The politics of beauty have reshaped the definition of beauty. Its political and economic associations have made it an inappropriate concept to promote or condemn. Contemporary art has begun to examine beauty’s complexities. Artists have resisted the urge to produce beauty purely for its own sake, despite the complexities of its production. Moreover, artists have come to question whether beauty is truly a desirable quality. This article explores the role of beauty in our society.
Essentially, beauty is about enhancing the experience of our world. In fact, Alan Moore argues that “beauty is the essence of everything.” He points to Patagonia as an example of a company that fosters creativity. A positive workplace culture encourages creative thinking and better decision-making. Thus, beauty becomes a valuable asset. It is essential to rethink the role of aesthetics in design. This will allow designers to create work that improves our lives.
Several philosophers have discussed the question of beauty. Kant and Hume offered very different accounts of beauty. However, both stressed the subjectivity of beauty and its necessity for good things. Neither of these philosophers emphasized the value of beauty in a moral sense. While the philosophies of beauty do not disagree with each other, they disagree on what constitutes a good thing. Therefore, it is necessary to distinguish aesthetics from other factors in aesthetics.
The classical conception of beauty reflects the primordial Western idea of beauty. Its earliest expressions include classical and neo-classical architecture, sculpture, literature, and music. Plotinus says that beauty must be accompanied by order and pleasure. The resulting harmony is beautiful. As a result, beauty has become an important concept throughout Western civilization. So, we must understand the nature of beauty and how it relates to our modern world.
Modern beauty definitions have been shaped throughout history. In the Renaissance, plumpness was a sign of wealth and beauty, and during the 90s, a “heroin chic” waif could be beautiful. The modern, Kardashian-esque conception of beauty seeks a rational understanding of beauty and focuses on its complexities in terms of models and formulas. It also has been shown that beauty is a subjective experience. But in our society, the very concept of beauty is a cultural construct.
The classical conception of beauty focuses on the objective quality of an object or the aesthetic response it evokes in the observer. While Plato and Aristotle’s conceptions of beauty differ from each other in many ways, they have a common characteristic – beauty is subjective. Aristotle, on the other hand, viewed beauty as a form of pleasure, and a person’s response to it. These contrasting views are a great deal different in approach, but both share some similar principles.