Lolita A Literary Work of Art Essay - 2061 Words

Art does not need to be beautiful to be art. Although that may have been the prevailing definition according to aesthetic theorists throughout history of art, it is not a requirement of art. Art does not necessarily need to bring pleasure to the viewer; art can be disturbing. What makes it art is that it communicates feelings between the artist and evokes these feelings with others. Lolita, by Vladimir Nabokov, although critiqued to be dark and twisted, should be considered a work of art. Nabokov wrote the book intentionally and with a purpose; he explored the emotions deliberately and managed to find the right words to express his work to the readers. Lolita draws the reader in not only because it was written so eloquently but also†¦show more content†¦According to Tolstoy, Lolita would most likely not be considered a work of art. In order for me to fully appreciate his work I would have to adopt Kant’s view and look at it disinterestedly, so I can set aside all morals and see if Lolita is able to express a universal feeling. However, Danto would disagree by saying that in the 20th century it is impossible to say whether an object is or isn’t a piece of art especially based on the criteria that Tolstoy has presented that must be met. According to Tolstoy, the true purpose of art is connected to our abilities to feel emotion. â€Å"To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then, by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds, or forms expressed in words, so to transmit that feeling that others may experience the same feeling - this is the activity of art† (Tolstoy,66 ). Much like food is necessary for sustenance, art is necessary for our sympathetic capacities. In order for this form of communication to occur, the artist must have the capacity to express and transmit through his art, while the audience must have the capacity for sympathy in order to feel the artist’s expre ssion. According to Tolstoy, simply transmitting an emotion is not enough to define art. A true work of art must be infectious to its audience and be able to express individual feelings lucidly and purposefully.Show MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Courier s Tragedy 1698 Words   |  7 PagesFirst of all, their syntax is dense. Moreover, there are many cultural and literary allusions in their novels. Therefore, the first time a reader encounters a novel by Nabokov or Pynchon, he has to spend time figuring out what this book is about. It is only when he returns to the book for the second time, has he the leisure to appreciate this book as a work of art. As Nabokov says, â€Å"Young dunces who turn to drugs cannot read Lolita, or any of my books† (114). 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In Lyne’s adaptation of Lolita we specifically see an important passage come to life; the passage showsRead MoreThe Body Of Written Works Essay1409 Words   |  6 Pages American literature is the body of written works produced in the English language in the United States. Like other national literatures, American Literature was also shaped by the history of the country that produced it. The development of science and industry as well as changes in ways of thinking and feeling, wrought many modifications in people’s lives. This entire factor in the development of the Uni ted States molded the Literature of the country. The Seventeenth Century writings includedRead More The Effect of Language in Vladimir Nabokovs Lolita Essay2045 Words   |  9 PagesThe Effect of Language in Lolita      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   What really is reality? How can we define reality? The very nature of such a subjective subject means that there are as many answers as there are questioning minds on the planet. Therefore, reality can only be defined as what it means to each of us. We learn particular ways of looking at life from our experiences, which we gain from our interactions with others. This is the basis of an elaborate theory called the social construction of realityRead MoreWhen Art Imitates Art757 Words   |  3 PagesMusic and Literature On an everyday basis the world around us offers us a great deal of information and variety, of enlightening art and the dumbing down entertainment. Many people have fallen into the trap of dismissing anything that is not considered fine art as culturally and intellectually inferior. The restrictive nature of this approach leaves us with an elitist viewpoint and a sense of supremacy. 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