tran·si·tive (trns-tv, -z-)
adj.

1. Abbr. trans. or tr. or t. Grammar Expressing an action carried from the subject to the object; requiring a direct object to complete meaning. Used of a verb or verb construction.
2. Characterized by or involving transition.
3. Logic & Mathematics Of or relating to a relationship between three elements such that if the relationship holds between the first and second elements and between the second and third elements, it necessarily holds between the first and third elements. Examples of transitive relationships are equality for numbers and divisibility for integers.

n. Grammar
A transitive verb.

I came across the term transitivity in Bourillaud’s Relational Aesthetics. The mathematical definition cited above was of particular interest to me. It occurred to me that replacing the first, second and third in this definition with artist, work and world provides the prefect statement regarding the state towards which one should aim to achieve as an artist.

I think Bourillaud is suggesting something similar in his essay albeit in a slightly more convoluted manner wrapped in philosophical art speak.

Having it put to me, as in the definition above, in such a clear statement made much more sense to me. I think it is something that I have always grappled within my my work but now I can see it written in a logical manner it is much easier to make sense of.
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