John Dewey Research Paper

501 Words2 Pages

John Dewey defines expression as an “urge from within outwards,” which must be “clarified and ordered by taking into itself the values of prior experiences.” (Dewey, p.64) Those values are elicited through objects of the environment that offer resistance to the direct discharge of emotion and impulse.”(Dewey, p64) He further says that to express is to “stay by, to carry forward in development, to work out to completion.” (Dewey, p.64) Expression, as defined by Dewey, is differentiated from “impulsion” or an “outburst” by the element of prior experience. He illustrates this in his example of the cries of a new born baby (Dewey, p.65). They are not, according to Dewey, an act of expression but merely outbursts due to their lack prior experience. Once the baby has matured enough then they are capable of the art of expression through their cry. Since they have now been able to recall that when they cry they get attention, they can then “express” that they need attention by …show more content…

For there to be expression, esthetic expression, there has to be a balance, or harmony, between the internal urge that is within and the rhythmic, controlled process by which it is released, or else it too is no more than an outburst. There has to be a balance between the two it impedes esthetic expression. Dewey likens this concept to a volcano erupting. If there is too much environmental “resistance” it may cause the volcano to through rocks forcefully into the air; however, when there is a balance in the “urge” from within and the “resistance” that is exerted in its discharge the difference may be seen where the rock has been allowed, by an orderly and balanced process, to be re-created as lava that flows from the volcano rather than being an uncontrolled, sporadic

Open Document