Re: [microsound] miles of styles of philosophes

[David Powers <cyborgk@xxxxxxxxx>]

On 1/30/07, Damian Stewart <damian@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Does this mean there is no such thing as universal art?
>
> ... Is the experience of beauty an emotion? I believe it is, but I was
> having an interesting discussion with my flatmate the other morning
> where she was saying that she didn't think that it was.

One possible answer is that there could be universal art, but ONLY
under the condition that one attempts to work with a "context free"
type of grammar, and remove all emotional and cultural content.  In
fact, this is precisely what the Constructivist tradition in European
art attempted to do (which also has a strong connection with elements
of the socialist tradition, fyi...).

Beauty is, I believe, a cultural or personal value. To declare
something beautiful, for me implies more of an intellectual judgement
than an emotional response. This is so, because emotional responses
depend on too many external factors to be available consistently, but
the aesthetic judgements may remain consistent despite fluctuating
emotions. To illustrate my point: I believe that most trees are
beautiful, however, I don't feel an emotional response every time I
look at trees. Many days I'm too busy and stressed out to appreciate
them, and to observe them in an aesthetic manner.

~David

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