Blog #1: What is Beauty?

What is beauty? I believe beauty is infinite and personable. I see beauty in people. Every single person is incredibly unique in their very own way. There is not one person in the world that is precisely the same as another. In fact, in the Bible it says God created us (humans) in his own image and that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. I am in love with those words: we are fearfully and wonderfully made. I think what is so neat about that description is that everyone will look at that verse and have a different idea of what it means. Essentially, without going into too much detail, that screams out to me that everyone is made different! In my belief, God’s greatest creation is every single human ever created. He tells us that He knitted us in our Mother’s womb. I believe that God took such precious time in the creation of each individual which is so beautiful in itself; to think that the most powerful God in the universe who spoke it into creation took his time on us as humans, sons and daughters, is powerful. In fact, it puts me in awe every time I think about it.

After hearing each person in our class on their different, insightful definitions of what beauty is I realized something. NO ONE FREAKING KNOWS. The thing is, we all think differently because we are different. We grew up differently, have experienced different things, and because of that think differently as well. With that being said, I was further encouraged that while my definition of beauty may not be the best or even right, there was some truth in it. People are different. They think different. And that is absolutely beautiful. I find great freedom from the pressure of knowing. At times, we as students can become to bogged down by feeling overwhelmed by mystery. However, the way I see it we have two options if the unknown. We can either let if defeat us and take us over, or we can find absolute freedom in knowing that we don’t know and that’s okay! So the truth is, at first I was in a moment of freaking out as the class share their deep definitions of what beauty is. But then I realized that I don’t need to know. I don’t need to have the best answer. There is freedom is not and maybe just maybe, there is beauty in not even knowing what beauty is. 

Michael Costas, What is Beauty?

August 31, 2015

Definition of Beauty:

Beauty is that which is holy, unique, set apart, mysterious, and evokes a sense of awe, wonder, and creatureliness. 

Example of Beauty:

An ocean embodies beauty by its stunning and sublime appearance. Oceans also hide a whole other world of animals and ecosystems mysteriously thriving without human knowledge or control.

After Thoughts:

After some thought and discussion, the question “what is beauty?” has proven to be far more complex and multifaceted topic of inquiry than I ever anticipated. Listening to everyone in class share, question, and criticize the multifarious viewpoints of beauty, I observed that everyone assumes the objective reality of beauty. We have all grown up feeling, thinking, and saying certain things to be beautiful. However, for most of us, it may have been the first time we have ever seriously questioned why certain objects and experiences lead us to feel a certain way or what reality lies behind the beauty we claim that specific things embody. 

Many in the class seem to take the postmodern position that beauty is subjective to the individual. Another prevalent theme in the discussion was the connection between beauty and feelings. Are feelings and responsive impulses the only medium through which humans experience beauty or can beauty also be seen and perceived as an objective fact that seeks us out? A fair number of people attributed holiness and divine qualities to beauty, saying that all earthly beauty is merely a shadow of that which is supremely and preeminently Beautiful. Do beautiful things contain the complete essence we all long for or are they pointers to something else. Is the beauty we observe, here on earth, the fullest reality or does earthly beauty point to a higher reality?

After reflecting on the first week of class, I have more questions than answers about the nature of beauty. My initial inclination is to say that beauty is an objective reality that is subjectively experienced in varying degrees. We are all on a journey to learn how to articulate that ineffable, numinous awe that comes upon us when we encounter beauty.

Dusty Nelson, What is Beauty?

1) Description

Something that awakens your being to a state of naturalness.  It lays bare the most basic and fundamental of human emotion.

2) Example

A morning on my Kayak a few weeks ago.

3) After thoughts

It was interesting to me that most people seemed to be trying to describe a feeling or emotion that is present when something beautiful is encountered. And even though different things bring this out in us, this emotion was very similar.  Spiritual and soulful are some of the words that come to mind when I think of what people were describing.  And even though what people were describing seemed to have an undertone of unity or community or connectedness, the experiences seemed unique to the individual.  For beauty to present itself it seems that there must be a deep and meaningful connection.  Which leads me to believe that beauty is created through ritual or some other way that allows for a special connection to arise.

-Dusty Nelson

Cameron Cruz What is Beauty

What is beauty? 

Beauty is a personal choice to recognize a unique sensation or feeling in which is received through ones senses or emotions. 

Example

The sky reminds me of beauty because it appeals to our senses as an open landscape that is separate from our daily society, in which we don’t have control of. The sky portrays a life like environment that gives the sensation of elegance, fascination, and exquisitenes.

