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Gabrielle Christensen

TSOA Writing the Essay, 8 AM


Momchedjikova
Progression One, Rough Draft
21 September 2015
Beliefs, thoughts, and emotions are filtered through ones perception of
art. The assemblage of these things, which we are able to draw from a work
of art, are our collective values as a person. Viewing art leads people to a
unique awareness of themselves as an individual. The tiniest details attach
to some experience deep within each of us, translating into personal and
original thoughts. Just as Noel Carroll posits in Art and Friendship, Art is
standardly something expressly designed to engage our sensibilities(Carroll
30). Thus, the way which we interpret art, uncovers our inner values and
exposes pieces of our true self.
Throughout Art and Friendship Carroll explains the significance of our
sensibilities (brought out by art) and how they impact our relationships. By
gaining a sense of who we are from art, we are then able to take that self
knowledge and apply it to our lives and how we connect to other people.
Through analyzing the play Art, by Yazmina Reza, Carroll is able to further
analyze the the connection of our interpretation of art (or our inner values)
and friendships. In the play we are introduced to two characters struggling
with their relationship because of a quarrel they have over a piece of art.
Carroll poses the idea that these two friends are not conflicted over this
artwork, but rather the disturbance they share in the disjunction in values

(Carroll 29) among themselves. One sees meaning, where the other sees
nothing.
Carroll explains the differences in their thought processes by
investigating different studies, such as Aristotles Theory of Alter Egos. He
shows us how our values or what we think can impact how we relate and
connect to other people. He speculates that these alter egos or other
selves are our friends. In a sense they are part of us, that is I mean, holds the
same beliefs, thoughts, or sensibilities. In fact, Carroll describes rather than
alter egos, as mirror images of ourselves. When we look at our friends its as
if our inner values are reflected back at us. With this in mind, Aristotle also
states that Friendship of the highest sort is vital to our conception to
ourselves(Carroll 28). So when we look at our mirror self all that we are,
all thats significant, is being shown to us. Friendship then becomes this
beautiful connection between two people by which they can share their
sensibilities. After all, sensibility is one of the most important things friend
can share- a foundation, often, for something else (Carroll 30). Therefore, if
art exposes our sensibilities it becomes this locus of intimacy by providing
a form of communication in which two people can discuss their values.
Carroll suggests that friends are brought together by shared individual
values, whereas in Mark Dotys Souls on Ice he seems to believe that our
glory is not in our individuality, but our commonness (39). Although Dotys
piece is about fish, it posits an interesting angle to how the relationships
weve formed play out. Through showing his inner thoughts while writing a

poem, Doty questions what it means to be a self, when that self would
ultimately be lost (39). He explains that many think of singularity as the
means by which to excel in life, but really we should function as a
community. In life the whole is all that really matters, commonness brings us
together and allows us to engage in friendships. Essentially Dotys says that
maybe our mirror selves are just a part of one huge mirror shared by society
as a collective whole. The idea of community is much more appealing than
being only yourself. Through embracing this, perhaps Carrolls idea can be
amended. He shows us that common beliefs and values are what bring us
together, but just as in Rezas play, individual differences tear us apart. Can
we not expand Carrolls thinking to a much grander scale to that of Dotys?
Shared sensibilities then become not only what brings us together but what
allows us to be a part of something bigger, a society.
With the relationships sensibilities and values can create, its important
to know how we get there. Carroll states that art is a medium in which you
can discover sensibility, bringing us back to the original conflict between two
friends. We know that by viewing art we are able to conjure up emotions and
thoughts which in turn give us material that allows us to develop
relationships. He even states that Art in short, is, among other things, a
vehicle by which we may discover and construct an intimate community
(30). Mahoning, an abstract piece by Franz Kline offers an interesting
perspective to this idea. As an abstract work of art its purpose is to pose an
idea and receive multiple interpretations-all of which can be right. All over

the cream canvas there are straight black lines which seem to fill every
possible direction. Or is it all over the black canvas there are cream shapes
use to create black lines? The texture and layering of the paint show that
there is no one right answer. There are black lines over the cream canvas,
but theres also cream paint over the black lines. Its as if the artist was
trying to cover up mistakes to create something more of excellency and
precision. However, by covering up some of the black lines with cream, he
initiates something disheveled. The more he tries to generate perfection, the
more he comes up with chaos. At first the painting appears plainly simple,
just a jumble of black lines. But when you come closer, look longer, precision
turns aside and shows its intricacy. Rough blue splotches created by masking
black paint are everywhere. Even where the painting was most pristine,
blotchy spots appear. A perfect picture becomes defected from its own
endeavor for absolute excellence. Such are our own efforts for individuality.
As we saw with the conflict amongst friends in Art and Friendship, we
gain relationships through common values, but they can be torn apart by
individual differences, just as the interpretation of the painting caused
quarreling between friends. Art, is a medium through which we forge our
small scale, face to face, everyday relations with other (Carroll 29). We have
a duty, a responsibility to keep that alive. For what is life without someone to
share it with? If singularity ultimately comes down to being alone, then
shouldnt we embrace commonness? Once we do individuality seems to melt

away, getting rid of the rough splotches, creating a crystal clear picture of
perfection brought on by the discovery of common sensibilities.

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