Extract
[...] Habitude : Unlike the work of art, we have a usual and monotonous, even mechanical experience of the object. Indeed, as Bergson illustrates, human consciousness survives by concentrating perception on the useful elements of reality: thus, we consider, we apprehend things according to their utility and not for their own sake. Now, this way of apprehending reality has caused it to lose its specificity in our eyes, so that it has merged into our habitual perception and has become monotonous and pale. [...]
[...] Extrinsic purpose : the craftsman, thehomo faber manufactures the technical object with a goal, a purpose that is external to this object. For example, we manufacture a pen for to write: the pen therefore has an external purpose to itselfextherefore). Metaphysical Intuition : the work of art addresses our sensible perception, our intuition (using Bergson's concept). In fact, thanks to the artist's work, the work of art, we have a more direct access to reality because we do not seek, in the reality represented by the work of art, a utility: we can contemplate it for itself and therefore consider it in a much more whole, empathetic way, so to speak. [...]
[...] For example, a work by Hokusai is unique: it cannot be reproduced exactly. We can imitate it, but never reproduce it faithfully. As Henri Bergson points out, this impossibility of reproducing the work of art imitates the uniqueness, the individuality of things in nature. Generalities : The technical object seeks uniformity to fulfill the assigned objective. It conforms to language in this way. Through language, we move away from reality by simplifying it to classify it into concepts. In other words, to understand things and use them in order to live in society, we have defined them through language, which allows us to consider objects for their utility. [...]
[...] It is a gratuitous act, which is not exchanged and serves nothing concretely, in terms of social utility. It is precisely this gratuitousness of the work of art that allows it to say something true of the real, since it is not interested. Social utility : Thus, the technical object is a means to an end and serves the society. It allows to survive and, for this purpose, it is a matter of considering only the utility of things and not the things for themselves. Individuality : The work of art has an infinite equivocality and is interpreted. [...]
[...] Through our language, we consider as reproducible the objects that are pens, because they have the same function. Their utility determines their designation under the same name. The same model of pen can indeed be produced in series, a sign of the generality of the technical object that it is." Sense of Transcendence : Due to its equivocality, it is impossible to grasp, to apprehend, to exhaust the entire wealth of meaning contained in the work of art. For example, it is impossible to define a work by Hokusai: the multiplicity of possible interpretations of this work and the range of emotions it can provoke in us is infinite, transcending us. [...]
