On Art Criticism
Cynthia Freeland (author of But Is It Art?) mentions that an art analysis (18) examines three aspects
- Formal and Material properties
- Its content – The thought or meaning it expresses
- The context – Its place in the art tradition
I think that this approach works to analyze any form of art including literature.
Context may include history, politics, biographical experiences, socio-cultural environment. I\’d also add the title of the piece which could work within content and context for analyzing any work of art.
Even avant-garde art is modulated by a historical and cultural processes. Knowledge is incremental, for individual as for societies.