Introduction
The essay is a response to a reading of an article by Valery Paul titled ‘Aesthetic’ and ‘The Conquest of Ubiquity’ which was translated by Manheim Ralph written back in 1934. Strictly speaking, the response typically reflects on what I have grasped from the readings. Additionally, issues raised are closely examined and my views about them are succinctly brought out.
Main
In ‘The Conquest of Ubiquity’, the author compares the fine art of the past and that of the present. It is evident that innovations have seen to it that there are indeed tremendous changes in the art of today since all physical components of art are completely affected. Even our notion about art has been impacted. According to the author he anticipated that the only things that would experience change were reproduction and transmission. Art has been compared to commodities and services such as water, gas, and electricity. With that in mind, sounds and pictures will be easily accessible by clicking a button. An atypical example is a music. To the author and which I fully agree; music is part of humans as it is being enjoyed globally.
The main obstacle which was making it available and produced at will have been removed. However, visual was a problem at the time the article was written but not now since there is a technological innovation that has aided in curbing the problem related to color and vision.
One major difference in the past and at present is that currently, people can enjoy music according to the moods and time appropriate to them. One major problem the author sees with the advent of technology in art especially music is that it will be disturbing as it will be played everywhere. I agree with this view since whenever a man is, music is with him. To curb the menace associated with music there is a need to set rules.
In the article titled ‘Aesthetics’, the author acknowledges that its definition is difficult. This is attributed to the voluminous literature he has gone through in trying to find a succinct definition to no avail. I believe that what one takes aesthetic to mean might not really mean the same to another; this is why we experience criticism regarding art. However, he brings forth the issue of beauty and pleasure as the major attributes of aesthetics.
In his quest, of establishing what aesthetic means, he came across the work of one philosopher whose observation and appetite brought about aesthetics. The philosopher through his work brought forth pain and pleasure as attributes of aesthetics. According to the author, the two are incomparable, indefinable, or even incommensurable. Pleasure is what makes the audience feel to have a deeper understanding of the work of art. Additionally, I agree that the pleasure derived from a piece of art can stimulate one to reproduce fine art. The idea of beauty fosters the desire to know the truth in art. Artists are unable to free themselves from the concepts of arbitrary. They are driven by what is unknown to them to bring to light something unique through paintings, music, and poem.
Conclusion
Although the author concludes by saying that aesthetic exists, defining the term has been a challenge; he equates the problem in other subjects such as mathematics and physics. I agree with the notion that each and every individual will see a piece of art from different perspectives based on their culture and other attributes. Lastly, each subject is currently experiencing its own challenges. From the two readings, I have learned a number of things; among them, that technology impacts work of art, different people have different judgment, art is a multidisciplinary subject and time always dictates what is to be seen and experienced ‘tomorrow’.