beauty changes everything
The title of this essay is admittedly a mouthful. It's because I want to introduce a technical term in philosophy that goes back to the medieval theologian and philosopher, Thomas Aquinas. It is useful in understanding the beauty of performance, in both artistic and non-artistic contexts. When someone is well-trained on an instrument or tool, … Continue reading Performative Beauty and Knowledge by Connaturality
Sometimes a microcosm of the world allows us to examine something in a fresh way. Cosplay culture gives us a new context in which to understand how beauty standards affect people. Cosplay is the practice of dressing up as a character from a movie, book (often a graphic novel), video game, or comic. Most frequently … Continue reading The Aesthetic Influences on Cosplay
Theories of taste ran rampant in the eighteenth century, but things have settled down a bit in academic circles. Despite all the books on aesthetics, few people (if any) have offered new theories of aesthetic taste. Yet we live in a time where the exercise of taste has become quite pervasive. Content creators and audiences … Continue reading What is Aesthetic Taste?
In his book, Aesthetics: A Very Short Introduction, Bence Nanay writes, "What all things aesthetic have in common is something very simple: the way you're exercising your attention" (p.22). To illustrate what he means, Nanay uses as an example the painting The Fall of Icarus by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Landscape with the Fall of … Continue reading Attention to Beauty
Because you celebrate Black culture does not mean that you don't like white culture; or that you putting it down.It's just taking pride- Solange Knowles, “Interlude: Tina Taught Me” Victoria Lynn Awkward, “Sand (Group),” 2019. Photo courtesy of Victoria Lynn Awkward. What does it mean to be inclusive and diverse? We have committees, departments, policies, … Continue reading Collective Individuals: A Review of Sand
The value of art is regularly called into question. Not long ago, our state reduced funding to the Massachusetts Cultural Council—an all-too-familiar pattern. In response, advocates often turn to instrumental arguments: art improves education, boosts the economy, strengthens communities. These points have merit and have helped secure funding. But are they enough? At a recent … Continue reading Why Art Matters: Beyond the Bottom Line