Do Now 11-19-08

Objective: Students would read Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray preface and focus on Wilde's view of art.

Aim: What is Wilde's view of "art" in the preface?Why is this a manifesto about the purpose of Art, the role of the artist, and the value of beauty?

Wilde thinks that art is surface and symbol. He says that all art is useless.

How does he define both artist and critic?

He says that the artist is the creator of beautiful things. An artists aim is to reveal and conceal art. He says taht no artist has ethical sympathies. He also says that a critic who finds ugly meanings in beautiful art iscorrupt without being charmed.

What do you think he meant by saying "a book can be moral or immoral?
I think that it means taht a book can teach you right or a wrong lesson.


"Interpret: "Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril." Is this a warning of some kind?
When someone knows that he/she is in danger then that person goes beneath their level. They are willing to be ashamed and lose their reputation.


Interpret: "It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors. "
I think that maybe it means that the prespective on the art can change rather than the person changing himself.

Explain whimsical last line: "All art is quite useless."