coaches:
Before we begin, a brief word about the coaches. Each of the coaches has a specific function to help guide you through the lesson:
abstract \ab-ˈstrakt\
1a: existing only in the mind; separated from embodiment; considered apart from the concrete existence of an object b: not representing or imitating external reality or the objects of nature; having an intellectual and affective artistic content that depends solely on intrinsic form rather than on narrative content or pictorial representation; effective communication about things in the abstract requires an intuitive or common experience between the communicator and the communication recipient
abstraction \ab-ˈstrak-shən\
1a: a thought process using a strategy of simplification wherein formally concrete ideas are distanced from objects and left ambiguous, vague or undefined b: dealing with a subject in the abstract without practical purpose or intention c: thought of or stated without reference to a specific instance
art:
COUNTER-EXAMPLE
As a counter-example to abstract art, realism (in this case portraiture) presents an accurate and presumably objective depiction of the observable world. The subject is depicted with minimal embellishment or interpretation. The resulting product is not the artist's idea or conception, but rather a rendering of everyday characters, situations and objects, in a "true-to-life" manner. Although the painted example presented here may lack the absolute truth of a photograph, it differs significantly and fundamentally from the abstract image.
music:
ABSTRACT MUSIC
Abstract music, like abstract art, is non-representational and not explicitly about anything in the natural world. Only the medium of expression has changed. Relating to the "strategy of simplification," abstract music is sometimes called absolute music and makes no reference to extra-musical ideas. Central to the abstract concept of 'Formalism' is the idea of 'music for music's sake.' The example piece chosen here was composed by Morton Feldman for the Jackson Pollock documentary Jackson Pollock, 51. Pollock himself, with wife Lee Krasner, chose Feldman for the soundtrack. The random, seemingly meaningless quality of the music parallels Pollock's abstract painting.
Morton Feldman
Music composed for Jackson Pollock, 1951
music:
COUNTER-EXAMPLE
Here, as a counter-example, there is unmistakable intent to represent and evoke extra-musical images of the observable world. This so called 'program music' uses language and musical affect to make strong reference to story and image. Largely, music falls between classification as purely programmatic or purely abstract. For example, the song title might suggest an extra-musical association, but no musical passage within the piece can be related with certainty to specific imagery. Opera, however, distances itself from abstract music and presents a strong counter-example by conveying explicit meaning and programmatic imagery.
Nessun Dorma
Giacomo Puccini, Turandot
Performed by: Luciano Pavarotti
poetry:
Shines there
Like gold-haired planets, Calliope, Io,
Pomona, Antiope, Echo and Clio.
Then Lily O'Grady,
Silly and shady,
Sauntered along like
A lazy lady.
Beside the waves' haycocks her gown with tucks
Was of satin the colour of shining green ducks,
And her fol-de-rol
Parasol
Was a great gold sun o'er
The haycocks shining,
But she was a negress black as the shade
That time on the brightest lady laid.
poetry:
COUNTER-EXAMPLE
An excerpt from The Carver In Stone, by John Drinkwater
- He was a man with wide and patient eyes,
- Grey, like the drift of twitch-fires blown in June,
- That, without fearing, searched if any wrong
- Might threaten from your heart. Grey eyes he had
- Under a brow was drawn because he knew
- So many seasons to so many pass
- Of upright service, loyal, unabased
- Before the world seducing, and so, barren
- Of good words praising and thought that mated his.
- He carved in stone. Out of his quiet life
- He watched as any faithful seaman charged
- With tidings of the myriad faring sea,
- And thoughts and premonitions through his mind
- Sailing as ships from strange and storied lands
- His hungry spirit held, till all they were
- Found living witness in the chiselled stone.
- As with the visual artistic counter-example, here there is intent to show the world as it is with a truthful treatment of everyday normal life. Unlike the abstract poetry example, which focused on the lyrical construct at the expense of meaning, the realist counter-example brings narrative content to the forefront. While the realist poet does use symbolism as a tool of artistic expression, there is explicit intent to evoke imagery of specific objects, characters and scenes.
the esoteric:
To varying degree, other fields of study draw a distinction (at times murky and debatable) between the abstract and the concrete, but do not lend themselves quite as well to universally desingned presentation. Nonetheless, they do offer example and counter-example...
philosophy: realism vs. nominalism
mathematics: pure mathematics vs. applied mathematics
psychology: Jungian abstraction vs. concretism
Hopefully, the examples and counter-examples from various disciplines have made for a more robust and universally designed definition of the abstract. By its very nature, the term is difficult to conceptualize, though many have tried and many will certainly continue to do so.
THE END