After thoughts

After much thought and discussion, it became obvious that each person’s view and identity on beauty had some type of relation to others. Many of the views toggled between the ideology of subjective and objective approaches. The uniqueness of each definition created deep thought and doubt of whether beauty has a real definitive definition. My view of beauty is that it is in the eyes of the beholder. Each definition will very, in the end people create definitions based off of perception and argument.  I believe that beauty is something that lies dormant is becomes cognitive when triggered by an event or sensation. In regards to Plato’s definition of beauty, it is one that can be agreed with, but easily manipulated. His thoughts that beauty was a form or idea meant that it could be vulnerable to influences or outside factors that may lead to an artificial definition. The idea of letting outer experiences control something that should be a unique experience, becomes questionable in itself. I think Plato’s definition is one that may have worked in its time, but not in a modern society that reflects off of outside factors.

Patrick Quinn, What is Beauty?

1) Beauty is the inherent good within something. It is a natural, recognizable right that can be expressed or viewed in many different ways.

2) A Lake Vermilion Sunset

3) When I see a sunset on Lake Vermillion, it instills a sense of awe in me. While visually pleasant, there seems to exist a deeper, more profound acknowledgement occurring in my being. The physical, quantifiable phenomena of a sunset seems to point to a greater, higher standard or desire within me. I recognize the ‘good’ or ‘right’ in the sunset.

More thoughts...

After writing several pages of reflection, I whittled down my thoughts to one brief paragraph. Beauty seems to be some sort of recognizable inherent good man perceives either through his senses or his mind. We recognize and label something as beautiful because deep within our own spirits, we long for beauty. Our longing, however, cannot be satisfied in the simple beauties we perceive in this life. Rather, each encounter with beauty seems to strengthen our longing and certainty in something ultimate and eternal, something wholly outside of our own experience. The things we perceive to be beautiful, then, are not meant to meet our desire, but instead act as pointers to something that will. That ultimate “Beauty” is, in fact, God.

What is Beauty?

First Thoughts 

When I first wrote down my ideas on what beauty is, I approached it is visual way. Something is visually beautiful when is it bright, colourful, intricate, symmetric, and/or complex. 

When I thought a bit deeper about what beauty is, there is an emotional aspect to it. Something can be beautiful when gives you an emotional reaction. Something that makes you feel happy, sad, good, hopeful,etc.

An Example of Beauty

The example of beauty I gave in class was a mosque that I saw on reddit.com awhile back. It really stuck in my mind due to it intriguing, colorful ceiling. Right below is the image I am speaking of.

This mosque fit my description of physical beauty, but not really fit the emotionally aspect, at least not in my case. I'm sure for the Muslims who worship there would see it as a much more beautiful place then I do because it is where they go to be closer to God.

Arends, What is Beauty

As discussed in class, I have created a definition for beauty as I see it. That definition is "Everything is beautiful" This brings to light several concerns as my classmates have questioned me over. These questions are such, "what about things that are evil, dirty, or painful (such as cancer)" these concerns have caused me to think more about how I would define beauty.

The original example that I gave for my definition was the Appalachian wilderness, or rather any wilderness. The wilderness allows for many different forms of life to live, flowering fields, towering trees, and beautiful vistas but also terrible storms, raging rivers and deadly forest fires. the balance of life and death allows for an appreciation for the other which allows the good to be beautiful and the terrible to be awesome (awe inspiring) which makes them beautiful too. That is to say that the terrible are beautiful in their enabling of the appreciation of the beauty in the good.

I however have adjusted my definition to, "Everything has the potential to be beautiful but that beauty can only be recognized if given the right point of view, framework, or mindset." That adjustment allows for eliminating the negative actions done by things that in it of themselves are beautiful. That is to say that everything is beautiful but the things they do may not be beautiful. Thus allowing for can cancer to be considered beautiful but not what it does to living things. In other words, if you look at something as terrible as cancer and look at it from a scientific lens and not from  a cause and effect lense, that terrible thing becomes beautiful.

Maggie McBrady: What is Beauty?

My Original Definition of Beauty
Beauty is appealing and evokes emotion that can be good or bad.  Beauty has value and is usually cherished or appreciated.  Almost anything can have beauty.

Example
A lake at sunset with large mountains behind it.  For me, the lake evokes a calming emotion and allows me to just appreciate the here and now.  Nature is generally cherished and valued.  For example, a property overlooking a lake would be valued higher than a property near a garbage dump.

Revised Understanding and Questions
I enjoyed that some classmates added mystery to their definition's.  When I originally said that beauty could be good or bad I think mystery was the element I was trying to get at.  I found it interesting that a majority of our examples of beauty involved nature.  I agree with Kristina in that having knowledge is key to recognizing the beauty in something but having too much knowledge can destroy the beauty because of its lack of mystery.  I am a little confused by Plato's definition of beauty.  My understanding is that true beauty is in the one true form of a thing and every copy of the original form is nothing but an imitation.  Would Plato appreciate a painting or discard it for not being the one true form.  Also, did Plato have a higher value for craftsman than for painters and artists?  Plato said that for each thing there are three crafts:  one that makes it, one that uses it, and one that imitates it.  Is there a ranked order for which craft is better in Plato's opinion?  As of now with my understanding of Plato I don't think I agree with him.

