Aesthetics: A Very Short Introduction

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Aesthetics: A Very Short Introduction by Bens Nanay... Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy that explores the nature of art, beauty, and taste. It is not limited to the study of traditional artistic experiences such as works of art in museums or operatic performances, but extends far beyond the realm of art, whether high or low, and includes much of what we care about in our lives; for example, everyday experiences such as enjoying the autumn leaves or the feeling you have when choosing what to wear today. From an aesthetics perspective, so-called "high art" has no aesthetic advantage over sitcoms, tattoos, or punk rock music. In fact, aesthetics are all around us. In this very brief introduction, Bens Nanai introduces us to the field of aesthetics, addressing both Western and non-Western aesthetic traditions and exploring why it is sometimes difficult to understand or why it is considered highly elitist by artists, musicians, and even philosophers. The book also clarifies that aesthetics is not about telling you which works of art are good and which are bad, nor is it about telling you which experiences are worth having. If you find an experience worth having, then it becomes an object of aesthetics. This is an important realization because thinking about aesthetics in this comprehensive way opens new avenues for understanding age-old questions about the social dimension of our aesthetic experiences and the significance of aesthetic values ​​for us. The book concludes with an analysis of some typical aesthetic phenomena, such as identification with and attachment to fictional characters.