The Problem of Epistemic Framework and Perception of Art History in Vietnam Today

Abstract

The paper addresses the problem of conceptual inconsistencies in the use of epistemic frameworks within current discussions of art. This situation stems from a lack of reflexive engagement and insufficient interrogation of the epistemological assumptions that underpin art–historical perspectives. The paper then examines the origins and enduring influence of Eurocentric epistemic frameworks in art history, as well as their resurgence in contemporary art discourse. Drawing on Wittgenstein’s aesthetic philosophy and Gramsci’s cultural theory, the paper proposes a multidimensional approach to art history. It argues that art history should interpret artistic processes and cultural formations from the vantage point of specific artistic communities, each with its own norms and ideologies, rather than relying on Eurocentric norms.