Aesthetics and Philosophy of Art: Introduction

Dr. Ellie Anderson, philosophy professor and co-host of Overthink podcast, gives a brief history of the philosophy of art and aesthetics, drawing on Paul Oskar Kristeller's Introduction to the Aesthetics: A Comprehensive Anthology reader, ed. Cahn and Meskin (Blackwell, 2008).
This is the first video in a series introducing philosophers' views of art and aesthetics, so watch it if you plan to follow the playlist!
For more from Dr. Anderson, check out Overthink on KZbin, or listen to our conversational podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

[@ReynaSingh]

Once read that beauty demands to be replicated. I think that definition could work in a biological and artistic context

[@JonathanDunlap]

Thank you for sharing! I've never heard this view of art as being one that inspires replication, but it seems to capture one of the most common attributes. I wonder though.. are there beautiful paintings today that no one has replicated? Vice versa, is all highly replicated art necessarily beautiful or can there be non-beautiful replicated art?

[@sarmeshyadav7239]

Hey Reyna can you tell me where you read that line? Is there any book from where it's taken?

[@killer429]

Can you elaborate on why you think that definition applies in a biological context?

[@Dino_Medici]

Absolutely

[@xWingzTV]

Never thought you’d touch on aesthetics, probably one of my favorite subjects of philosophical inquiry. Hoping you can do a video on the sublime in the future as well!

[@beth003]

i am currently making a video essay on the premise of beauty, you might like it! it should be out sometime next week (here's hoping!)

[@harisubramanian4165]

Art - 'Calms the disturbed and distrubs the calm'

[@Dino_Medici]

Yes, you should be scared of beauty, it’s standing right in front of you, screaming your name. Showing you-you’re not who you could be.

[@dylangreyluxe]

ahhh thank you! I'm about to graduate from my philosophy program in December and unfortunately my university doesn't run our philosophy of art course due to the lack of interest. I love watching these as a stand in until I can afford to buy the books I need to do my own independent studies!

[@NABloisROTH]

Dropping by to say: I'm an artist and will watch every video in this series!

[@frankshifreen]

Great summation Dr Anderson- love the series- wish I had you as my teacher

[@fl4avv721]

Thank you for your work.

[@dandiacal]

What a great video and so helpful to and harmonious with my own project on my podcast! Thank you!

[@cultureandtheory5097]

Thank you so much for the video; your knowledge is greatly appreciated and has been incredibly helpful!

[@DjTahoun]

Thank you so much 🙏🏻

[@moil6384]

so glad this is a series, it'd be great if you could cover at least one of these non-western/ancient greece/rome traditions in another video

[@Kmurphyvcom50]

One of your lecturers that I re-experienced that gut visceral response in undergrad that my philosophy professor very generously proverbially patted me on the head recognizing my struggle with its existence, encouraging me to stick to psychology and existential phenomenology, especially after my term paper attempt on Bergson and aesthetics. It was a very bad paper.

[@jerrypeters1157]

Such an interesting subject. Thank You!

[@umraojaan_]

So helpful, thank you very much!

[@BabyBat14]

I'm doing my Masters in Public History about my local Goth subculture, based on Walter Benjamin's perspectives. Coming from the History field, there is so much to learn in Philosophy it's fascinating. I've always held a deep admiration for Philosophy and this channel is helping me with my Masters as well as my passion for leaning, thank you!

[@user-mw8yg3nv6m]

I too have a passion for leaning. Nothing better than a good lean against a railing or other stable object.

[@jamesvail4927]

@@user-mw8yg3nv6mI’ve always preferred standing upright to leaning, but I think it has something to do with my childhood… more of an upbringing thing than a passion.

[@BillyMcBride]

Thank you, this is helpful.

[@chrischaves5116]

Thanks for your lecture Dr. Anderson! I include both visual and emotional reception as central to a more complete aesthetical experience. Would you say that formal aesthetics should only include a "perceptual" experience with no room for an emotional response to an external stimulus?

[@ahmuqasim7540]

I love these philosophy lectures. I had only one philosophy course long ago. Didn't know that aesthetics and art are somewhat different. Is art the supply side and aesthetics the demand side of the same thing?

[@M.O.1981]

Thank you.

[@rachnayash3725]

you teach better than my teacher ...thankyou

[@captainbritain7379]

I know this channel focuses on institutional philosophy, but I think it would be interesting to hear your perspective on CJ the X’s video essays on the philosophy of art. Their thoughts are so inspiring and distinctive!

