The complete work
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism
Publication Date
Summer 2014
Volume
72
Issue
3
First Page
225
Last Page
233
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc.
Abstract
What is it for a work of art to be complete? In this article, we argue that an artwork is complete just in case the artist has acquired a completion disposition with respect to her work - a disposition grounded in certain cognitive mechanisms to refrain from making significant changes to the work. We begin by explaining why the complete/ incomplete distinction with respect to artworks is both practically and philosophically significant. Then we consider and reject two approaches to artwork completion. Finally, we set out and defend our own account.
DOI
10.1111/jaac.12089
Print ISSN
00218529
E-ISSN
15406245
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2014 The American Society for Aesthetics.
Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Livingston, P. (2014). The complete work. Journal of aesthetics and art criticism, 72(3), 225-233. doi: 10.1111/jaac.12089