Aesthetics of The Visual Arts
Aesthetics, a major branch of philosophy, is the academic study of beauty. This field explores how and why beauty arises in our experiences. For too long this field of study has been left to intellectuals while artists rarely engage in such studies themselves.
The Aesthetics Journal takes up this study (as it relates to the visual arts) and makes it accessible to those outside academic philosophy.
The journal covers a wide range of themes theories, from Aristotle`'`s to Roland Barthes`'`, including the examination modern-day ideas proposed by contemporary philosophers. The journal`'`s approach is to delve into these theories and apply them to the visual arts in the most practical way possible.
Why is this study important?
The fundamental purpose of the journal is to inform visual artists - though not exclusively - about the philosophical foundation on which they stand, often unbeknownst to many of them.
Many artists practice their craft without a firm understanding of why they do what they do.
They focus on the visual aspects but neglect the intellectual side, forgetting that our sense of sight is not just a function of our eyes, but involves the entire visual system of eyes, brain, mind, and intellect.
Understanding and proper knowledge foster a sense of responsibility for the craft. This responsibility is crucial for fine art today as we face a future of art made by machines and algorithms.
Form and Format
The journal is seasonal, focusing on a particular topic within the field of Aesthetics and providing an in-depth study over the course of a calendar season. This approach allows readers sufficient time to explore and acquaint themselves with concepts and theories without prolonging the study into an academic endeavor.
The journal is primarily distributed as a free email newsletter, with a new article published fortnightly. The end of the season marks the completion of an issue. Once complete, issues are made print-ready and sent to our archives, where printed versions can be purchased.
Aristotle Bust
Palazzo Altemps, Rome