[@amritangshubaruah7368]

Can you share the link of video?

[@filiperobles58]

Hi Dr. Anderson, would you make a video about Lukacs and the concept of reification?

[@tomthumb2361]

Was αἰσθάνομαι, the verb, prior to the noun? Had meaning also of understanding, apprehending or learning as well as perceiving, and in modern gk means I feel, sense. Peirce puts aesthetics in his realm of Firstness. Percepts are icons, also in Firtsness. Feeling also in Firstness, as is imagining.

[@linaredford]

Quick question, in some studies there's a theory that Aesthetics IS NOT a philosophy of art, nor history or art, but rather a study of subjective taste, "philosophy of feeling that beauty evokes", so my question, If hunting is not art, but there's a "hunting aesthetic" - doesn't is kind of prove that aesthetics is not a philosophy of art? Thanks for your opinions!

[@Dino_Medici]

Omg I didn’t know you teach a philosophy of art class. That sounds amaze. I’m local, might have to take the class. For those in the comments, what’s your fav groundbreaking work of art? I have so many, but moments that jump out at me are the story of Pope Julius II telling Michelangelo his vision for the Sistine Chapel, the Salon des Refusés, and Marina Abramović’s “Rhythm 0.” POPE JULIUS II & MICHELANGELO When Pope Julius II told Michelangelo that he wanted him to paint the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo said something to the effect of; “Pope?! What are you crazy? Are you madman?? Are you sick in the head???!…” Pope Julius gritted his teeth, and said; “Michelangelo, we must create, THE GREATEST WORK OF ART THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN.” SALON DES REFUSES I also love the story of the Salon des Refusés, when Manet and the preimpressionists weren’t allowed to present at the The Paris Salon, sponsored by the French government and the Academy of Fine Arts. So they had their own art show the “Salon des Refusés” across the street and it shook the world, setting the stage for a new era in painting. A new art movement reintroducing the artist as apart of the work of art, because painting in many respects, became so perfect it was now boring. The technological invention of photography was also a notable macro cultural force driving the spark of impressionism, because now, we could capture historical images with perfection, no longer relying on painters to do so. MARINA ABRAMOVIC’S “RHYTHM 0” Lastly, I might have a hidden gem for some of you. It’s the story of Marina Abramović’s “Rhythm 0” performative art exhibition in 1974. The idea behind the project was a field experiment exploring social psychology concepts like conformity and evil, and more specifically social loafing’s impact on group anonymity driving individuals to engage in evil acts. The art exhibit was performed with the goal of additionally exploring themes like deviance in crowd behavior, and how deindividuation plays into the role of accountability and lack of responsibility. Although inspired by, Marina’s hypothesis for “Rhythm 0” wasn’t a study of obedience and authority as it relates to evil, seen in Stanley Milgram’s “Shock Experiment.” Rather, it’s the artistic depiction of Phillip Zimbardo’s “Stanford Prison Experiment,” asking the question, when individuals hide behind group identity - And are allowed to behave how they want. How do they act? Spoiler alert, it ain’t pretty haha. Salon des Refusés en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salon_des_Refusés Marina Abramović’s “Rhythm 0” kzbin.info/www/bejne/jX66mnmBoZ1-aNE

[@coastalgrasslander4511]

had Baumgarten gone on to propose a categorization of art wouldn't that reduce sensuous knowledge to intellectual knowledge? love this stuff! thank you

[@mariocabrera6540]

Thanks.

[@constantavogadro7823]

Great vid, thanks! Could you expand on 11:28 - viewing art and the aesthetic as a pervasive element of human life? Could you give some references? Thanks!

[@dilbyjones]

@5:32 great notation.

[@TambakStudio]

aesthethic as a term is coined in the 18th century to refer to a theory of beauty, the philosophy of art, and in its most general sense to a study of perception, because aesthethics comes from the ancient greek word aisthesis, which means perception.

[@jenna2431]

Calligraphy and flower arrangement should be on the list.

[@plumtus]

Could flower arrangement be a branch of sculpture?

[@Gabric_123]

the relationship between aesthetics and industrial product design could be interesting. Is product design an artistic activity? (can industrial products be considered art ? perhaps not, because they are mass-produced). but I can still talk about the aesthetics of an industrial product!

