The provided text is comprised of excerpts from Susanne K. Langer's work, "Feeling and Form" (1953), which is presented as a critique and philosophical theory of art following up on her previous work. Langer explores the theory of symbolism as it applies to art, contrasting discursive language (like that used in science) with the non-discursive, expressive form found in art, such as music and painting. She examines various art forms—plastic arts, music, dance, and poetry—by identifying the primary illusion each creates, such as virtual space in painting and sculpture, virtual time in music, virtual powers in dance, and virtual memory (a virtual past) in literature. Langer consistently argues that the purpose of art is the articulation and symbolization of human feeling and vital rhythms, asserting that a work of art is a self-contained, objective symbol, rather than merely a reflection of the artist's personal emotions or a device for amusement.
