I think what has gone wrong since our last attempts to improve our site's traffic by reevaluating the scope of our site is that it has too many aspects to consider. Instead of reassessing our scope as a whole, discussing specific aspects as they present themselves might be preferable. One step at a time and all that.
A new question just popped up, asking a theoretical question about art ("What do 'object' and 'subject' mean in the arts and especially in abstract expressionism?"*). My proposal (as before): let's allow these.
- It does not fall under art history (specifically), so History is off limits.
- There is no other SE site where this type of question would be topical, let alone on-topic.
- This topic can be relevant to the creation of works, or at least conceptualizing and discussing (art) projects.
- It's not evaluation. There is no subjectivity here.
- We have similar existing topics, like color-theory (now synonymous with color). I realize this has a much more practical and direct relation to practical matters, but it has gotten very theoretical at times.
- General benefits:
- It will slightly broaden our audience.
- It will bring in a few more questions (or, well, leave a few more questions open, probably).
Another thing to consider, if allowed, is how we would define 'art theory questions'. Would aesthetics fall under art theory, and, if so, how can we minimize subjectivity? Where does art theory end and art history begin? &c.
* Slightly edited for readability's sake.
