At some point we have all made a tour through a museum, or at least we have been able to access, through the internet or other resources, various works of an artistic nature. The first thing we think of when talking about art, in a traditional way and marked by archetypes, is in harmonic aspects, that is, that they awaken pleasant sensations. However, we all wonder about the beauty hidden behind dissonant works, which, although they do not fulfill the canon of archetypal beauty to which we are accustomed, do not cease to be attractive to us; We can name by way of example those works belonging to less traditional currents such as the naive art, cubism and abstractionism.
Aesthetics is a term associated with the sensation produced by external stimuli, and although it is used by art to transmit messages of various types, it is not clearly linked to a canvas. Aesthetic values permeate the elements that surround our environment.
The aesthetics of a value, a philosophical concept
Something aesthetic is a conglomeration of elements that are related to each other, it should not necessarily be something "beautiful" in all senses. And when speaking of this term in general, we can affirm that in the world there is no more abstract concept than the one that defines beauty. We could associate beauty with aesthetics, if we think of it as something that stands out, however, not only beautiful things attract our attention. We could also say that beauty encompasses those qualities that fill us with a pleasant sensation, and at this point we cannot give an absolute definition, since in this case, beauty will depend on who evaluates it (subjective nature). In this regard, Plato pointed out in his text "The Republic" that we all have something beautiful within us.
Over time, the advancement of studies in this area allowed the human being to accept, within the aesthetic definition, dissonant elements: such as the ugly, the dark and the ridiculous; and other factors that highlight the senses were also evaluated, such as the imposing, the sublime and the tragic, in order to broaden the scope of the term a little, encompassing everything that affects the senses.
Aesthetics is defined as the relationship of the human being with his environment and with himself, since it is a perceptual process that can be influenced by the making of judgments.
Perceptual process:
- Stimulus: It is that which affects the senses, and activates our perception and the issuance of a judgment.
- Development of a perception: Here the judgments of the individual come into play, about himself, other people and the environment that surrounds them.
- Sensation: This is where a feeling is awakened regarding the stimulus we are witnessing: happiness, anger, sadness.
Aesthetic values
Here we point out what are considered the main stimuli that give rise to the development of a perceptual process, and that can alter our mood:
Concordant type
They are aesthetic values that keep relationships associated with harmonic and balanced terms, so they awaken pleasant sensations, which relax our senses. People with tendencies to develop in environments of order and control, prefer to surround themselves with stimuli of this type, since dissonant ones are intolerable to them.
The harmony: We can say that an aggregate of elements is harmonic if it maintains a balanced correspondence in its proportions, and in the way in which the elements that make it up have been arranged.
The beautiful thing:It is a subjective concept, however we can associate it with the definition of harmonic elements: "It is beautiful if its elements are in harmony with each other." It can also be defined in terms of acceptance: "It is beautiful if the majority perceives it that way." This leads us to the notion that cultural, social and biological factors influence the subjectivity of beauty, which define the perception of individuals.
The sublime: "It is something more than beautiful." This term is associated with factors that go beyond humanity, it is situated on the levels of divinity. Here are included all those stimuli that directly touch the soul, and that make us aware of the divinity of being.
Balance: This term is adopted when the elements that are perceived seem to have a good relationship with each other.
The grace:It refers to the balance of spiritual elements, which give the concept a supernatural aspect, without actually touching the elevation of the sublime.
The imposing: Harmonic elements that keep a clear and well-defined relationship. They convey a prevailing concept.
Dissonant type
"Contrasts" ... here we can include those stimuli that alter our senses by awakening sensations of various types, and of a profound nature. To appreciate the "beauty" behind the dissonant aesthetic values, a breadth in the senses is required, an ability to see beyond the absolute definition of things, to be able to get in touch with the real concept that you want to convey.
The ugly: That which does not keep harmonious relations with each other, whose disposition and ordering, gives rise to a reaction of rejection in the first instance. We could also say that the ugly is that which breaks with the archetypal structures of the beautiful, so the subjectivity factor also comes into play in its perception.
The tragic: Aesthetic values that awaken a feeling of sadness and nostalgia. They are associated with paradigms of dramatic events, and in popular belief the presence of dark tones, classified as somber, determine the tragic nature of things.
Grotesque: It is associated with the use of ridiculous elements, which exceed the limits set by the human condition. Some would define it as the superlative exaltation of some value.
The ridiculous: Aesthetic values, which due to their extravagance and dissonance, produce a laughing reaction. Ridiculous things are classified as "improbable possibilities" of a concept or context.
The shady: Gray, brown, or particularly accommodating elements, which arouse feelings of fear and anxiety.
Aesthetics in everyday life
The exaltation of certain characteristics constitutes a form of communication and expression of being. The human being interacts with his environment, for this reason he feels the need to communicate his experiences and the perception built around them. The woman who wishes to convey a dominant character can make choices of highlighting elements, in order to mark a concept of herself that is clearly transmitted to her environment. People with rebellious personalities often make use of dissonant elements that go against the current (main stream). Children make use of happy and harmonious elements that show their enthusiasm for life. People in grief, or with some disorder in their mood, look for an arrangement that highlights the dark.
As we see aesthetics despite the abstract nature of its concept, it is a tangible element, which surrounds the environment in which we are immersed. If you want to know more types of values, in the link that we have just left you will find more information.