Aesthetics

       According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, art can be defined as "something that is created with imagination and skill and that is beautiful or that expresses important ideas or feelings." While this is certainly one definition, many people look more critically at the origin of art, its essence and purpose within society. It is this impalpable definition which has set the stage for one of the greatest debates in philosophy. On the one hand, formalists argue that the value of art is found in its ability to accurately replicate a real thing. For example, a painting or sculpture is "good art," if it closely resembles the model. Romantics, on the other hand, argue that the value of art is found in the overall message or meaning conveyed through the artist's work. For example, although Picasso's paintings do not look much like the original forms it is representing, there is a more authentic value found in the artist's interpretation of the world, and the underlying moods of the artwork. 
       While art is a useful tool to be used to record history and preserve images of our past, its true merit can be found in the intentions of the artist, or the interpretations of the audience. The classical beauty, presented by the arts as formalists see them, is a much less valuable characteristic than the more obscure emotions and irrational feelings presented by the arts, as romantics see them. Furthermore, the value of a piece of artwork can almost invariably be found in what it provides to the society as a whole, and while it is pleasing and uplifting to gaze upon beautiful landscapes. sculptures, or enjoy the theater or a symphony, unless the artwork goes beyond this formal beauty to offer a look into the emotions or irrational thoughts of the artist, the audience does not benefit from it. 
 A. The explanatory breadth of the two viewpoints differs in that romantics accept a great deal more art forms than the formalists. For example, while the formalist view limits art to that which is rationally beautiful, and presented in a way which does not inspire an emotional reaction from the audience, the romantics accept all forms. Romantics see art as a rational presentation of beauty, but also about inspiring reactions and presenting emotions through a work of art.
 B. The formalist argument does have more explanatory depth than the romantic, however. As far as the presentation of rational beauty, formalists have a much more deliberate and thorough method to identifying a good representation and a bad one. Romantics are much less concerned with the accuracy and skill set of the artist, and therefore have fewer qualifications and a less detailed argument for the merit of a work of rational beauty.
 C. The romantic view of art is a far simpler way to find the value in a piece of artwork. Rather than identifying specific techniques and mediums used to present a subject, romantics focus more on the emotions provoked by the art. That being said, you can fairly judge a work of art simply from the feelings and ideas perceived by the audience or, equally important, presented by the artist. 
 D. It is safe to say that the art world is pretty fairly split between these two major views on the value of artwork. They are equally conservative because,, depending on your sample group, you would find a fairly evenly split group of romantics and formalists. Obviously, the institutionally educated art critic is more commonly a formalist, while the freelance or progressive artists would typically fall under the romantic umbrella.

1. Romanticism and Formalism are the most logical methods of interpreting art.
2. Formalism has more explanatory depth, whereas Romanticism has more explanatory breadth and simplicity.
3. Therefore, Romanticism is the most logical method of interpreting art.