Search for Beauty 2024

 While we focused a lot on our own definitions of beauty or what most of us would objectively find beautiful, we never really covered that sometimes society tells us what to find beautiful through trends and fads. The class with Stu and Trina touches on this a little bit, but throughout the eras of society, the standards of beauty (for humans, art, nature, etc) change constantly, and most people ebb and flow with it. There are probably multiple different reasons this occurs, like the change in culture, economics, and societal standards, and also trends set by elites. A great example of this is the story of the Mona Lisa. When it was first created in the early 1500s, many artists agreed that it was not Leonardo Da Vinci's best work, and even considered it to be quite plain. It was not discussed in the art world and was purposely largely ignored due to it being a disappointment. Interest in the painting did not come about until the 1800s when writers eventually started to add it to t...

 In class, we briefly learned about the art of language and the difference between poetry and prose. Language provides power to something and creates a new meaning revolving around symbolism. If something is not named or is named but is invisible, the power of that thing is greatly diminished. In my major I see this a lot, if people do not know the terminology for environmental issues or do not experience and 'see' the issues firsthand they often do not believe in the issues occurring. Langage, the ability to name things and describe things, is so incredibly important, and while it feels like humans keep creating more categories for things, and new terms, I believe it is simply because we are learning new things about the world around us and are trying to translate the new information in a way that we understand. I believe that human vocabulary and scientific terminology will continue to expand as our knowledge continues to expand exponentially. Complicated words and phrases ar...

 It was incredibly interesting to learn about this cave and connect it to the phenomena of art vs ritual. Initially, I confused this cave with the equally, if not more famous, Lascaux cave. I learned about the Lascaux cave in my art history class and it is one of the reasons I learned that I preferred to study ancient art as opposed to modern. While art today is still impressive and requires great skill, modern humans have more time and resources to be able to perfect artistic skills. There are also classes available and a heavy encouragement to build up a skill involved in the arts. It impressed me how incredibly detailed and clean the drawings were in the Chauvet Cave, they nearly looked like a modern rendition. To be able to do that with limited sources, even if they had a lot of practice out of ritualistic necessity, is incredibly impressive and fascinating. I am sure that through practice and learning from each other, they were able to perfect a lot of the beings depicted in t...

 I really enjoyed watching this movie in class and I was happy that I caught on by the time we got to the rows of the flowers. While what humans have made is incredibly impressive and allows us to have a better quality of life, it is true when I say that I felt a little dizzy and out of breath while watching the fast pace of our lives. The urgent music and increasing speed of the videos portray the speed of life and technological progress, but it also brings a negative connotation as it is a stark contrast to the soft and relieving music and imagery at the beginning of the video. I really wish that this could be remade since it has almost been forty years since the movie came out. So much progress has occurred since, and I wonder how the film would have handled what is happening now in the 2020s. I believe they would have continued with the music and sped up footage, or paused to acknowledge the damage to the environment. I also think there would be a nod to the incredible technolo...

 It was amazing to see Stu and Trina again, to hear about their experience, and to see the video about the house. Nothing will ever compare to the real thing though. I had to go for Dr. Balay's Environmental Ethics course but I went with one other friend instead of the group trip and it was incredible. As I had said in class, I was taken away by the sheer amount of plant life and natural sunlight that was filtering into the house. The space was warm and welcoming and it truly had a different scent and air quality than what I am used to, especially in form life. I felt lighter and happier within that space, probably because it helped my seasonal depression and I wish I could have one for my own. Money is the main roadblock to getting one for myself or for most other communities, and the fact that the majority of contractors just won't from the current trends, as Stu said. I think that it is very disheartening that complexities within the business world and monetary complexities ...

