The Definition, Potentiality and Paradigm of Art History

Abstract

Abstract: The mixed use of "art" and "fine arts" causes the current confusion in the establishment of arts theory. This paper argues that the conventional use of the two terms as have established in modern Chinese may help to clarify the confusion. Fine arts refer to plastic art or visual art, while the art as a general term denotes all categories of arts. Thereby, the criticism of fine arts can be differentiated from art criticism, and the philosophy of the fine arts from the philosophy of art. Then, the question comes to how to separate the history of fine arts from art history. In the current disciplinary system, the subject is the history of fine arts instead of art history, or the two are taken for being the same. It is possible and necessary for the establishment of the discipline of art history, this paper claims, that covers all the categories of arts.

Key words: art, art history, the fine arts, history of the fine arts

Peng Feng. The Definition, Potentiality and Paradigm of Art History[J]. Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art, 2014, 34(4): 46-52.

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