Aesthetics - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

lurkette · 07-19-2003, 06:20 PM

I've been thinking a lot about aesthetics lately. Do they serve any purpose, or are they completely frivolous? I like for things to look nice, artistic. Is that shallow, and impractical, or do aesthetics matter? Are they just window dressing or do they serve some deeper purpose?

anti fishstick · 07-19-2003, 08:01 PM

aesthetics are part of nature. human faces are aesthetic. at least, they're suppose to be symmetric

lafemmefatale · 07-19-2003, 09:10 PM

aesthetics' purpose mostly is for making judgements but off hte top of my head, ther's at least one practical purpose.

Economically: marketing. it's mostly about the loooks baby. really superb marketing usually dishes out an incredible concept, full of humour etc. but otherwise, the run of the mill ad will have to have aesthetic appeal.

but basically...yea it's frivilous but it's fun and it's a good thing to have. Plain and boring just doesn't cut it. Would a hamburger taste just a good if it came in little gray cubes? so by all means, go all out! decorate! be eccentric! Unless it somehow deeply disturbs your immediate relationships with other people...and burns a hole in your wallet, go and satisfy your aesthetic needs! weeee....

pr0f3n · 07-19-2003, 09:37 PM

I think as civilization decreases the human need for dawn to dusk work to ensure our survival, we fill that extra time with the creation of beauty. Be it the amassing and arranging of objects, or the actual creating process, to be blunt, we like to things to look nice.

Aesthetics are a very real part of the human psyche. I mean, from the ornate and decorative rituals of every religious observance since the dawn of time, anything from flowers at grave sites to the Catholic Mass, I think people need to seperate the utilitarian and mundane parts of their lives with the celebration of life, and part of that is our just plain every-day surroundings.

The real question: Is form more important than function, or vice versa?

Sleepyjack · 07-20-2003, 02:52 AM

Some aethetics may incite or provoke other deeper emotions within one's self, so they're not entirely superficial. Although i guess that is form vs function. With that, i'd think function is more important. Since form is merely nothing without function.

Although with a different intrepretation of the question...
For example, i'd rather have a bigger more practical drawer for my clothes, than a pretty little hard to operate drawer. The form vs function may cahnge though, with different circumstances. For example, women like wearing high heels to make themselves taller, confident or look better (maybe) although i can't imagine they're too comfortable.
an example of myself, i like having longer hair (i am a guy as well) and i guess that is merely form. You'd think shorter hair would be more practical, it doens't get in the way etc. Although on the contrary to that, some guys spend hours gelling up and styling up their short hair. All i do is wash mine

basically form vs function does not have a constant or universial answer and it'd change under different circumstances and your own physce.....
As long as you don't judge things on form instead of function (mainly to do with poeple etc inaminate and other objects are ok, i guess)

tikki · 07-20-2003, 05:04 AM

In most cases, I care about aesthetics (hey, I use a Macintosh), but I really like the Aztek. It's a functional car, but its ugly as sin.

What I will never understand is people that wear stuff that looks good, but you can just tell how uncomfortable they are in it. Aesthetics over function: NEVER.

MacGnG · 07-20-2003, 08:37 PM

aesthetics are neccessary cause people like looking at pretty stuff. the best example is Power Point. it's a crappy program but it makes everything look pretty. no one really likes power point but we must use it cause "thats what everyone uses" - well thats what i was told.

as for what tikki said: "Aesthetics over function: NEVER." sorry but that rarely happends, completely anyway.

07-19-2003, 06:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
lurkette My future is coming on Moderator Emeritus Location: east of the sun and west of the moon	Aesthetics I've been thinking a lot about aesthetics lately. Do they serve any purpose, or are they completely frivolous? I like for things to look nice, artistic. Is that shallow, and impractical, or do aesthetics matter? Are they just window dressing or do they serve some deeper purpose? __________________ "If ten million people believe a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing." - Anatole France

07-19-2003, 08:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
anti fishstick Post-modernism meets Individualism AKA the Clash Location: oregon	aesthetics are part of nature. human faces are aesthetic. at least, they're suppose to be symmetric __________________ And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. ~Anais Nin

07-19-2003, 09:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
lafemmefatale Insane Location: Vancouver	aesthetics' purpose mostly is for making judgements but off hte top of my head, ther's at least one practical purpose. Economically: marketing. it's mostly about the loooks baby. really superb marketing usually dishes out an incredible concept, full of humour etc. but otherwise, the run of the mill ad will have to have aesthetic appeal. but basically...yea it's frivilous but it's fun and it's a good thing to have. Plain and boring just doesn't cut it. Would a hamburger taste just a good if it came in little gray cubes? so by all means, go all out! decorate! be eccentric! Unless it somehow deeply disturbs your immediate relationships with other people...and burns a hole in your wallet, go and satisfy your aesthetic needs! weeee.... __________________ -poor is the man whose pleasure depends on the permission of another-

07-19-2003, 09:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
pr0f3n Crazy Location: a little to the right	I think as civilization decreases the human need for dawn to dusk work to ensure our survival, we fill that extra time with the creation of beauty. Be it the amassing and arranging of objects, or the actual creating process, to be blunt, we like to things to look nice. Aesthetics are a very real part of the human psyche. I mean, from the ornate and decorative rituals of every religious observance since the dawn of time, anything from flowers at grave sites to the Catholic Mass, I think people need to seperate the utilitarian and mundane parts of their lives with the celebration of life, and part of that is our just plain every-day surroundings. The real question: Is form more important than function, or vice versa? __________________ In heaven all the interesting people are missing. Friedrich Nietzsche

07-20-2003, 02:52 AM	#5 (permalink)
Sleepyjack Fast'n'Bulbous Location: Australia, Perth	Some aethetics may incite or provoke other deeper emotions within one's self, so they're not entirely superficial. Although i guess that is form vs function. With that, i'd think function is more important. Since form is merely nothing without function. Although with a different intrepretation of the question... For example, i'd rather have a bigger more practical drawer for my clothes, than a pretty little hard to operate drawer. The form vs function may cahnge though, with different circumstances. For example, women like wearing high heels to make themselves taller, confident or look better (maybe) although i can't imagine they're too comfortable. an example of myself, i like having longer hair (i am a guy as well) and i guess that is merely form. You'd think shorter hair would be more practical, it doens't get in the way etc. Although on the contrary to that, some guys spend hours gelling up and styling up their short hair. All i do is wash mine basically form vs function does not have a constant or universial answer and it'd change under different circumstances and your own physce..... As long as you don't judge things on form instead of function (mainly to do with poeple etc inaminate and other objects are ok, i guess) Last edited by Sleepyjack; 07-20-2003 at 03:02 AM..

07-20-2003, 05:04 AM	#6 (permalink)
tikki Justified Location: West Lafayette, IN	In most cases, I care about aesthetics (hey, I use a Macintosh), but I really like the Aztek. It's a functional car, but its ugly as sin. What I will never understand is people that wear stuff that looks good, but you can just tell how uncomfortable they are in it. Aesthetics over function: NEVER. __________________ Take notice. Take interest. Take me with you.

07-20-2003, 08:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
MacGnG Know Where!	aesthetics are neccessary cause people like looking at pretty stuff. the best example is Power Point. it's a crappy program but it makes everything look pretty. no one really likes power point but we must use it cause "thats what everyone uses" - well thats what i was told. as for what tikki said: "Aesthetics over function: NEVER." sorry but that rarely happends, completely anyway.