In my Environmental Ethics Course, we attempted to look at the value of other things in nature without using a human lens, or in this case, what the Greeks would call doxai. My professor showed us philosophers who tried to find the 'truth' within what the environment really was and claimed to have strayed away from a human point of view. In my opinion, the frustrating truth is that we will never be able to escape a human point of view because everything we do has a permanent lens tied to our being. Every word, every concept, every definition, every emotion has been coined by humankind and we sadly cannot communicate adequately with anything else. Those who claim we can communicate with nature are right on some fronts, but we always translate that communication into a human point of view. We, literally speaking, cannot get out of our own heads which can be frustrating considering how powerful they are. I feel that Ontology runs into the same dilemma as my ethics course did. Thes...

  I am fascinated by the ocean but also simultaneously scared of it. The beauty of the ocean is an accurate reflection of nature's majesty, a vast natural area that holds within it the mysteries of the world. Its beauty is not just in the shimmering turquoise tones of tropical waters or the intricate crashing waves against jagged cliffs, but in the essence of its being. The ocean, with flow, represents the cycle of life itself –constant, yet always changing, and serene yet powerful. In its depths lie a world of creatures we dont even know about. This is so fascinating. From the graceful dance of dolphins to the silent glide of whales and their vibrating and radiating communication noises the ocean is unlike anything else we have found. The sea is a realm of diversity and connectedness, where every animal plays a role in the balance of ecosystems. Its beauty is not just in the vision of colorful coral reefs or the graceful movements of sea creatures, but in the harmony of life that ...

  I took German 101 last semester and learned a lot about the nation and culture itself, not just the language. The culture of Germany and the German language intertwine in a combination of history, art, and philosophy, reflecting the nation's complex and evolving identity. German culture is a tradition and innovation, drawing from a lot of minds filled with artistic expression and intellectual inquiry. From the masterpieces of Bach and Beethoven to the philosophical thoughts of Kant and Nietzsche, German culture has left a mark on the world. Germany's cultural landscape is also shaped by traditions, from the festive Oktoberfest to the solemnity of Christmas markets. These traditions serve as anchors in a quickly changing world, connecting German people to their history while embracing the future. Whether savoring a hearty traditional German meal or marveling at the precision of German engineering, there is a sense of pride and craftsmanship that is distributed throughout the c...

  The transition from high school to college marked a profound shift in my educational and maturation journey, presenting new beginnings and difficult experiences. Starting high school I was in a period of adolescence, a time of exploration and self-discovery within my familiar community and with my support system. It is a stepping stone toward independence, yet rooted in the comfort of routine and known environments. Alternatively, embarking on college warrants a more profound leaving, symbolizing the threshold to adulthood and a wider world of possibilities. It is a leap into the unknown, where the safety of known faces and structures is replaced by the excitement and challenges of newfound self-reliance. High school laid the foundation, fostering personal growth within a structured framework for me. While college demands a higher level of independence, critical thinking, and decision making. In high school, the focus often lies on meeting academic requirements and social expecta...

  I took a religion class about the origin of islam last semester and I am going to reflect on the class. Islam, as a religion, is a testament to the power of faith, community, and submission to the divine will. Rooted in the teachings of the chosen Prophet Muhammad, Islam is more than a set of beliefs; it is a way of life, guiding its followers on a path of spiritual fulfillment and moral righteousness. At its core is the fundamental principle of monotheism, the belief in the absolute unity and transcendence of Allah. The Five Pillars of Islam are faith, prayer, charity, pilgrimage, and fasting.​ They form the backbone of Islamic practice, offering a framework for daily devotion and social responsibility. Islam's beauty lies in its inclusivity, welcoming all who seek the faith and the wisdom of its teachings. It emphasizes compassion, justice, and the importance of community, which has bonds that transcend  old borders and cultures. Through the Qur'an, Muslims find guidance f...

