Mikel Dufrenne "The World of the Aesthetic Object"

Mikel Dufrenne attempts to clarify a rather confusing area where the representational world meets the actual world. In describing the aesthetic world there are clear differences which can be illustrated in many ways such as the theatre and cinema. On the one hand theatre and cinema provide only enough background to meet the needs of the plot or to provide necessary location and even an illusion of depth. On the other hand in the written word there is a need for descriptive language that fills in the background to the extent that it seems like it could be a real world.

While describing a forest it is pointed out that all of the shadow and underbrush creates the since of the forest and as Dufrenne says “The forest prevents us from seeing the tree and the forest itself is seen only through its atmosphere.” He describes the need for the illusion, however he also points out, that the illusion should not be allowed to degenerate into a dream. There is a “perception only” of reality but perception enough that the aesthetic object seems to be real.

In theatre as in film it is not “at all necessary that the setting creates the illusion of reality …and does not need to compete with the dramatic object.” Similarly on the canvas the background only is useful to the extent that it gives attention to the object. This can be seen clearly in works such as the Mona Lisa or in the case of the Madonna. The city is there only to give the Madonna the necessary reverence from the surrounds. Whether in word or on the canvas it is apparent that the aesthetic object is the focus of attention and that the lack of clarity of other areas outside this object is certainly by design.