Discourse Analysis of Traditionalism and Historical Perspectives in the Theoretical Foundations of Islamic Art

The various and sometimes different approaches and definitions in the study of Islamic art have complicated the study of it. Traditionalism and historical perspectives, the two dominant approaches in this branch, look at Islamic art differently. The base in traditionalism is on tradition and unchangeable principles, while in historical perspectives, it is history and its contexts. Traditionalists consider Islamic art to be the result of a grace that has flowed in the artist and embodied the teachings of perennial philosophy in the art works, but in the historical perspectives, the art works are the product of historical determinism and context. These differences have made the study of art works complicated even at prestigious festivals, and the various and conflicting criteria for judging works of Islamic art. This research, in a descriptive-analytical and discourse analysis method and a comparative approach, seeks to answer the questions; What is the discourse analysis of these two dominant approaches in Islamic art? And why, despite these two dominant discourses, there is no unity in the definition of Islamic art and its main features? and provide a basis for modifying a more comprehensive definition. Research findings include dissimilarity in discourse components, discourse creation, and sub-discourses.