AESTHETIC CONCEPTS

WHAT IS AESTHETICS?

• The branch of philosophy concerned with the nature of art and with
judgments concerning beauty. “What is art?” and “What do we mean when
we say something is beautiful?” are two questions often asked by
aestheticians.
• Visual aesthetics, refers to the beauty or the pleasing appearance of things.
• Aesthetics is important because it helps us understand and judge the various
qualities one will find in art. Aesthetics helps painters judge their paintings
by themselves. Without it, they would have to rely on others to judge the
quality of their work.
 EIGHT AESTHETIC PRINCIPLES

• 1. Objects are aesthetically valuable if they are meaningful or teach us

truths.
• 2. Objects are aesthetically valuable if they have the capacity to convey
values or beliefs that are central to the cultures or traditions in which
they originate or that are important to the artists who made them.
• 3. Objects are aesthetically valuable if they have the capacity to help
bring about social or political change.
 EIGHT AESTHETIC PRINCIPLES

• 4. Objects are aesthetically valuable if they have the capacity to

produce pleasure in those who experience or appreciate them.
• 5. Objects are aesthetically valuable if they have the capacity to
produce certain emotions we value, at least when the emotion is
brought about by art rather than life.
• 6. Objects are aesthetically valuable if they have the capacity to
produce special non emotional experiences, such as a feeling of
autonomy or the willing suspension of disbelief.
 EIGHT AESTHETIC PRINCIPLES

• 7. Objects are aesthetically valuable if they possess a special aesthetic

property or exhibit a special aesthetic form. Sometimes this aesthetic
property is called “beauty,” and sometimes it is given another name.
• 8. No reasoned argument can conclude that objects are aesthetically
valuable or valueless. This principle is expressed in the Latin saying
“De gustibus non est disputandum,” or “Tastes can’t be disputed.”
 SUBJECTIVE AND OBJECTIVE PERSPECTIVES

• Subjective words are used in forming an opinion and

assessing the art. At first sight, a viewer of art will express in
descriptive words the thoughts and feelings they
experience. Subjective opinion cannot lend itself to being
right or wrong
• Subjective art is absolutely private, personal.
 SUBJECTIVE AND OBJECTIVE PERSPECTIVES

• Subjective (knowledge residing in the emotions and thoughts of the viewer) almost
completely dominates our way of looking at art.
• An objective view is one that focuses on the object’s physical characteristics as the
main source of information. This does not mean that you will remove or invalidate
your subjective feelings about a work, in fact you will find that the more informed you
become, the more artwork will affect you emotionally and intellectually. It does mean
that you will learn alternative ways to approach art, ways that allow you to find clues
to meaning and to understand how art reflects and affects our lives.