The Nietzsche Podcast 112: Leo Tolstoy - "What is Art?"
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Mar 11, 2025 The discussion centers around Leo Tolstoy's influential essay, emphasizing art's purpose as a form of emotional communication. Tolstoy critiques counterfeit art, asserting that true artistry transcends social elitism. There's a deep dive into modern art production and the essential support systems behind it. The conversation draws parallels with Nietzsche, highlighting the societal implications of artistic expression. Ultimately, it presents art as a transformative force aimed at uniting humanity under shared values.
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Art Needs An Aim Not A Label
- Tolstoy critiques simple definitions of art like 'it's paintings' or 'it's beauty' as insufficient.
- He argues we must know art's aim to distinguish good art from mere functionality or failed attempts.
Art As Emotional Communication
- Tolstoy defines art as the transmission of feeling, a communicative organ like speech.
- Art's primary function is to infect others with the artist's emotion, uniting people through shared feeling.
Conscious Evocation Unites People
- Tolstoy states art consciously evokes and transmits feelings using external signs like sounds or lines.
- True art joins people by making others feel what the artist experienced.
