Universal appreciation of photographic art

[lxdude]

I'd bet if someone asked them if they don't want to be called Eskimo, they'd be Inuit.

 

[cliveh]

Philosophy professor Denis Dutton suggests a Darwinian explanation of universal beauty being hard wired into our DNA. He talks about landscapes and art starting at 7:00.

http://www.ted.com/talks/denis_dutton_a_darwinian_theory_of_beauty.html

Not sure if I agree with Denis, perhaps some of it, but where do certain genres fit in? Such as Expressionism and Pop Art?

 

[pbromaghin]

Not sure if I agree with Denis, perhaps some of it, but where do certain genres fit in? Such as Expressionism and Pop Art?

In the part about the stone axes he mentions that the complicated, beautiful and useless ones made by pre-humans probably attracted mates by showing that they had originality and could acquire great skill at something difficult, but useless. After millions of years, similar behavior would still be hardwired into our brains, with cultural differences producing Wagnerian opera, rap music and macrame.

 

[blockend]

Surely Indian shares the same root as indigenous, meaning 'from that place'. Political accretions have ensured it has become a non-word. I have doubts about the universal appeal of beauty. Why else would members of the British ruling elite pay stern, overweight matrons good money to mortify their flesh when young attractive women are available? The lure of the exotic is as much about difference as familiarity.

 

[blansky]

Surely Indian shares the same root as indigenous, meaning 'from that place'. Political accretions have ensured it has become a non-word. I have doubts about the universal appeal of beauty. Why else would members of the British ruling elite pay stern, overweight matrons good money to mortify their flesh when young attractive women are available? The lure of the exotic is as much about difference as familiarity.

For what it's worth.......The word "indigenous" comes from the Latin indigena, meaning "native," formed from indu "in" and gen- "beget." It is unrelated to the formation of "Indian." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_American_name_controversy


http://www.straightdope.com/columns...tion-of-native-americans-as-una-gente-in-dios