Wednesday, August 06, 2008
On beauty
Growing up in a family of artists, I was often party to discussions on the question of "what is art?" and "what is beauty?" (which, believe me, are two different questions). My thinking on this has changed a lot over the years, divided into four basic stages:
1) As a kid, I deferred to "experts" (ie, my parents) as to what was beautiful. I kind of accepted the aesthetic of whoever was talking to me at the time, and bought into it. As such, I believed that old falling-down barns, for example, were very beautiful.
2) At college, I developed a personal aesthetic and rejected much of what I had been told about beauty, including the idea that there was anything that was simply beautiful-- I thought that beauty was purely subjective, a view that negated the possibility of a genius creating something beautiful to all people. My own aesthetic largely derived from Walker Evans' photographs in "Let Us Now Praise Famous Men," and usually involved some kind of sprained symetry. Old barns were still considered beautiful. Also, Cindy Crawford.
3) As an adult, I went to the Academy in Florence and had an epiphany as I saw Michaelangelo's David. Suddenly, I believed in genius and a beauty that would transcend culture.
4) More recently, I have combined some of these aspects. I think perceptions of beauty are largely subjective, but that there are creations of true genius that will impress most everyone as beautiful.
But is it art?
Comments:
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Having (again) seen the windows of Sainte-Chappelle in Paris last week I assure you beauty and art can be synonymous.
# posted by 
: 10:19 AM
: 10:19 AM
Its like a Venn Diagram... lots of beautiful objects (or people.. . or animals... or plants) are not art. And LOTS of art is NOT beautiful.
# posted by : 1:45 PM
: 1:45 PM
A definition I once heard is that art changes the way you think about the world, or makes you see the world in a different way. Good architecture does the same thing. That seems like a pretty good definition, to me.
I agree that some works of art, like Michelangelo's David, can transcend culture . . . or almost. What about a blind person? Would he or she think David was art--assuming he or she could touch the statue?
So, as your recent view says, it's a mix of both: of the subjective and the absolute.
I'm sure I don't see Cindy Crawford the same way you guys do, though . . . I will never be that tall . . .
I agree that some works of art, like Michelangelo's David, can transcend culture . . . or almost. What about a blind person? Would he or she think David was art--assuming he or she could touch the statue?
So, as your recent view says, it's a mix of both: of the subjective and the absolute.
I'm sure I don't see Cindy Crawford the same way you guys do, though . . . I will never be that tall . . .
# posted by : 7:42 PM
: 7:42 PM
Entirely unrelated advocacy moment:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hotstories/5926805.html
I can't help but wince when I read about the attorney defending a man accused of running a children's sex club even considering a FOUR HOUR LONG cross examination of an 11 year-old victim/accuser.
A four-hour cross is painful enough, but a four-hour cross of a small child making the claims in this case has to be just brutal for everyone involved.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hotstories/5926805.html
I can't help but wince when I read about the attorney defending a man accused of running a children's sex club even considering a FOUR HOUR LONG cross examination of an 11 year-old victim/accuser.
A four-hour cross is painful enough, but a four-hour cross of a small child making the claims in this case has to be just brutal for everyone involved.
# posted by : 10:14 PM
: 10:14 PM
I agree with Swiss Girl. A life changing event for me was my visit to the Jeu de Paume (which is probably misspelled) in Paris when I was 14. This was the home of the Impressionists before the Orsay opened. The paintings were so different than the boring stuff my parents had exposed me to at American museums. I started to be interested in art and painting and visit good museums in every city I can.
# posted by : 11:18 PM
: 11:18 PM
OK I used to also think old barns were beautiful until I lived 100 yards from one for like ten agonizing months.
I know what things I think are beautiful but my ideas are different from everyone else's probably. I think kindness is beautiful, forgiveness, Cranbrook is beautiful, my friends are beautiful.... my family is... I don't know....
I DO know that my mom had those dishes in that picture growing up. I just had flashbacks of many Stouffer's entrees served on Blue Onion tableware.
