Aesthetics

1. The first video, Aesthetics: the Philosophy of Art, concentrated on how the concept and idea of aesthetics came about after centuries. It evolved from one figure (Plato) who laid out the groundwork for aesthetics to grow. The video taught how one idea can be created with different contributions and feeling from one person and evolve into what can be the groundwork for art. From Plato to modern day art, aesthetics has greatly evolved. The second video from CARTA, was also very interesting and took a more scientific view on the concept of aesthetics. The first lecture from Changeux explained how the aesthetic experience can evolve from human evolution. He compares it to humans and as we progress, so does art. The way we perceive certain images comes from how our brain looks at it and relates to our aesthetic experience. 

2. As I said in the chapter postings, I felt that Plato's contribution was very important. When speaking of aesthetics, he laid a foundation for all other opinions to be based off. He clearly stated his opinions with reason to support his feelings and others after him simply branched off his opinions, whether they agreed or disagreed. Aristotle took Plato's beliefs to another level and expanded on it with what he believed. However, after Aristotle, even more foundations for aesthetics were laid out. Just as art grew, so did contributions to the meaning of aesthetics. Hutcheson was soon to enhance these ideas, concentrating on the phenomenon of beauty. And taking them a step further was Kant.

3. Changeux compares the evolution of the human to the evolution of art. He says that art uses symbolic forms that are similar to human productions. He says that art has history but asks about the progression of art since it's early origins of art. He says there is some kind of mental synthesis which contributes to the aesthetic experience. He shows an image that can either be seen as a man or a woman, depending on how your mind perceives it (which is very cool!). He compares the conscious and the unconscious and compares the aesthetic experience to the conscious. Ramachandran is a bit more charismatic and humorous and uses actual works of art in his presentation to enhance his presentation. He lists 8 universal laws of aesthetics however adds that cultural influences aren't taken away from that. He claims he's interested in rules that cut across cultural boundaries.

4. Both videos discuss different views of aesthetics and its evolution. They both explore its roots and progression over the years, both artistically and scientifically. What I take from these videos, there is not one reason or explanation on how aesthetics evolved. Depending on how an individual perceives the world and their understanding of concepts is how we perceive the definition of aesthetics. The videos stretch the concept of aesthetics that we read about in the book and add another view to it to make it better to understand. How we view certain works is enhanced by our own perceptions.  

 

5. I felt that the films were very interesting. They were both mildly long and were sometimes difficult to keep up with, but they were filled with information that added to my understanding of aesthetics. The first shows the evolution of aesthetics in an artistic way and the second in a scientific way. My only viewpoint is, I don't believe there is a science to art. I solely think that art is art and how we view it is based on our emotions and feelings and our way of interacting with a work, not on our brain perceptions and eyes. When talking about art, science isn't involved. Yes, scientifically, what we see is our brain putting a meaning to it, but I don't like collaborating the two. I feel art is more feeling and emotion more than science.