The role of artistic intentions in the interpretation of artworks

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to show that the meaning of an artwork is not determined by the intentions of its creator. Even though, in the normal course of affairs, when we are confronted with an utterance, our cognitive goal might be to understand what our interlocutor intends to say, this is not the case for interaction with artworks. Therefore, any theory of interpretation which considers the aim of an interpreter to be seeking for artistic intentions is not acceptable. The reason for the necessity of treating artworks and the ordinary conversations differently is the essential characteristic of artworks. This characteristic is put forward by Wolfgang Iser in an explicative and a convincing way. This essential characteristic makes Iser's theory applicable to not only literary works but also the other forms of art such as paintings and sculptures. This thesis will look for such a feature of applicability in an acceptable theory of interpretation.