Observation as a Tool for Historian: A Critical Analysis of James Elkins’ Theories in the book How to Use Your Eyes

This research is a critique of “How to use your eyes” by James Elkins. He is an important theorist of art historiography with a critical view of traditional theories about art history. The book's subject is "observation". Elkins carefully observes a wide range of visual phenomena in t...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Jamal Arabzadeh
Format: Article
Language:fas
Published: Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies (IHCS) 2021-10-01
Series:پژوهش‌نامۀ انتقادی متون و برنامه‌های علوم انسانی
Subjects:
Online Access:https://criticalstudy.ihcs.ac.ir/article_7019_ad65aa7392049f94409669bd02eea883.pdf
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1841555351911006208
author Jamal Arabzadeh
author_facet Jamal Arabzadeh
author_sort Jamal Arabzadeh
collection DOAJ
description This research is a critique of “How to use your eyes” by James Elkins. He is an important theorist of art historiography with a critical view of traditional theories about art history. The book's subject is "observation". Elkins carefully observes a wide range of visual phenomena in two main categories: man-made and natural, which have different dimensions: historical, artistic, technological, linguistic, cultural, social or completely natural. He intends to teach correctly seeing. Here, the main question is about pattern forms the book basis and tries to extract his mental pattern by analyzing various book elements. The initial assumption is that the author specializes in visual studies of art history, has indirectly proposed the qualities ideas and how art historian activity dealing with various phenomena in art and culture. Therefore, his writings and basic theories have been explored. The research shows that many cases related to observation can be adapted to activities and different approaches in the historical art research and some of the main views of the author can be identified beyond them. For Elkins, correct observation free from the defined formats is the key to und erstand art history. In his opinion, history cannot be perceived only by studying art works. Observations of other visual phenomena in today's culture can deepen its understanding. Different expertise and knowledge are required.
format Article
id doaj-art-eef50f8a9d3046e6906f8f96756555bf
institution Kabale University
issn 2383-1650
language fas
publishDate 2021-10-01
publisher Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies (IHCS)
record_format Article
series پژوهش‌نامۀ انتقادی متون و برنامه‌های علوم انسانی
spelling doaj-art-eef50f8a9d3046e6906f8f96756555bf2025-01-08T05:42:01ZfasInstitute for Humanities and Cultural Studies (IHCS)پژوهش‌نامۀ انتقادی متون و برنامه‌های علوم انسانی2383-16502021-10-0121824926810.30465/crtls.2021.36733.22667019Observation as a Tool for Historian: A Critical Analysis of James Elkins’ Theories in the book How to Use Your EyesJamal Arabzadeh0Assistant Professor and Faculty Member of Painting Group, Visual Arts College, Art University of Tehran, Tehran, IranThis research is a critique of “How to use your eyes” by James Elkins. He is an important theorist of art historiography with a critical view of traditional theories about art history. The book's subject is "observation". Elkins carefully observes a wide range of visual phenomena in two main categories: man-made and natural, which have different dimensions: historical, artistic, technological, linguistic, cultural, social or completely natural. He intends to teach correctly seeing. Here, the main question is about pattern forms the book basis and tries to extract his mental pattern by analyzing various book elements. The initial assumption is that the author specializes in visual studies of art history, has indirectly proposed the qualities ideas and how art historian activity dealing with various phenomena in art and culture. Therefore, his writings and basic theories have been explored. The research shows that many cases related to observation can be adapted to activities and different approaches in the historical art research and some of the main views of the author can be identified beyond them. For Elkins, correct observation free from the defined formats is the key to und erstand art history. In his opinion, history cannot be perceived only by studying art works. Observations of other visual phenomena in today's culture can deepen its understanding. Different expertise and knowledge are required.https://criticalstudy.ihcs.ac.ir/article_7019_ad65aa7392049f94409669bd02eea883.pdfart historyart historiographyjames elkinsvisual studiesthe eyes
spellingShingle Jamal Arabzadeh
Observation as a Tool for Historian: A Critical Analysis of James Elkins’ Theories in the book How to Use Your Eyes
پژوهش‌نامۀ انتقادی متون و برنامه‌های علوم انسانی
art history
art historiography
james elkins
visual studies
the eyes
title Observation as a Tool for Historian: A Critical Analysis of James Elkins’ Theories in the book How to Use Your Eyes
title_full Observation as a Tool for Historian: A Critical Analysis of James Elkins’ Theories in the book How to Use Your Eyes
title_fullStr Observation as a Tool for Historian: A Critical Analysis of James Elkins’ Theories in the book How to Use Your Eyes
title_full_unstemmed Observation as a Tool for Historian: A Critical Analysis of James Elkins’ Theories in the book How to Use Your Eyes
title_short Observation as a Tool for Historian: A Critical Analysis of James Elkins’ Theories in the book How to Use Your Eyes
title_sort observation as a tool for historian a critical analysis of james elkins theories in the book how to use your eyes
topic art history
art historiography
james elkins
visual studies
the eyes
url https://criticalstudy.ihcs.ac.ir/article_7019_ad65aa7392049f94409669bd02eea883.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT jamalarabzadeh observationasatoolforhistorianacriticalanalysisofjameselkinstheoriesinthebookhowtouseyoureyes