b. 1939
Kendall Walton (born 1939) is an American analytic philosopher at the University of Michigan whose work centers on aesthetics and the philosophy of art. He is best known for his make-believe theory of representation, which holds that engaging with fiction and pictorial art involves a form of imaginative game-playing. His 1970 paper 'Categories of Art' and his 1990 book 'Mimesis as Make-Believe' are foundational texts in contemporary aesthetics.
Developed the make-believe theory of representation in 'Mimesis as Make-Believe' (1990)
Argued in 'Categories of Art' (1970) that aesthetic properties like grace and balance are perceived relative to the category under which a work is experienced
Provided an influential account of emotional responses to fiction ('quasi-emotions' or 'make-believe emotions')
Advanced the analysis of depiction and pictorial representation
Long-term influence on aesthetics at the University of Michigan