Art’s expression is the non-subjective trace within the subject

Evidence

The expression of works of art is the non-subjective element of the subject, not so much its own expression (Ausdruck), but rather the impression (Abdruck) it makes. There is nothing as expressive as the eyes of animalsapeswhich objectively seem to lament the fact that they are not human. — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 2737

Categorization

• DEFINE: Adorno’s distinction of Ausdruck vs Abdruck — expression as impression, and the ape’s lament as expressive ideal.
• STORYSTEM: The ape’s eyes lamenting non-humanity is a haunting image — could seed a fable or story about what animals mourn in their gaze.
• XREF: connects to: Aesthetic expression is the non-subjective impress made on the subject — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 2738; Art achieves objective revelation through subjective effort only at the cost of illusoriness — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 2742; Mediatised speech can be recycled as art without passing through a reflexive self. — Mark Fisher (edited by Darren Ambrose), K-Punk: The Collected and Unpublished…, 1167

Broader Connections

• Aesthetic expression is the non-subjective impress made on the subject #corroborates (0.97) — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 2738
• Art achieves objective revelation through subjective effort only at the cost of illusoriness #expands (0.80) — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 2742