Sunday, February 17, 2019

I'm looking for analysis of Hayden White's "Content of the Form."

"Content of the Form" is a poem by Hayden White that examines and ponders the nature of authority in art and literature. The poem's thesis is that a particular artwork's meaning is dependent on the interpretation of a viewer or reader.
Art is similar to a communication feedback loop, in which the transmitter—which in this case is the artwork—and the recipient are symbiotic. The receiver gives meaning to the artwork or piece of literature, which is independent of the artist's personal interpretation, message, or intention.
The title itself is evident of Hayden White's thesis. The content of the form, or the meat of the artwork, is what is important in this feedback loop between artist and audience.
The poem is meant to challenge traditional notions of how art or literature is interpreted, thus debunking the old hierarchy which proposed that the artist's vision is the authoritative interpretation of an artwork.
https://jhupbooks.press.jhu.edu/title/content-form

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