{"product_id":"intentions","title":"Intentioner","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat if art owes us neither facts nor moral lessons—and life learns its habits from paintings?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn Intentions, Oscar Wilde challenges the demand that art should teach good behaviour, copy nature, or report facts. His four pieces turn questions of taste into lively arguments. In The Decay of Lying, Cyril wants a walk outside, while Vivian prefers the library—and makes a case for art that refuses to imitate life.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePen, Pencil and Poison offers a portrait of Thomas Griffiths Wainewright, a real Victorian criminal. The Critic as Artist brings Gilbert and Ernest together for a late-night conversation about criticism and contemplation. The Truth of Masks explores Shakespeare’s use of costume and setting. Throughout, Wilde’s playful wit carries a serious argument about what art is for.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eInside this book\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe art of lying\u003c\/strong\u003e – Follow Vivian’s attack on realism, where invention matters more than faithfully reporting the world.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLife learns from art\u003c\/strong\u003e – Consider Wilde’s claim that life copies paintings, rather than art simply copying life.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA criminal in focus\u003c\/strong\u003e – Meet Thomas Griffiths Wainewright in a portrait that brings an artist and poisoner together.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCritics become creators\u003c\/strong\u003e – Join Gilbert and Ernest as criticism becomes an imaginative art with a life of its own.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCostume carries meaning\u003c\/strong\u003e – Explore why dress and setting matter to Wilde’s understanding of Shakespeare’s plays.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003ePerfect for readers who enjoy sharp talk about art, literature, and taste, or want to explore the ideas behind Wilde’s plays.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOpen the first page now, and let Wilde put your ideas about art into lively question.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Library of Alexandria Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":59534658142556,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1027\/9442\/8764\/files\/01788_en_ebook-front_c04.jpg?v=1792175016","url":"https:\/\/libraryofalexandria.com\/sv\/products\/intentions","provider":"The Library of Alexandria","version":"1.0","type":"link"}