ASSIGNMENT:
1. First, find an object THAT YOU HAVE PHYSICALLY ENCOUNTERED (do not use things from online) that you do not normally consider art, or even aesthetically valuable. You may have encountered this item in a normal daily setting, or in a museum, art store, or other venue.
2. Examine the object for a while, and then write out a brief description of the object (if necessary, take a picture of the object and include that with your assignment, pasting the picture into the submission text box.).
3. Second, indicate (in approximately one or two paragraphs) why you normally would not consider the object art or aesthetically valuable. You should include what your original definition of art is (what do you normally consider art, and why), and you should clearly explain why this object does not meet your preconceived notions about art.
4. Next, try to examine the object in a new way, using the principles of aesthetic reasoning (either functionalist or formalist, but not both). Give an argument, which integrates facts about the object and the aesthetic principles, for why someone could consider the object art or aesthetically valuable. The aesthetic principles you use must be true of the object. You must choose to use either functionalist principles or formalism, but NOT BOTH since functionalism and formalism are incompatible. YOU CANNOT USE, OR EVEN MENTION, THE LAST PRINCIPLE ABOUT “NO ARGUMENT CAN BE GIVEN TO ESTABLISH AESTHETIC VALUE” (since the assignment REQUIRES YOU TO PROVIDE AN ARGUMENT, this last principle is not compatible with the assignment).