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| Marry Jane Jacob, author of the forthcoming book "Dewey for Artists" / Courtesy of Marry Jane Jacob |
By Lee Joo-won
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| "Dewey for Artists" by Marry Jane Jacobs |
Not only does this book explain Dewey's philosophy at a more understandable level than his publications, such as "Art as Experience," but also it aims to speak to the public in that this book connects art to essential aspects of human beings.
Dewey defined art as an action of "affection" that can be found in anyone doing anything that they "care" about.
Nobel laureate Alexis Carrell also said that art can be found in anyone, even medical doctors, according to his book, "Man the Unknown."
Plus, John Dewey's early 20th-century discourse in art in relation to all human beings finds an ally in Academy Award winning filmmaker Saul Bass who said that creativity is a basic human instinct in his film "Why Man Creates."
This book supports the wellness of human beings in today's society by discussing the essence of art and humanity. Part 1, "The Artist's Process," focuses on the internal development of the self, while in part 2, the author looks at external relationships in society.
Yet Mary Jane Jacob explains that, to Dewey, both paths are same, as they take a form within the "conscious being." It is interesting how the author relates "conscious being" with art, because in today's society, art is often perceived as a luxury whose price is rising ever higher.
On the contrary, this book shows the genuine characteristics of human beings found in art and how the arts support us today in essential and meaningful ways, and more so in universal ways that can speak to any individual.
In chapter 1, "Making", the author says, "To Dewey, it [making] was far more than bringing something into existence and giving it concrete form. … Care is invested…"
According to the book, Dewey wrote the person "engaged in his job, interested in doing well and finding satisfaction in his handiwork, caring for his materials and tools with genuine affection, is artistically engaged."
The author sees that this creative potential inside everyone, not just those who identify as artists, was the key to Dewey's philosophy of life.
In short, since everyone has creative potential, if we do not give "full attention" in what we do whatever we do in our everyday life, I could be missing the human aspect.
It challenges everyone. This is why the author states that "creating art, or any invested making, … [offers] us an uncommon chance to feel a sense of wholeness within ourselves and connectedness to something beyond. We feel a sense of completeness _ not just of having completed a task."
As such, we can learn truth from this essential perspective on art: living a meaningful life is possible simply by caring about what we do.
This message starts simple and small but connects and expands to everything of our life.
Who does not want to live a meaningful life? It is just about how to live it well, and an answer can be found in this book.
Dewey also provides a perspective on art that makes it easier to understand different art styles from different times, such as ancient art, which might not seem interesting from the perspective of today's world which has changed so much over time.
For example, the details found in an ancient carving of a seal would not be valued as highly if it had been produced in the era of abstractionism, when Kandinsky's simplified style, for example, was the main focus.
There are many fancy ways of defining what art is; art is truly amazing and it deserves such exalted descriptions, but as it is proven in this book, this great world art, can belong to anyone.
It also means that everyone deserves to have that kind of greatness in their life. The author opens up the role of art museums as well: instead of keeping them as a place of selective choices, she expands them to be more essential, and therefore wider.
The book refers to the Barnes Foundation museum in Philadelphia as a good example, as it exhibited African art relatively early on ("geographical expansion"), introducing this work to an unaware general public and used the garden as a way of educating their visitors about the close relationship between nature and art.
This book opens up the unbounded world of art into by explaining the essentials _ the relationship of art to nature, which is essential to everyone.
That is what art is: something very common, even the everyday life activity of anyone, that can fulfill our entire being.
It reminds us of another statement of Carrell's, that human beings are happier when we create, even if it is small, rather than being a part of mass production.
In chapter 2, "Experiencing," the author states, "In aesthetics, it is the experience that matters, so through Dewey's understanding we come to see that both the artist and viewer contribute to making art.
Such aesthetic experiences enable us to make meaning and, thus, grow." The chapter introduces the video "About Beauty" by Jeon Joonho in which his father tells his life story.
As the author describes it, "In less than five minutes, the older man, eyes closed as if in a dream state, seeks to arrive at the essence of his own passage from youth to retirement, from purposefulness to meaninglessness, then offers in reflection: "When you grow old, you sleep less … So if I woke up around dawn, I wandered around here and there ... Ah! The sun was rising from the sea over there. It was truly a spectacular sight. … I am able to see this beautiful scene because I am alive. Why hadn't I appreciated this beauty until now?"
The author adds, "Just as an experience of something in life (like seeing a sunrise) can be transformed into a work of art, our experience of works of art can become part of life as they become absorbed or reignited in us."
One of the most problematic issues in South Korea, gapjil (the arrogant and authoritarian attitude of privileged people), could be eased if people are willing to put themselves in others' shoes.
Such experience can be provided through art. Art offers many possibilities and helps human beings to be more conscious.
It is wonderful to see the hope that creating art experiences can afford us to grow further without attacking the integrity of someone else.
Lee Joo-won is a professor of Department of Art & Graphic Design at American University of Kuwait.
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