Symposium der Studierenden der Kunstgeschichte Ostasien

Student Symposium on the topic of Eccentrics

Abstract

The idea of eccentrics particularly shaped the way in which we talk about those important artists that would be difficult to define otherwise. With our use of the term “eccentric”, we free ourselves from the arduous task of contextualizing the artist in his life and his time. His/her actions come from the originality of thought that cannot be fit into the social norms.
The definition of eccentrics was used not only in the discussion about art and artists of East Asia, but also in other parts of the world, and is an integral part of a long historical discourse. Nevertheless it is important to look critically at the ideas underlying the eccentricity, and take into account the its constantly changing meaning.