The Art of Art | Zipei Zhu | TEDxKeystoneAcademyBJ | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Exploring the aesthetic value in mundane moments as forms of art.

Key Insights

• 🥰 Aestheticism emphasizes art for its beauty alone, separate from practical purposes.
• 😃 Appreciating useless moments as art can bring joy and enhance life's beauty.
• 🎑 Ordinary scenes can be transformed into extraordinary artistic experiences through perception.
• 🫵 Aesthetic values encourage us to view the world with a renewed appreciation for beauty.
• 🤑 Exploring the beauty in mundane moments can lead to a richer and more fulfilling life.
• 🥰 Useless objects can hold aesthetic value when viewed through the lens of art.
• 💅 Social media groups like Useless Isotrics showcase the appreciation for beauty in everyday life.

Transcript

our next speaker well would I hope you would have an interesting art because our next speaker will deliver a very artistic speech please welcome with the art of Art [Applause] good evening thank you for your kind support first there is a question for you what do you think is the meaning of Art Express opinions teach lessons will showcase accidents ... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the significance of aestheticism in art?

Aestheticism values art solely for its beauty, emphasizing the intrinsic value of aesthetic experience without practical or political motives.

Q: How can we view seemingly useless moments as art?

By challenging traditional views and appreciating the beauty in mundane moments, we can transform them into valuable forms of art in our daily lives.

Q: What role do aesthetic values play in everyday experiences?

Aesthetic values encourage us to cherish and love the beauty in seemingly insignificant moments, enriching our lives with heartwarming light and appreciation.

Q: How can beauty be found in the ordinary?

By perceiving everyday objects and moments with an aesthetic eye, we can uncover beauty in the mundane and elevate them as artistic experiences.

Summary

In this speech, the speaker explores the concept of art and its meaning. They discuss the idea of art existing for its own beauty and not for any practical or political purposes. The speaker shares personal experiences and examples to convey the importance of appreciating seemingly useless aspects of art in our lives. They encourage the audience to view ordinary moments with a new perspective and find beauty in unexpected places.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the meaning of art?

The meaning of art can vary from person to person. Some may see it as a way to express opinions, teach lessons, or showcase techniques and skills. It can be pragmatic or idealistic, specific or general, personal or universal. However, one perspective suggests that all art is quite useless, as mentioned in the preface of a novel by Oscar Wilde.

Q: What is aestheticism?

Aestheticism is an art movement centered around the belief that art exists for the sake of its beauty alone. It rejects any political or didactic purposes. According to the philosophy of art by Drunk Hospers, aestheticism upholds aesthetic experience as the ultimate goal of humans and sees art as unaffected by external factors. Writers like Oscar Wilde display enthusiastic pursuit of beauty in their exquisite writings.

Q: Can everyday moments be considered art?

Yes, everyday moments can be viewed as art when we appreciate their intrinsic values. For example, the delicate and beautiful purple flowers with four extending petals that the speaker encounters every spring hold significance to them. The speaker suggests that by observing and cherishing seemingly mundane details, we can find beauty in ordinary moments and make our lives more lovable.

Q: Are there communities that appreciate useless art?

Yes, there is a social media group called Useless Aesthetics where people from different places gather online to share the beautiful artistic moments in their lives. They believe that beauty can exist independent of material or pragmatic use and instead provides emotional resonance and spiritual fulfillment. This group appreciates and shares objects in life that may lack practical function but possess aesthetic values.

Q: Can seemingly ordinary scenes be appreciated as art?

Yes, seemingly ordinary scenes can be appreciated as art when seen from the perspective of aestheticism. For example, a post in the Useless Aesthetics group showcases images of plastic covering plants beside the road, covered in snow and soil. The author of the post describes this scene as emerald waves of ocean cruising and swaying, seeing beauty in what might otherwise be considered insignificant.

Q: How can we appreciate and love seemingly useless art?

The speaker encourages the audience to do a simple experiment in their fast-paced lives. They suggest finding an object previously considered useless and observing it like a piece of art. By appreciating, challenging, and loving its beauty, we can make our lives more lovable. This could be a tree on the side of the road, furniture in our room, or something more intangible like a color, sound, or word.

Q: How can appreciating seemingly useless aspects of art affect our lives?

By appreciating the seemingly useless aspects of art in our lives, we can see a world, a heaven, and the loneliness of our lives, as William Blake expressed in his poem. Finding beauty in the spring of sun and wildflowers can bring moments of joy and add vibrant color to the mundane details of our lives.

Takeaways

In this speech, the speaker encourages us to appreciate and find beauty in seemingly useless aspects of art. They suggest that by looking at everyday moments from a new perspective, we can enhance our lives and see the world as a place filled with art and beauty. This new appreciation can bring joy and deepen our connection to the world around us.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Art and beauty are subjective, with various interpretations and meanings.

• Aestheticism values art for its intrinsic beauty, free from pragmatic purposes.

• Appreciating seemingly useless moments as valuable forms of art can enrich life.