The Social Aesthetics of Human Environments : Critical Themes

Across these essays Arnold Berleant demonstrates how aesthetic values and theory can be used to reappraise our social practices. He tackles issues within the built environment, everyday life, and politics, breaking down the dichotomy between the natural and the human. His work represents a fresh approach to traditional philosophical questions in not only ethics, but in metaphysics, truth, meaning, psychology, phenomenology, and social and moral philosophy. Topics covered include the cultural aesthetics of environment, ecological aesthetics, the aesthetics of terrorism, and the subversion of beauty. The corruption of taste by the forces of commercial interests as well as how aesthetics can advance our understanding of violence are also considered. Berleant's exploration is supported by his analysis of 19th-century art to the present day, starting with impressionism through to postmodernism and contemporary artistic interventions. By critically examining the field in this way and casting new light on social understanding and practice, this collection makes a substantive contribution in identifying and clarifying central human issues, guided by an understanding of aesthetic engagement as a powerful tool for social critique. Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Contents Figures Preface Acknowledgments Permissions Part I: Wherefore Aesthetics? Chapter 1: Questioning Aesthetics Chapter 2: The Transformations of Aesthetics Part II: The Complicit Participant Chapter 3: Objects into Persons: The Way to Social Aesthetics Chapter 4: Duchampian Reflections on Descartes Part III: Environment as Cultural Chapter 5: The Cultural Aesthetics of Environment Chapter 6: Some Questions for Ecological Aesthetics Part IV: Aesthetic Exploitation Chapter 7: A Critical Aesthetics of Disney World Chapter 8: The Subversion of Beauty Part V: Negative Aesthetics Chapter 9: Art, Terrorism, and the Negative Sublime Chapter 10: Reflections on the Aesthetics of Violence Part VI: Aesthetics as Cultural Critique Chapter 11: The Sublime Troubles of Postmodernism Part VII: Aesthetic Community Chapter 12: Getting along Beautifully: Ideas for a Social Aesthetics Chapter 13: Aesthetics and Community Appendix Notes Bibliography Index