“The presence in differing degrees of the three conditions – particularity, clarity, and sincerity – determines the worth of the object of art, regardless of its content. All works of art can be ranked according to their worth by the presence of the first, second and third of these conditions in greater or lesser degree. In one, the particularity of the conveyed feeling may predominate; in another, clarity of the expression; in a third, sincerity; in a fourth, sincerity and particularity, but lack of clarity; in a fifth, particularity and clarity, but less sincerity, etc., in all possible degrees and combinations. Thus art is distinguished from non-art, and the worth of art as art is determined, regardless of its content, that is, independently of whether it conveys good or bad feelings.”
These are the qualities that Tolstoy uses to judge a work of art. Because they are solid criteria, he insists that there will never be any bias for judging, but I believe that we are all human, and there will always be a bias. Tolstoy’s bias is that he wants all art that is judged to support Christianity, and all other art is bad art, whether it has a high value or not. I certainly believe that while Christian art is all well and good, there are definitely other art topics to be covered that are just as valid and deserving to exist.
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