beauty changes everything
On the IMDb website, the highest rated film is The Shawshank Redemption (1994). Audiences rally behind Andy Dufresne (played by Tim Robbins) and Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding (played by Morgan Freeman). When it comes to real prisoners, however, a stark difference seems more normal, as people adopt an out of sight and out of mind … Continue reading Aesthetics as Necessary for Prison Reform
In 1980, philosopher John Finnis wrote Natural Law and Natural Rights, which is his explanation of natural law theory. He sets the stage by saying that there are seven basic human goods (also called basic reasons for action): life, knowledge, practical reasonableness, 'religion', play, friendship, and aesthetic experience. These all contribute to human flourishing; they … Continue reading Aesthetic Experience: A Basic Reason for Action
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
As the founder of Artful Banyan Tree, Bella Zhang stands as a pioneering force in the convergence of art and well-being promotion. With degrees in Psychology from the University of Edinburgh and Business Psychology from Hochschule für Medien, Kommunikation und Wirtschaft, Bella combines academic excellence with creative innovation. Bella, a certified Expressive Arts Facilitator, employs … Continue reading Bringing Beauty to Business: An Interview with Bella Zhang
I started Aesthetics Research Lab (ARL) in 2016 because I sensed that there were people around the world, in unexpected professions and disciplines, who had an affinity toward aesthetics, even if they didn't know the jargon or theories. I also never understood why my discipline (philosophy) focuses conversations about aesthetics so much on art alone. … Continue reading 7 Year Summary
Quality can be an ambiguous word when people approach from different perspectives. What makes a quality car? It could be how long it will last; how fast it will go; how much it can haul. What makes a quality movie? Answering this question might require us to differentiate between genres, such as horror, comedy, action, … Continue reading Quality Improvement for Healthcare
Prior to 2020, the word 'metaverse' was not commonly used, especially not in daily discourse. That changed during the Covid-19 pandemic as many things transitioned online temporarily, and some for good. Suddenly, the metaverse became a buzzword people see and hear everywhere. Companies started hiring metaverse officers, and some people began claiming expertise in something … Continue reading Why Aesthetics Should Drive the Metaverse
Our personal taste—for example in art, fashion, or music—does not develop by accident; it is not passive. People choose what they view, wear, and follow. But companies and organizations know how to exploit our natural desires for beauty and aesthetics. Before the Internet became a household necessity, people often trusted a friend or family member … Continue reading TikTok Aesthetics
The relation between morality and beauty continues to capture attention. Philosophers, especially moralists like Anthony Cooper (aka Shaftesbury), connected the ability to comprehend beauty to a person's virtue. Making this explicit, Shaftesbury referred to this innate ability to understand beauty as the moral sense. Part of the basis for this belief was the idea that … Continue reading Virtue and the Beautiful
Described by many as larger than life, Lance Hosey pushed for higher levels of excellence and beauty by architects and designers. He passed away in 2021, but he left a legacy of advocating for the use of aesthetics in green (or sustainable) design. Within his context of design, he held to a core idea that … Continue reading The Beauty of Green Design