While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Color field painting emerged in the 1940s as artists began...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Color field painting emerged in the 1940s as artists began creating large canvases dominated by areas of solid color.
- Art critic Clement Greenberg championed this movement and its leading practitioners.
- Artists like Mark Rothko and Helen Frankenthaler used color field techniques to evoke emotional responses.
- Greenberg argued that these works represented 'pure painting' by eliminating narrative and representational elements.
- This approach became known as formalist theory in art criticism.
- Many traditional art critics opposed formalist theory, arguing it ignored art's social and cultural meanings.
- The controversy intensified when major museums began organizing exhibitions based solely on formalist principles.
The student wants to explain why formalist theory became controversial among art critics. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Art critic Clement Greenberg championed color field painting and argued that these works represented 'pure painting.'
Formalist theory became controversial because traditional critics argued it ignored art's social and cultural meanings, and museums began organizing exhibitions based solely on formalist principles.
Color field painting emerged in the 1940s when artists like Mark Rothko began creating large canvases dominated by solid colors.
Artists like Mark Rothko and Helen Frankenthaler used color field techniques to evoke emotional responses in viewers.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Color field painting emerged in the 1940s as artists began creating large canvases dominated by areas of solid color.' |
|
| 'Art critic Clement Greenberg championed this movement and its leading practitioners.' |
|
| 'Artists like Mark Rothko and Helen Frankenthaler used color field techniques to evoke emotional responses.' |
|
| 'Greenberg argued that these works represented 'pure painting' by eliminating narrative and representational elements.' |
|
| 'This approach became known as formalist theory in art criticism.' |
|
| 'Many traditional art critics opposed formalist theory, arguing it ignored art's social and cultural meanings.' |
|
| 'The controversy intensified when major museums began organizing exhibitions based solely on formalist principles.' |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Formalist theory in art criticism became controversial because traditional critics believed it ignored social and cultural meanings, and the controversy intensified when museums adopted formalist-only exhibition practices.
Argument Flow: The passage traces the development of color field painting from its emergence in the 1940s through Clement Greenberg's theoretical framework of pure painting, which became known as formalist theory. It then explains how this theory became controversial when traditional critics argued it ignored art's social and cultural meanings, and how the controversy intensified when major museums began organizing exhibitions based solely on formalist principles.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The student wants to explain why formalist theory became controversial among art critics.
What type of answer do we need? A choice that uses relevant information from the notes to effectively explain the reasons for the controversy.
Any limiting keywords? Most effectively means we need the choice that best accomplishes the goal using the most relevant information.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The correct answer must explain why formalist theory became controversial specifically
- From our analysis, we can see that the controversy arose for two main reasons:
- Traditional art critics opposed formalist theory because they argued it ignored art's social and cultural meanings
- The controversy intensified when major museums began organizing exhibitions based solely on formalist principles
- The right answer should address these specific reasons for the controversy rather than just describing what formalist theory is or who supported it
Art critic Clement Greenberg championed color field painting and argued that these works represented 'pure painting.'
✗ Incorrect
- This choice only describes Greenberg's support and his argument about pure painting
- It doesn't address why the theory became controversial or mention any opposition
Formalist theory became controversial because traditional critics argued it ignored art's social and cultural meanings, and museums began organizing exhibitions based solely on formalist principles.
✓ Correct
- This choice directly states that formalist theory became controversial and provides both key reasons from the notes
- It explains that traditional critics argued the theory ignored social and cultural meanings and mentions that museums organizing exhibitions based solely on formalist principles contributed to the controversy
Color field painting emerged in the 1940s when artists like Mark Rothko began creating large canvases dominated by solid colors.
✗ Incorrect
- This choice only provides historical background about when color field painting emerged
- It doesn't mention formalist theory, controversy, or any opposition
Artists like Mark Rothko and Helen Frankenthaler used color field techniques to evoke emotional responses in viewers.
✗ Incorrect
- This choice describes what artists did with color field techniques
- It doesn't address formalist theory specifically or explain any controversy