Welcome to Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art,

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art ›› 2014, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (2): 182-189.

• Studies in Western Literary Theory • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Inaesthetics and Art as Procedure of Truth: An Introduction to Badiou's Art Thought

Lan Jiang   

  1. the Department of Philosophy at Nanjing University (Nanjing 210046, China)
  • Online:2014-04-25 Published:2014-06-09
  • About author:Lan Jiang is a professor in the Department of Philosophy at Nanjing University (Nanjing 210046, China), focusing on the study of contemporary French philosophy and thoughts.

Abstract: For Alain Badiou, art and its creation do not need a preconceived idea to direct or guide, as art itself is one of conditions for philosophy. In light of this, Badiou replaces the aesthetics that subordinates art to the will of philosophy with an inaesthetics that induces truth out of art. Inaesthetics no longer tries to pursue the idea or notion that governs the works of art, but focuses on how artistic creations penetrate the consistent presentations of everyday discourse and tease out truth from the smoothed discourse. This way to artistic creations is like a journey through darkness, with no light or any visible landmark. The art, therefore, is a beast forcing its way through the dark to reach truth, and this way of art is the procedure of truth.

Key words: inaesthetics, art, procedure of truth, Alain Badiou