[@Gabric_123]

for those who can be interesed in the topic I proposed: the work of art in the age of mechanical reproduction (book of Walter benjamin)

[@ceankajr2175]

What do you mean when you say aesthetic of an industrial product? I'm very curious about it

[@Steven-yi4uc]

i hope you can carve out some time to talk about the rise of crafts into the present!

[@kevinp9110]

I don't know why I subscribe this channel but at this point am too afraid to ask.

[@user-ez9ex8hx6v]

Watched video 💯

[@aek12]

I asked these type of questions from my gf, she almost broke up with me! Please make a video about Goethe and Philosophy of color. Try to give it scientific touch. Try to merge how and why..

[@markpowell7057]

Art as philosophy, and philosophy as art is a relationship that I find very interesting! If visual art is a revolt against schema and suppositions, theory must be applied after the fact in order to reconcile the product within the world. In other words, philosophers and art historians use art itself as their canvas; while artists use philosophies as their mental canvas from which to draw from. I think philosophers are valid artists in their own right; some painting more aesthetically successful "pictures" than others!

[@affanahmedkhan7362]

❤

[@daviddixon7019]

Isn't contemporary television similar to the religious art of the middle ages?

[@yassineberguita1647]

What is the point of philosophy? What does understanding life and human nature add? What does religion lack and that philosophy supplies?

[@couch_philosoph3325]

In philosophy, you have arguments with conclusions that come from premises. Those premises, assumptions, opinions, etc can be critiqued by other philosophers. You basically have to defend your theory to others and yourself. You rework ideas and you have to really get to the bottom of why you think something is true or false. Religion does not rest on finding truth and perfecting your own theory/world view. It teaches a set of rules and norms without really giving concrete evidence to why. Also, some philosophers are very religious, so clearly not all of them think religion lacks necessarily something. There is theology as well, which might be interesting to you if you want something more connected to religion.

[@xulgopshenfagon5457]

Whats actually the name of the refered book lol

[@tnp.n]

Do you have a Discord server?

[@OverthinkPodcastPhilosophy]

Not at this time, but we offer Zoom Q&As monthly at our Patreon! www.patreon.com/overthinkpodcast

[@judygoddard3869]

No mention of Walter Pater, John Ruskin or Oscar Wilde!

[@dubbelkastrull]

6:23 bookmark

[@robertalenrichter]

The French have routinely been referring to cinema as the "seventh art" for well over half a century now. One hears it so frequently as a synonym that the association has long since been permanently anchored. In the English and German-speaking countries, I've hardly ever heard the term at all with reference to anything. The whole notion of art categorisation by number is thought of as a bit antiquated, I guess. Another exception française.

[@robertalenrichter]

The French also have used the term "eighth art" for radio, then television, but also photography, more frequently.

[@falgalhutkinsmarzcal3962]

And the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences has existed since 1927 (96 years ago). France is not exceptional in refering to film as "art".

[@r3m166]

Dancers rule!

[@josedavilatraavieso4327]

if you see something good follow up.

[@neptunethemystic]

Does art need to be beautiful ?

[@josedavilatraavieso4327]

it's was a movement.

[@johnchrysostom3831]

Сибирь слышит. Siberia hears

[@adrianobastardi]

Western liberal civilizational art is the greatest art the world has ever known.

[@bisharatsangi6735]

You forgot to define art for art sake

[@pedrodavila9270]

I wanna be ur friend

[@idadru]

"eurocentric" heaven forbid

[@user-ok5hh7lg2x]

ART isn't aesthetics, professor.

[@OverthinkPodcastPhilosophy]

The video doesn't claim that it is

[@user-ok5hh7lg2x]

:) "What is art?" Later "Is aesthetic judgment something subject, objective or --" "How do I judge different kinds of artworks from different media --" Sounds like conflation of subject 'matters' pour moi: i.e., ART as aesthetics, aesthetic judgment, aesthetic qualia, etc. ART isn't aesthetics, professor. Though, many in philosophy deem it so... I - with respect - just disagree.

[@Gabric_123]

Respect the Professor. Yours is a rude and useless comment. I won't go into detail about what you write, yours is not a constructive comment.

[@beautifulcarpetdiagram]

Hi, do you plan to make a video on Kant's moral philosophy?

[@OverthinkPodcastPhilosophy]

it's not currently in the works

[@drelhamsalehi]

drelhamsalehi.The first Theory in literary aestetics