Aesthetic Reasoning

Homework Assignment 2: Aesthetic Reasoning

Quick Overview: To complete this assignment, you need to have read the summary outline of aesthetic principles and completed the SoftChalk lesson on the principles of aesthetic value. The goal of this assignment is to demonstrate that you can use aesthetic principles in your own reasoning, by constructing an argument using EITHER formalist OR functionalist principles (not both). You will be required to look at an object in a new, perhaps more open-minded, way. Ideally you should learn something about what you value, and gain some insight into how others might perceive the world a bit differently.

Assignment in depth:

First, find an object THAT YOU HAVE PHYSICALLY ENCOUNTERED (do not use things from online) that you do not normally consider art, or even aesthetically valuable. Examine the object for a while, and then write out a brief description of the object (if necessary, take a picture of the object and include that with your assignment, pasting the picture into your document).

Second, indicate (in approximately one paragraph) why you normally would not consider the object art or aesthetically valuable.

Next, try to examine the object in a new way, using the principles of aesthetic reasoning. Give an argument, which integrates facts about the object and the aesthetic principles, for why someone could consider the object art or aesthetically valuable. The aesthetic principles you use must be true of the object.

You must choose to use either functionalist principles or formalism, but NOT BOTH since functionalism and formalism are incompatible.  YOU CANNOT USE, OR EVEN MENTION, THE LAST PRINCIPLE ABOUT “NO ARGUMENT CAN BE GIVEN TO ESTABLISH AESTHETIC VALUE” (since the assignment REQUIRES YOU TO PROVIDE AN ARGUMENT, this last principle is not compatible with the assignment). 

Technicalities:

The more reasoning and depth to your analysis, the better.  You must submit an essay of 1000 to 2000 words in order to ensure you have developed your ideas adequately. Don’t forget to include your in-text citations and a Works cited section at the end of your essay. As always, an essay should have an introduction and a conclusion.