Wyobraźnia. Sztuka i design
Imagination. Art and design

Author(s): Alicja Głutkowska-Polniak
Subject(s): Fine Arts / Performing Arts, Sociology of Art
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego
Keywords: imagination; art; design
Summary/Abstract: The book is an analysis of the conceptions of imagination (in aesthetic theories) that havestill been inspiring and become important for the history of the philosophy of art, and are beinginterpreted anew. It determined the choice of (representative) philosophers and their works,staring from Kant who gave art autonomy (and an important role of imagination). These are alsotheories that could inspire an interpretation of artistic practices (especially the modern ones),and designer ones, as well as show their specificity. The author shows how imagination in variousconceptions (chosen because of different assumptions in which it is still imagination that isimportant) supports art, and even conditions it. Thus, she goes through various characteristicphilosophical-aesthetic conceptions of imagination, chosen also in order to present imaginationin its multidimensionality and multifacetedness. Such a horizon allows for considering thiscategory in a broad way, and showing its co-actions with many mental dispositions, as well as itsinfluence on mental processes and reality, especially in terms of art and design.The theories of imagination within the scope of the philosophy of art and aesthetics inquestion show the unchangeability of the functioning of this category, naming imagination, onthe one hand, and, its evolution on the other. Imagination evolved out of capturing and matchingsensual forms, to notional and abstract forms. In this sense it broadened the scope of its activity.From supporting contemplation it changed into co-creating involvement. Thus, imagination hasa big potential, and can co-work with senses and mind.The aspects concerning imagination have been divided into two parts mainly to showa dissonance of power as well as function that imagination is in reference to the category ofsubjectivity. It means its source and application that can influence consciousness and co-workwith it or be dependent on unconscious aims. In both cases the role of imagination is to createeither an image alone without a real reference or a given real subject.A motif combining the two parts is yet another function or imagination disposition, i.e. acreating function. The very disposition, in an aesthetic dimension, is reflected and manifestedin arts (from fine to modern ones). It is imagination co-creating „cultural objects”, subjects(phenomena and situations) of an artistic and often aesthetic value. This capability in reference tomodern times is referred to in the last „stop” of this book concerning new perspectives in creatingart and design in the twentieth century, i.e. the so called modern arts.

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