an objective quality in things themselves but is subjective, depending on the observer's perception and feelings.

Quiz 7: Aesthetics

Aesthetic values are examined in the field of philosophy known as

Aesthetics deals with objects that are

Traditionally art has been defined as

Da Vinci's Mona Lisa is

Disagreements about the aesthetic value or social relevance of a piece of art are

Leo Tolstoy says that art is

The view that art is defined by its form is known as

A prominent view is that an object has aesthetic value if it

An important formal characteristic of art is

The view that works of art have objective properties by which we can judge their aesthetic goodness or badness is known as

The view that the aesthetic properties of an art object are solely in the eye of the beholder is known as

Gardner argues that

Plato's view is that true beauty is

Danto is probably best known for his

Aristotle is a(n)

The purging of the emotions of pity and fear by experiencing them vicariously in a theatrical context is known as

For Aristotle, the poet's job is saying not what did happen but what

Aristotle says that the good plot must

Hume argues that the criteria for judging aesthetic value are

Hume says that beauty is