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Artists' intentions and artwork meanings: Some complications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 March 2013

Stephen Davies*
Affiliation:
Department of Philosophy, University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand. sj.davies@auckland.ac.nzhttp://artsfaculty.auckland.ac.nz/staff/?UPI=sdav056&Name=Stephen Davies

Abstract

Artists' intentions are among the primary data retrieved by art appreciators. However, artistic creation is not always deliberate; artists sometimes fail in their intentions; artists' achievements depend on artworld roles, not only intentions; factors external to the artist contribute to artwork meaning; artworks stand apart from their creators; and interpretation need not be exclusively concerned with recovering intended meaning.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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