Social Sciences in China

Vol. 38, No. 4, 2017

SPECIAL ISSUE: A DISCUSSION ON THE SOURCE OF MEANING OF LITERARY WORKS

Complexity: Some Remarks about a Classical Aesthetic Concept

(Abstract)

Heinz Drügh

The connection between autonomous art and complexity has been extensively and deeply studied in literary theories in the 20th century. The rise of aesthetic autonomy implies the complexity of literary work as the concept of a sealed container arises from the relationship between the parts that make it up. In this model, the interpretation subject works to directly face literary texts. Instead of pursuing the author ’s intention, it aims to reproduce the richness and subtlety of the aesthetic state, and consider the richness and subtlety revealed in the maximum amount of text details in literary works, even if procedurally deviating from the way of mainstream understanding. There is increasing skepticism about the consequences of the autonomous aesthetics, which has been coerced by the development of contemporary capitalism, and it is necessary to develop new forms of aesthetics to reflect the changing social situation.

Keywords: autonomous art, complexity, refinement, critical attitude