Exploring the Multifaceted Nature of Beauty: Insights from Chaffey College's 'Beauty: A Discussion'
By Nouf Hunaiti
We always talk about beauty from a cultural point of view. I was introduced to this subject from a wide range of viewpoints by attending the event by Chaffey College ‘Beauty: a discussion’. The event was led by co-curator Hannah Seidler-Wright, a Mathematics Professor, who facilitated a discussion among Brody Albert, an Art Professor; Ryan Falcioni, a Philosophy Professor; and Sarah Chamberlain, a Biology Professor.
From a mathematical perspective, a question that rises is if ‘we find art beautiful because of the mathematics implicitly or explicitly used to create it’. One of the reasons we find the Mona Lisa aesthetically pleasing is because it aligns with the golden ratio.
From an artistic standpoint, beauty extends far beyond a mere label; it encompasses profound layers of meaning and interpretation. There is not a certain checklist of criteria to be beautiful. Across centuries, people interpreted beauty differently, during the renaissance, the concept of beauty was often represented through symmetry and proportion.
When Igor Stravinsky first performed his ballet ‘The Rite of Spring’, people were not pleased with it, as they were upset at the level of dissonance in the song. It was too abstract and noisy. Over time, people grew to appreciate it more, illustrating the ever-changing nature of beauty.
From a philosophical point of view, what kinds of senses are involved in saying something is beautiful? It is logical to use our sensory perception to appreciate beauty. For example, while something could be visually appealing, it might seem less fitting to use our olfactory perception to describe it as beautiful.
The more knowledge we gain of something, the more beautiful it becomes. There could be a meaningful story behind a creation, that gave it the appreciation. It could be something that you otherwise would never find beautiful had you not learned more about it.
Questions that arise from a philosophical perspective include whether non-human perceivers have the capacity to experience beauty. Where is beauty located? Is beauty uniquely human? Is there anything that is uniquely beautiful? How do different people see different things beautiful?
Looking at beauty through a biological lens, we typically perceive it visually. Yet, it is conceivable that other organisms with different sensory capacities might perceive beauty in distinct ways. It is crucial to acknowledge our inherent human bias, recognizing that our perception of the world differs from that of other organisms.
One aspect often considered in defining beauty is facial symmetry. Additionally, our perception of beauty in others frequently reflects characteristics associated with youth and good health. Many of the reasons underlying our appreciation of beauty can be traced back to evolutionary factors.
There is no one definition of beauty. Beauty may be an experience, a certain feeling you get. Maybe we do not find something beautiful simply because we are not used to seeing it, or that we have not learnt about it before. Whether or not one finds something beautiful ties back to how they perceive it, as well as culture, time and religion.
The common ground between all the different perspectives is that beauty is a moving target. By mentioning historical instances, the coordinators did a great job at conveying how beauty is not stagnant. The evolution of beauty from ancient civilizations to modern-day societies shows that the definition of beauty is always changing.