Abstract
Two samples were used, college students and art museum attendees. Both groups were asked to rank order nine different areas of subject matter in painting in terms of personal preference. No visual examples of the suggested subject matter were provided, although brief descriptions were given when it was deemed necessary. Based on rankings, all samples and the male and female sub-samples of the student sample showed highly significant within and between groups differences. The findings are argued to be contrary to those expected by those holding a position of “relativism” with respect to art. The possibility of a dual system of aesthetics with respect to art judged for personal acquisition and abstract evaluation is discussed.
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