Philosophy
Art and Intention: The Role of Authorial Meaning in Interpretation
Quick fact
In 1946, Wimsatt and Beardsley coined the term 'intentional fallacy' to argue that a work's meaning is independent of its creator's intent. This sparked a century-long debate that remains central in aesthetics and literary criticism.
Why this is interesting
We often ask 'what did the artist mean?' when we encounter a puzzling painting or poem. But does the artist's intention actually determine what the work means—or is that a fallacy?