Tylor Alexander
Sunday August 30th

What is Beauty?

Original Thought

Beauty is a word used to describe things, moments, events, sounds, etc. that cause a sensual/emotional response with an underlying factor of good.

Original Example

A symphony (from the perspective of a listener).  The symphony produces a sound that is vast and large.  Its many instruments dwarf the listener with its tsunami of sound.  It stirs both tension and resolution to the very core of the listener.  As a listener, though you can understand some, there is a large lack of understanding about what is before you, yet you are still overtaken by a goodness that you do not understand.

After Thoughts

Following our discussions in class and hearing the different perspectives of what Beauty is I am left with far more questions than answers, however I also feel a bit closer to the core of it than I did before.  Some questions I have are: 

1. How do we encounter Beauty? 
2. What kind of foundational understanding is required to recognize Beauty (if any)/Can an infant differentiate between Beauty and something else?
3. What is not Beauty (if anything)? 
4. Is Beauty in everything?
5. Have we as humans become so blinded by ego building activities and gone from Humans Being to Humans doing, that we cannot see that Beauty is in everything?

In our classroom discussion we began to reach an agreement that there is a unifying factor about Beauty that it cannot be absolutely subjective, but that there is something that connects Beauty together (Good? Mystery? The Holy?)

1. Does that mean that the things we have thus far equated as beauty a mere mimic or an imaginative expression of something beyond the true Beauty/Good/Mystery/The Holy?

I feel Beauty can not be outside the bounds of something expressed (example: music or art being aesthetic or non-representational).

I am leaning towards the idea that things "concrete" such as the ocean or mountains or trees or people that we consider to be beautiful, they are somehow not fully realized actuals, of Beauty/Good/The Holy which is why there is a mysterious element because if they are not fully realized Beauty, what is the actual and when does it come?  Man-made things/Art are an imaginative reflection/expression of the previously mentioned "concrete" things to unravel the mystery they reflect.

Kristina Razoumova: What is Beauty?

Kristina Razoumova 

Personal Definition of Beauty

Beauty is something that is deeply inspirational to an individual or group of individuals.

Example and Explanation 

The beach (The way the sky, ocean, and the shore meet).

The beach is an inspiration to many. It is often used in photographs, songs, and poems. It is a place that has the ability to clear people’s minds of anything else and have them stop to appreciate what it has to offer.

After Thoughts

In the previous two classes I found it interesting to hear how each student’s definition of beauty varied but had elements of the same notion. It was recognized while everyone had some kind of idea of beauty the term was in fact difficult to define. One definition topic that stood out to me during our discussion was that of mystery. It was stated that in order for something to be beautiful an element of mystery must be present. While I did not agree at first, I now believe it is a highly relevant claim. In order for beauty to be present a person must have some kind of knowledge of the thing being perceived as beautiful. However, I argue if there is too much knowledge the thing perceived then begins to lose its luster and greatness thus, an element of mystery must exist. I believe beauty comes from an emotional state not a logical state. I also believe that many people find a lot of the same things beautiful (ex: ocean, mountains, sky, etc…) because those are the few things in the world that there is still mystery about. On the other hand, we also discussed in class that to be beautiful could also mean to be morally good. I do agree that beauty can be found in the soul and it is not always an outward appearance.

Introduction Kip Redick

Welcome to the Fall 2015 Search for Beauty blog site.

Make sure to start the blog with your name and the subject of the entry. Blog entries will be considered informal writing assignments and as such will be graded more in relation to content than style. Blog entries will contain questions and answers to questions, as well as reflections that relate to daily classroom discussions, completion of exercises, and reading assignments. Any questions the student has while reading or completing assignments should be written in their blog. Reflections may relate to connections the student makes between discussions in this class and those in other classes, between arguments raised in the readings in this class and those raised in other classes or from informal conversations. Students are encouraged to apply the ideas learned in this class to activities that take place outside of the class. These applications make great reflections. The student should bring questions from the blog to class and ask those questions that were raised in specific blog entries. As those questions are addressed and answered in the classroom discussions, the student should make note of the discussion and answers within subsequent blog entries. This class blog will reflect the quality of the student’s daily classroom participation and completion of homework assignments, and will be graded with this in mind. The student may submit the blog for grading at several times during the course of the semester. The blog is not the same thing as a compilation of class lecture notes; it is the product of written personal reflection related to the class. A good blog will contain at least 15 entries. 5 of the entries must relate to assigned class books or journal articles. 5 of the entries must be reflections on outside readings, something not assigned as part of the class requirements. Finally, 5 of the entries will be centered on a topic of the student’s choosing. Each blog entry should be dated and given a title related to the subject of reflection.