Final answer:
The textbook refers to formal theories as the ultimate evaluation of art, focusing solely on the form and visual elements.
Step-by-step explanation:
The textbook refers to formal theories as the ultimate evaluation of art. Formalism is an approach in art theory where the value of an artwork is judged solely by its form and visual elements, without consideration of realism, context, or content. It involves a formal analysis, looking at the medium and compositional elements. This approach comes in contrast to other art movements such as Cubism or Conceptual art, which emphasize different aspects of art, from multiple viewpoints and the representation of vision in the case of Cubism, to the ideas and concepts behind the artwork in Conceptual art.