"Ornament" and the Sources of Design in the Decorative Arts response
William M. Ivins has lots to say, both fact and opinion in large amounts in the article "Ornament" and the Sources of Design in the Decorative Arts. While the article at hand was written in 1918, much that is stated still holds true to this day in 2016. Ivins Stated that ornament making, and art in general, is comparable to the process a music composer goes through to create a song. Though, he does mention something along the lines of a musician not being able to play their own songs because they can't write them. I don't know any musicians like that, and that statement doesn't make much sense. A good musician, and of course the same would and does apply to a good artist, can make, re-make, and perform their own pieces. He also says that if America is matching or rivaling the number of produced French pieces, we should "consider superior craftsmanship" and "superior artistic quality". He says that good business choices in this matter are a result of being accomplished in the business. Overall though, the overpowering message to me was that we Americans should produce in our own country.
William M. Ivins has lots to say, both fact and opinion in large amounts in the article "Ornament" and the Sources of Design in the Decorative Arts. While the article at hand was written in 1918, much that is stated still holds true to this day in 2016. Ivins Stated that ornament making, and art in general, is comparable to the process a music composer goes through to create a song. Though, he does mention something along the lines of a musician not being able to play their own songs because they can't write them. I don't know any musicians like that, and that statement doesn't make much sense. A good musician, and of course the same would and does apply to a good artist, can make, re-make, and perform their own pieces. He also says that if America is matching or rivaling the number of produced French pieces, we should "consider superior craftsmanship" and "superior artistic quality". He says that good business choices in this matter are a result of being accomplished in the business. Overall though, the overpowering message to me was that we Americans should produce in our own country.
"The situation is exactly analogous to that in music, where although composition presupposes the possibility of execution, the training of the executant and of the composer are widely different, and few musicians are able to play their own tunes for the simple reason that they cannot write them." Ivins simply means that musical performers are not necessarily trained to compose music; this is often true in classical music academies. Why does Ivins' make this analogy early in the essay? How does he extend the comparison, and why?
ReplyDeleteWhat does Ivins have to say about printing?
I think you need to read this again, Luke. What is Ivins arguing for? What role do drawings, prints and books play in his argument?
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