Formalism values a piece of art based on how pleasing it is to the senses, how it looks or sounds, where as romanticism takes how a piece of art looks and values it based on the thoughts and understanding that piece have created. In this case i side with romanticism because taking anything for just for face value, as formalism does, and not looking into it any deeper does not develop any sort of understanding to the piece examined.
Explanatory Breadth- Romanticism explains many more forms of art than formalism does. romanticism can be used to explain forms of art that aren't purely visual such as poetry music and writing as well as arts that are visual in nature.
Explanatory Depth- Romanticism explains art in more ways than Formalism does. Romantics look at art not only for its beauty factor like formalists do, but for the thought that the piece inspires
Simplicity- Formalism is more simple than Romanticism because is only looks at a piece for its looks, it does not dive deeper into the piece like romanticism does.
Conservatism- I believe that Formalism it more popular in the world today. many people listen to music just for how it sounds not for the ideas behind it. and many people value the looks of something more than the ideas behind it because the looks are easier to see.
1. Formalism and Romanticism are the most plausible explanations for the theories of art.
2. Romanticism has more explanatory breadth and explanatory depth, whereas, Formalism has more Simplicity and conservatism,.
3. Therefore, Romanticism is the best explanation of the theory of art. 
You did a very good job on this blog post, however, there are things you could improve on. While I agree that romanticism is the better theory, I think you could expand on this idea by saying that romanticism allows us to become more in touch with nature and our own emotions-whether they are rational or non-rational. Also, I don't agree that formalism is the more conservative theory. Romanticism is the more conservative theory because pieces of artwork created now-a-days are mainly based around the things outside of our own emotions/understanding.
ReplyDelete-Rachel