The Search for Aesthetic Meaning in the Visual Arts: The Need for the Aesthetic Tradition in Contemporary Art Theory and Education

Many contemporary artists produce work that reflects nothing more than a perceived social reality. It is the author's belief that Postmodern art theory and education have trivialized the place of aesthetics in the visual arts, despite the fact that humans search for meaning in life and experiencing the visual arts is one of the ways they seek such meaning. Humans, according to the author's position, understand the world about them in ways that do not easily conform to logical cognition alone. They may also use intuition or pre-thought in developing their understanding of the world and themselves.

Intuitive thought in particular is inseparable to both artistic creation and appreciation, as well as the concept of aesthetic experience. It is a willingness to allow for the complexity of cognition that has been lost in Postmodern theory and education. One must re-examine how humans have characteristically thought of art--that is the aesthetic tradition--and use that understanding not only to broaden contemporary art theory and education but most importantly to aid individuals who seek aesthetic meaning in the visual arts.