Part of a discussion between a professor and a student of literature on Indian history and arts. The subject of the discussion was the story of Kacha and Devayani. It is the part on criticism that interests me.
Student : Professor, you mean to say all criticism is objective ? Professor : All criticism on historical literature is objective. The moment it becomes subjective it ceases to be authentic.It ceases to be a criticism on history.
Stud : But ... doesnt this mean that the poet who has recorded history can show no emotion, can express none of his feelings in his words?(The professor takes a deliberate reflective pause.Then resumes...)
Prof: This is almost a subject of its own.This gives rise to so many ideological questions.What is the relationship between art and science? Is criticism(vimarshanam) art or science?If it is a science what type of science is it? Is criticism a form of knowledge? Is criticism always objective or is it a form of rasaanubhuthi? The answer is then,that there are types of criticism.As there are types of science.
As you read a piece of literature, when you observe the dialogue,the ithivritham, the direction of the play,the trail of the plot,the characters and their attire, the settings and their quality, you are analyzing the play with respect to some set norms.It then becomes Normative Science.
But then you can also observe the beauty of the play.You can observe the emotion that you feel while viewing the play. You can analyze the poet and his work. You can see if the emotion that the poet wills his characters to possess has come through to the audience.In other words you can analyze yourself to understand if you have felt what the poet wanted you to feel...
Student : Professor, you mean to say all criticism is objective ? Professor : All criticism on historical literature is objective. The moment it becomes subjective it ceases to be authentic.It ceases to be a criticism on history.
Stud : But ... doesnt this mean that the poet who has recorded history can show no emotion, can express none of his feelings in his words?(The professor takes a deliberate reflective pause.Then resumes...)
Prof: This is almost a subject of its own.This gives rise to so many ideological questions.What is the relationship between art and science? Is criticism(vimarshanam) art or science?If it is a science what type of science is it? Is criticism a form of knowledge? Is criticism always objective or is it a form of rasaanubhuthi? The answer is then,that there are types of criticism.As there are types of science.
As you read a piece of literature, when you observe the dialogue,the ithivritham, the direction of the play,the trail of the plot,the characters and their attire, the settings and their quality, you are analyzing the play with respect to some set norms.It then becomes Normative Science.
But then you can also observe the beauty of the play.You can observe the emotion that you feel while viewing the play. You can analyze the poet and his work. You can see if the emotion that the poet wills his characters to possess has come through to the audience.In other words you can analyze yourself to understand if you have felt what the poet wanted you to feel...