I know what things I think are beautiful but my ideas are different from everyone else's probably. I think kindness is beautiful, forgiveness, Cranbrook is beautiful, my friends are beautiful.... my family is... I don't know....
I DO know that my mom had those dishes in that picture growing up. I just had flashbacks of many Stouffer's entrees served on Blue Onion tableware.
That is Blue Danube china. My grandmother is a huge collector of it, and I stand to inherit. It's my favorite china pattern in the world. Sorry this comment probably is not on topic. I didn't read the post, I got too excited about the china.
PS TO Me, THIS is my idea of real beauty:
"I don't know if you will remember me. We went to Offense Defense Tennis Camp together ( think Sergio Mendes song, "Never Gonna Let You Go ") I remember having a blast with you and Lainie. You roomed across the hall from me. You guys were so fun. I remember you gave me my first pair of Guess jeans. We also had a crush on the tennis coach Darren (who I heard died soon after camp from a brain tumor.)
Then I remember your Sweet Sixteen. Lol. Let me set the scene.....formal and lovely event in your home. Debbie from Jericho in a gorgeous black taffeta gown. My mom makes the executive decision to send me in a white cotton sailor top and short matching skirt that G-D knows she probably bought at Lohmans. I showed up looking like a prepubescent reject. Your mom spots me...and being the wonderful woman she was...takes total pity on me. She could tell I was mortified. She sent me upstairs with your sister to look at the Cabbage Patch dolls you guys got. (Ps...you had the first one I ever saw ;) Anyway..she coaxed me back down into the party and winked at me periodically. I finally was able to enjoy the Weathergirls. Still think of your party when I hear It's Raining Men. I left your house thinking she and Jackie O hung the moon.
Fast forward... I read about your moms passing. I felt like a sledgehammer caught me in the ribs. I know.. this is so weird. Why is some person from 24 years in your past feeling so connected? It was the gift you shared with your mom. A compassion that I still remember. I want you to know... to this day...when my kids have friends come over- I always can spot the odd man out. The one who feels like a loser. I immediately jump into Bunny K. mode.
I want to express my sadness to you and your great family. I want you to know that on that evening of entertaining so many and kvelling about you....your mom made room for me. Your mom gave me the attention, compassion and confidence I needed.
I know the fact that I never forgot about you is a testament to the fact that she raised you within her shadow. You both cast the same light and shape. I will never forget her."
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"I don't know if you will remember me. We went to Offense Defense Tennis Camp together ( think Sergio Mendes song, "Never Gonna Let You Go ") I remember having a blast with you and Lainie. You roomed across the hall from me. You guys were so fun. I remember you gave me my first pair of Guess jeans. We also had a crush on the tennis coach Darren (who I heard died soon after camp from a brain tumor.)
Then I remember your Sweet Sixteen. Lol. Let me set the scene.....formal and lovely event in your home. Debbie from Jericho in a gorgeous black taffeta gown. My mom makes the executive decision to send me in a white cotton sailor top and short matching skirt that G-D knows she probably bought at Lohmans. I showed up looking like a prepubescent reject. Your mom spots me...and being the wonderful woman she was...takes total pity on me. She could tell I was mortified. She sent me upstairs with your sister to look at the Cabbage Patch dolls you guys got. (Ps...you had the first one I ever saw ;) Anyway..she coaxed me back down into the party and winked at me periodically. I finally was able to enjoy the Weathergirls. Still think of your party when I hear It's Raining Men. I left your house thinking she and Jackie O hung the moon.
Fast forward... I read about your moms passing. I felt like a sledgehammer caught me in the ribs. I know.. this is so weird. Why is some person from 24 years in your past feeling so connected? It was the gift you shared with your mom. A compassion that I still remember. I want you to know... to this day...when my kids have friends come over- I always can spot the odd man out. The one who feels like a loser. I immediately jump into Bunny K. mode.
I want to express my sadness to you and your great family. I want you to know that on that evening of entertaining so many and kvelling about you....your mom made room for me. Your mom gave me the attention, compassion and confidence I needed.
I know the fact that I never forgot about you is a testament to the fact that she raised you within her shadow. You both cast the same light and shape. I will never forget her."
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