Art as device
from Synthetica: Synthesis on Design Hosted by Synthetic Synthesis
This excerpt from Viktor Shklovsky's Art as Device critiques existing literary theories, particularly Potebnja's view of art as imaginative thought expressed through images. Shklovsky argues that this definition is too broad, failing to distinguish between prosaic and poetic imagery and neglecting the crucial role of "defamiliarization" in art. He posits that art's purpose is not to simplify understanding but to disrupt the automatic perception of objects, making them new and strange. Shklovsky uses examples from Tolstoy and other authors to illustrate his concept of defamiliarization as a primary artistic technique, contrasting it with the automatization of everyday experience. Ultimately, he proposes that poetic language is "impedited" or difficult, defying the principles of efficiency found in practical language. Please note that the podcast covers key points from the source with synthetic voices, which may have glitches. It’s a reflective, not comprehensive, interpretation. Shklovskiĭ, V. (1990). Capitolo I : L’arte come procedimento. In Theory of prose. https://doi.org/10.1400/86251 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit syntheticsynthesis.substack.com
Embed this episode
No transcript yet.