The Role of Interpretation in Art Criticism

My dissertation argues for a new account of interpretation in art criticism. On the received view in analytic philosophy, interpretation primarily functions to reveal the artwork's message to the audience. On my account, interpretation primarily offers a framework. When this is a good framework, it enhances the audience's experience of the artwork. Interpretations prime the audience to experience the features in a certain order, with certain associations, and as having particular relationships to one another. Additionally, I consider which features make an interpretation good or bad for art criticism, interpretation of everyday objects, and other practices that create a framework.