The way Tolstoy defines infectiousness as a standard for art is the amount the artist puts in the time, emotion, and the connection to his art form. Tolstoy says the more the artist isn’t using emotion and feeling to get the attention of others it doesn’t define itself as art. The more he uses (infectiousness) in art he explains that the better the art helps it reach the standard of good art. What I think he means by standard is the three conditions the art has to reach. How the art affects others in such a way where the artist isn’t doing his art for fun or a hobby but for meaning and a deeper thought of reality. Tolstoy says in his writing “We are accustomed to understand art to be only what we hear and see in theaters, concerts, and exhibitions, together with buildings, statues, poems, novels. . . . But all this is but the smallest part of the art by which we communicate with each other in life.” This shows a deeper meaning in his way of thinking and connecting this to humans. The way Tolstoy tells us to evaluate art is by seeing the infectiousness of art which can show us the good art from even better art. The three conditions individuality, clearness, and sincerity is what makes his standard for good art. The art is a form which most artists don’t use their understanding of and can be in Tolstoy’s definition of bad art. This can be useful to a degree, because the way we look at art can be random but also has a deeper meaning. Which is what Tolstoy is saying the artist must be committed to their art to have the three standards which can be effective for the viewers of the art. Looking for quality in art can be helpful because what’s in the content of the art is what matters. For example “This special importance has always been given by all men to that part of this activity which transmits feelings flowing from their religious perception, and this small part of art they have specifically called art, attaching to it the full meaning of the word”. Anything that connects to us emotionally can be put in Tolstoy’s standard of art because of the effect it has on the viewer. What I would do to change his proposal of art is the questioning of what makes this art significant to me, and to look at it from a view of benefit towards people instead of the three standard.
WC:424
Walking and talking 
I agree with your point that it’s important to consider whether a work of art benefits people instead of just focusing on clearness and sincerity and so on, and I actually think Tolstoy might agree too. He is careful to qualify that all his points about infectiousness are about how we should judge art “independently of its subject matter,” and he ends the excerpt that we read by asking how this subject matter should be judged. I would imagine that on that question he would care whether the art’s subject is beneficial to the viewer, and so this benefit would matter to his overall appraisal of a work.
LikeLike
Thank you for your insight about Tolstoy agreeing. I also think Tolstoy has a way of describing infectiousness but telling the artist and the viewers it must have a connection and see the true meaning of art but also his three conditions to tell fake art from real art.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tolstoy’s standards for art (individuality, clarity, sincerity) are useful, but relating to an artwork and reflecting on it can be especially empowering. Is there a piece of art that is significant to you? Could you describe what it is and explain its significance?
LikeLike
In my post about something I see as art I try to find something modern and something that I remembered growing up. I chose to talk about the show Adventure time because in my opinion art can be anything if you put your effort in it and have a passion doing it. Just like Tolstoy he wants the artist to have a passion into their art and has the three conditions.
LikeLike