Matt - Aesthetic Awareness: Part 1

Aesthetic awareness necessitates a fundamental appreciation for the contextual and symbolic values of art. Although the rationale for what constitutes art is subjective and sometimes controversial, the most basic criteria are:

• Cultural Value
• Sociopolitical Context
• Originality

The significance of this value-oriented-rubric is to identify the contextual value of what humans determine as art – or more broadly, “visual appeal.” This analysis is not intended to serve as a guide for entirely determining “artistic value” but rather, as a general acknowledgement of the implicit criteria that is commonly used to establish this value structure.

Cultural Value: For one to truly appreciate aesthetic value it is necessary to study and embrace the cultural context. Understanding the various cultural components that influence the artists enables one to “see through the eyes of the creator” or at the very least, comprehend the circumstances that influenced the art. The influence of art and society are often interchangeable as each reflects the other. For instance, the Gherkin in London captures contemporary architecture and has become an integral piece of the landscape – just as St Paul’s Cathedral is. The former embodies ingenuity and the UK’s robust economy, while the later is a beacon faith and tradition. Each of these architectural feats captures the cultural values during their construction. For one to truly appreciate these international landmarks, it is necessary to examine the cultural significance. For example, an incentive behind the Gherkin’s peculiar design is energy efficiency as it conserves far more than traditional office buildings, which has greater cultural significance in an age where environmental issues are at the forefront political discourse. Likewise, the design is a source of pride and it reasserts Great Britain’s financial and political eminence in the world. Such intangible qualities are fundamental to the city and are subtly evident in British culture.

Sociopolitical Context: Often the social and political climate subconsciously influences our actions. This is particularly true among those who create aesthetics, as these varying means – ranging from photography to interior design – often embody the sociopolitical circumstances from which the creator has experienced.

Famed sculptor and painter Pablo Picasso redefined conventional art by introducing dozens of new painting techniques. While the subject-matter of Picasso’s work is generally abstract, he maintained that it had purpose and occasionally, a sociopolitical context. Indeed, a novice art critic might dismiss the significance of such works as Picasso’s Guernica for its abstractness. Yet, when one appreciates the context – the painting depicts people from the city of Guernica suffering from a bomb raid during the crippling Spanish Civil War – it establishes a unique significance for the piece. Although the sociopolitical context may not necessarily change one’s opinion of a particular piece of art, it provides additional context and a broader understanding of the artist’s perspective.

Originality: A common criteria that is used to evaluate artwork is to gauge its uniqueness. Artists that transcend conventional standards are a catalyst for provoking innovation among the larger body. As is common with many pioneers, their work is sometimes rejected by the public because it defies conformity; however, it is often within the sociopolitical, cultural, and economic context. This is significant because the viewer or assessor of the particular artwork is conditioned by their surroundings and may render a value judgment based on its originality. For instance, new works of impressionism may be aesthetically pleasing but they are inherently insignificant relative to those produced by the pioneers because it is not quite unique. Likewise, it is mistaken to claim that artists such as Monet or Van Gogh are redundant because they provoked the impressionist movement. Thus, it is important for the viewer to appreciate the uniqueness of the works and use this as a means for establishing context.