Seurat

In Mass Culture and the Paradox of Pleasure , Eisenman discusses the concept of “harmony” in Seurat’s art. This harmony that is achieved in Neoimpressionism results from placing dialogical concepts together, and depicting their ability to coexist. The dots that are being used are mechanical in nature, yet the image produced resembles the smoothness of Impressionist art. Eisenman also discusses the harmony between alienation and delight, as the content being depicted in Seurat’s work. As such, Seurat is utilizing form to depict the content in his work. Seurat is therefore taking us to the threshold by making the contrast and the dialogical nature of his work and the social life around him apparent. He is putting this contradiction right in front of us, and by doing so, he deconstructs the very conditioned belief that these two concepts have to contradict. I definitely agree that beauty lies in this harmony between contesting ideas coexisting. Life in itself, is dialogical and cannot be explained. Living in this modern world, we often find ourselves chasing after ways to explain life, because we’re dissatisfied with the contradictions that we cannot explain, and Seurat’s art argues that there is no disharmony at all. I think what is interesting is that although beauty is in harmony between contrasting ideas, we derive pleasure out of chasing the unattainable, of questioning and always attempt to rationalize these dialogical ideas. As such, beauty is in the disharmony that results from these ideas as well. Another contradiction! This is in harmony as well because we’re looking for harmony while deriving pleasure from disharmony! I think that Seurat’s form is very thought-provoking and captures the essence of modern life.