PREFIKS „META“ U TEORIJAMA UMETNOSTI

Abstract

Since the 1950s, we have seen a steady increase in the usage of the prefix meta (gr. mετά - change of place, order, state, nature) in literary and theories of visual art. This paper revisits the terms containing this prefix in the theories of arts: metatext, metafiction, metapicture, metamedia, and metafilm. The paper also seeks to isolate the basic premises of these theo- ries in order to more closely determine the prefix meta in the field of visual arts. The point of departure of this examination is Gerard Genet’s definition of metatext, since it is most widely applied and, to a greater or lesser extent, included in the definitions of related terms. All these terms are generally used to denote those works where some kind of change of state or place has occurred, works that take a critical attitude towards other works, or which bear a distinct self-awareness or self-reference. The paper takes into account referential theorists and exam- ples of artwork that can be considered exemplary of the definitions. The examination of these terms shows that, despite their different interpretations, they always serve to denote the works characterized by the creation of another level of representation, which does not have to be included in the work itself, but can be the reality itself, thus consciously shifting the boundary between the artwork and reality.