Huerta, Stephanie Said, Namirah

Yarbrough, Cameron Course: Web Design Instructor: Ms. Kol

Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy October 2014

WHO? • Aristotle(384 to 322 B.C)- Greek Philosopher • Aristotle wrote Peace that presented the ideas of aestheticism. • Father Nicomachus, who was the personal physician to King

Armentas of Macedon, died when Aristotle was in his early age. • Aristotle’s writings referred to many subjects, including ethics

and aesthetics, believing that people’s concept of knowledge was only based on their perception.

• He was the teacher of Alexander the Great, which led him to establish a library.

• He joined Plato’s academy in Athens, and from then on, he constituted the first comprehensive idea of Western Philosophy.

• Immanuel Kant(April 22, 1724 to February 12, 1804)-

postulated idea of aestheticism • Kant is known as a German Philosopher of Modern Philosophy

with ethics and metaphysics. • He was born in Prussia and changed his name when he later

learned Hebrew. • His father, Johann Georg Kant (1682–1746), was a German

harnessmaker from Memel. • He began studying at an early age, allowing him to attend the

University of Konigsberg at the age of 16. • One of the most important ideas about him is that he believed in

the structure of the mind, personal experience, and reality.

WHAT? • EVERYTHING IN LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL!

• Art exists for the sake of beauty alone and no other purpose.

• Aestheticism presents what is pleasing to the eye.

• This philosophy influences contemporary design, meaning that it shows art from the time period it was present.

The Starry Night by Van Gogh

WHEN? 1851 1860’s

1877 Early 20th Ct. 1951

Morris and Rossetti, artists of the time, explored new ways of living during The Great Exhibition.

Studios and houses of a radical group of artists and designers were made for the aesthetic movement.

The Grosvenor Gallery opened to present the works of artists.

The aesthetic movement, which is dedicated to pure beauty, contrasted materialism in Britain.

The Festival of Britain opened to show the public beautiful art.

Artists felt the need to go against the unpleasant design standards of the time period.

Aestheticism, the painters’ movement, had a conflict emerging while Victorians around, at the same time, also had a conflict on their own moral values.

Arts and Crafts Workshops opened for the Aesthetic Movement.

Musical attire on aesthetes was presented in Opera Comique in London.

WHERE? • The emergence first began in Britain ever since the Industrial Revolution.

• It later became popular in France around the early twentieth century.

• Aestheticism is meant to present an optimistic attitude and positive light.

• “Beauty is a symbol of morality” –Immanuel Kant

© Arthur Schopenhauer

WHY? • Aestheticism was a reaction to prevailing philosophies of the ugliness

of the Industrial age.

• Kant assumed independence of the aesthetic standards.

• Morris and Ruskin questioned the value of art from reality, leading to the emergence of the Art Movement.

• Idea of beauty is still active now worldwide.

HOW? • The idea of aestheticism first began

with the widening of leisure activities in the eighteenth century.

• The Grosvenor’s Gallery for painters movement was opened.

• Arts and Crafts Movement occurred in 1875-1920, with the help of the Grosvenor Gallery.

• Aestheticism contributed to Social Transformations. • �Ex. The establishment of the Second

Reform Bill of 1867 extended the vote to workingmen.

Art Nouveau, a philosophy for the style of art, was later established.

“Art is the antithesis on society, not directly deducible from it.” – Theodor W. Adorno, Aesthetic Theory

Adorno reflects on society and compares its ugliness to art ’s beauty. Art can come in many forms–performing art, music, paintings, drawings, etcetera–which presents the appealing aspects of life. In other words, art and society are completely different, according to Adorno. This idea contributes to aestheticism when the arts movement emerged during the flourishing of the aesthetic theory. Though Adorno does not directly state how art and society are distinguished, his ambiguous statement can lead one to interpret his declaration and determine the powerful message behind those few words. The statement exemplifies a valid point. People tend to be heavily affected by what they grew up with, which can carry throughout adulthood. Within this society, conflicts, rumors, threats, and pressures build up all around the world, and these negative experiences can drastically impact a young innocent mind who, for instance, has a thirst for knowledge as well as a thirst for an exploration of their surroundings but rather feels self -conscious due to these kinds of influences. Such obstacles demonstrate the general make-up of society. Unfortunately, this is reality. However, these ideas enhance the significance of art. Because of the rare appreciation for art, the meaning behind their positive exhibition enhances the idea of beauty and how it is desperately needed in a world that suffers from war, in -compassionate as well as judgmental individuals, and a destruction of innocent and naive beings.

~ Namirah Said

“Nothing’s perfect, the world’s not perfect. But it’s there for us, trying the best it can; that’s what makes it so damn beautiful.”

-Hiromu Arakawa If the world were to be perfect, life would be boring. It is the flaws within that makes the world so unique and worth living. We learn from our mistakes to grow as individuals. We have to appreciate what life has to offer day by day. Our mistakes are what makes us wiser whereas living perfectly would not make us physically or emotionally stronger. Imagine if life was perfect: everyone would be the same and there would not be a purpose to live. The beauty in the world is found through imperfections, which represents aestheticism.

I agree with Hiromu because the world is here for us to embrace it, to learn from our mistakes, to enjoy life to the fullest, and to appreciate how beautiful life is. I, myself, am not perfect, so instead of wasting my time being perfect, I focus on how I can be a better person. For example, in soccer, if we work together, we win together not according to the score board, but as a team. We have our flaws, but our efforts make us strong.

~ Stephanie Huerta

“Art is the accomplice of love. Take love away and there is no longer art.” -Remy de Gourmont

Art is often used in many other horrible forms or personal use such as propaganda or attempting to convince people into something they are unsure about. Art is meant to express feelings and to be appealing to the eye, such as paintings of flowers and such. Art is meant to show inner creativity, especially when it comes to love. It is not art when the image attempts to convince people to go to war.

I do believe this quote because art is often used for many other wrong purposes and can give people a very bad idea of art. When you think of art, the first thing that should come to mind is a very beautiful picture, not an elderly man pointing at you attempting to recruit to the army. Without passion, there is a lack of sincerity within the art, no matter how pleasing one might find it to be.

~ Cameron Yarbrough

References

Primary:

"Aesthetics - Philosophers on Art." Aesthetics - Philosophers on Art. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Sept. 2014.

<http://www/rowan/edu/open/philosop/clowney/clowney/aesthetics/philos_artists_onart/onart_frames.htm>.

"Chapter Eighteen. Towards Marius, Aesthetic Worship." Chapter Eighteen. Towards Marius, Aesthetic Worship . N.p., n.d. Web. 22

Sept. 2014.<http://www.victorianweb.org/books/delaura/18.html>.

"The Internet Classics Archive | Poetics by Aristotle." The Internet Classics Archive | Poetics by Aristotle . N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Sept. 2014.

<http://classics.mit/edu/Aristotle/poetics.1.1.html>.

Secondary:

"Dewey's Aesthetics." Stanford University. Stanford University, 29 Sept. 2006. Web. 22 Sept. 2014.

<http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/dewey-aesthetics/>.

MacCarthy, Flona. "The Aesthetic Movement." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited, 25 Mar. 2011. Web. 22 Sept. 2014.

Leddy, Tom. <http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2011/mar/26/aestheticisim -exibition-victoria-albert-museum>.

The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Aestheticism (art Movement)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica,

n.d. Web. 22 Sept. 2014. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/7474/Aestheticism>.