An important piece of preparing for my upcoming aesthetic’s course is Eco claims to take a look at beauty historically with no preconceived notions. As far as that task goes, it’s a huge success, and I was personally introduced to a wide variety of artistic styles with which I wasn’t previously familiar. The biggest weakness is that… Continue reading Umberto Eco’s History of Beauty
Tag: Beauty
Review: Susan Sontag On Photography
Why On Photography Matters is one of the most quoted academic works on the subject of photograph, and generally comes up any time you’re having a serious discussion about photography. I recently read it while developing an aesthetics class that is going to focus on questions about what art and beauty are. Photography is one of the… Continue reading Review: Susan Sontag On Photography
What is Beauty? Plato, Beauty, and Knowledge
Plato’s theory of knowledge – his epistemology – can best be understood through thinking about beauty. We are born with all knowledge, he says, but when our soul became trapped in our body at birth, we forgot this knowledge. Learning, then, is similar to remembering. And here on earth, beauty is the easiest way for… Continue reading What is Beauty? Plato, Beauty, and Knowledge