Should we consider art beyond its utility? We sit down with Emily Kay Williamson to chat about what aesthetics can tell us about art's role in society and its impact on cognition. We talk about whether there is a difference between art and everyday objects, whether art has any boundaries, what there is to learn from art, and where things like journalism fall in discussions about art.

Show Notes:

1. Art's Definition and Social Role: Exploration of art's definition, emphasizing its complex nature and the difficulty in pinpointing a singular definition. Also, what art does, its impact on individuals, and its social role, rather than just what it is.

2. Appreciating Art Beyond Utility: The idea that appreciating art shouldn't be about seeking personal gain. Challenges the view that art must be inherently useful to hold value, advocating for appreciating art for its own sake.

3. Learning and Growth Through Art: Art is seen as a medium through which individuals can learn and grow, even when they do not approach it with the intention of gaining something specific. The interaction with art inherently leads to insights and personal development.

4. Art vs. Everyday Objects: How people differentiate between interacting with art and everyday objects. Art invokes a unique set of interactions and perceptions, distinct from the way people engage with other content-dense aspects of their environments.

5. Journalism's Objectivity and Subjectivity: The tension in journalism between striving for objectivity and the inherent subjectivity in storytelling. Also, the complexities of reporting and the challenges in balancing impartial news delivery with a narrative that contains inherent biases.

6. Impact of Online Media and Narrative Tropes: How online media's competition for attention influences journalism and storytelling, potentially blending informing with engaging. Also, the presence of grand tropes in narratives, including in journalism, and how these tropes may influence the portrayal and consumption of news.

7. The Transformative Power of Art: Emphasis on art's ability to transform perceptions and foster a deeper understanding of oneself and the world. The potential value of art, irrespective of the art's utility in a conventional sense.

8. Critical Examination of Information Conveyance: Critical examination of how information, whether through art or journalism, is conveyed and consumed in society. Also, the importance of being aware of the subjective lenses through which information is presented.

References

• Peter Lamarque: Aesthethician and philosopher of art

• Marina Abramović: Performance artist who pushes the mental and physical boundaries of their art

• Joseph Campbell: Known for his work in comparative mythology and the concept of the monomyth or "The Hero's Journey."

• Primo Levi: Author of "If This Is A Man," a memoir of his experiences during the Holocaust, particularly in Auschwitz.

• Kill Bill: A film directed by Quentin Tarantino, known for its distinctive visual style and narrative structure, as well as its portrayal of violence.

• Diana at the Bath: An etching by Rembrandt, mentioned in the context of appreciating non-idealized forms in art.

• Humbert Humbert: The main character in Vladimir Nabokov's novel "Lolita," portrayed as a pedophile, whose perspective challenges the reader's moral judgments.

• Emma Bovary: The protagonist of Gustave Flaubert's "Madame Bovary," whose aspirations and actions critique societal and personal delusions.