This study focuses on the emerging phenomenon of philosophical art criticism. Art criticism is a public cultural sphere in which the functions of critics, philosophers, and artists overlap to some extent, and philosophical tendency has existed for a long time. Philosophy and art closely interact through criticism, creating new theories with critical force and blurring the boundaries between philosophy and art. The goal of this study is to define philosophical art criticism, distinguish its main characteristics, and reveal the level of its influence on both art criticism and philosophy. The central question in analyzing the phenomenon of philosophical art criticism is why philosophers engage in art criticism and how they do so. The reason for the turn of philosophy towards art criticism is explained by the fact that in the second half of the 20th century, art, rather than science, became the philosopher's interlocutor, and some philosophers realized that classical philosophy (for example, classical aesthetics) cannot critique contemporary art. Confronted with the radical practices of contemporary art, classical philosophy revealed its critical inadequacy. The research methodology relies on the concept of "philosophical art criticism," methods of the sociocultural analysis of contemporary art criticism and textual analysis of philosophical arguments that reveal the shortcomings of classical philosophy in the criticism of works of art, and attempts at self-criticism of philosophy. The transition from the philosophy of art to "philosophical art criticism" is characterized by both a greater equality between philosophy and art and a significant methodological shift in the philosophy of art itself: philosophy truly penetrates the realm of art, encounters elements that contradict it, thereby redefining the boundaries between philosophy and non-philosophy. Consequently, the transition to "philosophical art criticism" requires, first and foremost, a change in philosophical methodology. In art criticism, the philosopher does not abstractly expound the essence of art, but attempts to interpret artistic images in specific contexts. It is precisely this difference in methodology that distinguishes the philosophy of art from philosophical art criticism. Philosophical art criticism contributes to the development of art criticism, long held back by the institution and the art market, and also fosters self-criticism and self-renewal within philosophy, playing a positive role in both contexts. However, philosophical art criticism will not fundamentally change the existing state of criticism. The future of philosophical art criticism lies in deepening the interaction between philosophy and art, harnessing the power of the image inherent in specific works of art to enhance the visibility of philosophy and create a new, critical philosophy of art.
Chaoran Jiang (Thu,) studied this question.