Status Updates From Aesthetics: A Very Short In...

Barnett Newman famously said that aesthetics is as irrelevant for artists as ornithology is for birds. It should be clear that it is philosophy of art that would be the equivalent of ornithology in this blatant provocation—and not aesthetics.

“To me, art almost always speaks more forcefully when it appears in an imperfect, accidental, and fragmentary way, somehow just signaling its presence, allowing one to feel it through the ineptitude of the interpretation. I prefer the Chopin that reaches me in the street from an open window to the Chopin served in great style from the concert stage. “

-Witold Gombrowicz

The author describing how his aesthetic experience of a certain Bond film from the 60s was negatively affected when he noticed the resemblance of the villain to the 45th. President cracked me up.

Also, a very fascinating book. I thought I had an idea of what aesthetics are, but I did not.