The Critic As Artist

Publisher Marketing: The Critic as Artist is an essay by Oscar Wilde, containing the most extensive statements of his aesthetic philosophy. A dialogue in two parts, it is by far the longest one included in his collection of essays titled Intentions published in May 1891. The Critic as Artist is a significantly revised version of articles that first appeared in the July and September issues of The Nineteenth Century, originally entitled The True Function and Value of Criticism. The essay is a conversation between its leading voice Gilbert and Ernest, who suggests ideas for Gilbert to reject. The essay sets to collapse the distinction between fine art and criticism cherished by artists and critics such as Matthew Arnold and James Abbott McNeill Whistler - only critical faculty enables any artistic creation at all, while criticism is independent of the object it criticises and not necessarily subject to it. The essay champions contemplative life to the life of action. According to Gilbert, scientific principle of heredity shows we are never less free, never have more illusions than when we try to act with some conscious aim in mind. Critical contemplation is guided by conscious aesthetic sense as well as by the soul. The soul is wiser than we are, writes Wilde, it is the concentrated racial experience revealed by the imagination. Criticism is above reason, sincerity and fairness; it is necessarily subjective. It is increasingly more to criticism than to creation that future belongs as its subject matter and the need to impose form on chaos constantly increases. It is criticism rather than emotional sympathies, abstract ethics or commercial advantages that would make us cosmopolitan and serve as the basis of peace. Contributor Bio:  Wilde, Oscar Oscar Wilde was a Victorian-era British author and playwright. In his youth, Wilde became attached to the Aesthetic Movement, which emphasized the appreciation of the aesthetic value of cultural creations above social or political purposes, and this philosophy influenced his work throughout his career. The themes of art and beauty are particularly present in his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, , and in his two most popular dramatic works, An Ideal Husband and The Importance of Being Earnest. A quarrel with the Marquess of Queensberry, the father of Wilde's lover, Lord Alfred, resulted in Wilde's arrest and imprisonment for gross indecency. Wilde died in 1900, penniless and in exile, as a result of cerebral meningitis contracted while in prison. Contributor Bio:  Fresneda, Ruben Ruben Fresneda (1988 Alcoy, Alicante), es licenciado en Bellas Artes en la especialidad de Pintura por la Universidad Politecnica de Valencia. Realiza exposiciones por diferentes lugares de la geografia espanola. Ha realizado diversas exposiciones individuales que han recibido el apoyo de entidades como: Concejalia de Juventud del Ayuntamiento de Valencia, Escuela Tecnica Superior de Ingenieria Informatica de Valencia, Campus de Alcoy de la Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, Seguros La Union Alcoyana, Ateneo Mercantil de Valencia y Ayuntamiento de Sagunto, entre otros. En diversas exposiciones colectivas ha recibido apoyo de: Palau de la Musica de Valencia, Concejalia de Cultura del Ayuntamiento de Valencia, Departamento de Pintura de la Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, Departamento de Dibujo de la Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, Societat Coral El Micalet, Ayuntamiento de Mislata y Concejalia de Cultura del Ayuntamiento de Alcoy, entre otros. Ha aparecido en diferentes medios de comunicacion como: Periodico Ciudad de Alcoy, Aramultimedia, Pagina66, Diario Levante, Diario El periodic, Globedia, Diario Informacion, Agenda Urbana de Valencia, El periodico de aqui, Bonart revista d'Art en catala, Cadena Ser, Cope, TV-A... Ahora prepara diversas exposiciones individuales en Madrid. Podemos encontrar obra suya en diversas colecciones privadas de Alcoy, Ibi, Valencia, Sagunto y Madrid.