   I am grateful for my time here at CNU. I do n't regret coming here at all, even though I am transferring after the end of his semester. As I said on one of the first days of class, I am from AL. I will be attending the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Before I came here I was in need of growth and knowledge about myself. I accomplished this after the first semester, but it took a lot to get to this point. I tried to do life by myself after I had a lot of support at my disposal for a few months. I felt very alone and it was a hard transition coming here and only relying on myself to care for my body. My time here has allowed me to become more self-confident and increase my esteem. I feel better about going to college at the University of Alabama because I am secure with who I am.

  Dance as art and dance as traditional practices lecture. Dancing, whether viewed through the lens of art or tradition, embodies a profound intertwining of expression and heritage. In the realm of art, dance becomes a canvas where emotion, narrative, and creativity converge. It is a medium for individuals and choreographers to explore the depths of human experience, pushing boundaries and challenging conventions. Artistic dance is fluid, ever-evolving, and often transcends cultural boundaries, speaking a universal language that resonates across diverse audiences. Conversely, dancing as tradition roots itself in history, culture, and community. It carries the weight of generations, preserving rituals, stories, and customs. Traditional dance is a living history book, a way to honor ancestors and uphold cultural identity. While artistic dance may innovate and experiment, traditional dance serves as a link to the past, grounding individuals in a sense of continuity and belonging. Bot...

  What is art? How is it classified? I think that anything could be art depending on the way you look at it. In “The Nature of Art” it assigns certain detailed words to time periods to describe the kind of art that was prominent during that time. Art during the ancient times was characterized as being imitation and cognition based. Beauty in the art of nature was popular in the years of the Renaissance. The popularity eventually changed into art as the communication of feeling. In the twentieth century art as expression and experience gained attention. The most recent relevant interpretation of art would be virtually today. When I think of art throughout time I think of architecture and paintings or drawings. Art can also be found in nature, space, in food, and technology. Beautiful art can be found anywhere and is relative to the person’s own interpretation of beauty. 

  Eco-friendly independently run houses that a couple built that can sustain themselves. They built 8 of them in a row, and the community seems very closely-knit. Seems like a perfect place to raise a family. I wish that more architects thought the way that they did. I haven't ever heard of them or the houses but they are very smart and resourceful. I hope construction companies start to think like this when building future subdivisions. Also I did not know that lawns were originally from England and Scotland and that they represent wealth. It makes sense that yards of grass aren't environmentally friendly, and I have never realized that. I think this idea is so original and unique and the houses are so appealing because they are simple, modern and beautiful. 

  Guest speaker that photographs her compost. I love that she is so creative and artistic with her planet-friendly methods. Compost and/ or waste can be a beautiful thing that inspires people and I never realized that until I heard what she had to say. It takes so much dedication to commit to this lifestyle and it's an awesome accomplishment. If I personally tried to do something similar I think I would be unmotivated just because so many people don't live like that, and I would wonder if I was really making a difference. I wonder if people could influence each other to start being environmentally friendly, like a trend. And this could spread across the country and that way people would know the differences that they are making along with thousands of others. I think it could definitely be possible and I think it's worth a try. Her concept of art is really cool because it discovers beauty in very close up, zoomed in photography. It finds beauty where a viewer wouldn't a...

  Interesting that places like Pie Town exist in the United States. The desert that you were in actually has grass which surprises me, even though I know it’s still hot there. Why would a park ranger shoot at you? That sounds illegal and scary. I would probably sue some law enforcement officers for shooting at me for no reason. I did not know about water caches either but that is smart, especially because I would especially run out of water fast walking through the desert. What is a spruce beetle and how does it kill entire forests of trees? That's very unfortunate; nature has so many things going against it and trying to destroy it. It is so unfair that the animals have no say in how much people destroy the environment. Animals are so peaceful so they probably really don't like humans. The earth would be so beautiful and stay beautiful, and that should be our goal for the next generations. 

The author here also delves into whether art is considered to be mimicry or not, similar to the teachings of Plato and the critique of Jane Allen Harrison. Merleau-Ponty, similar to Jane Allen Harrison, rejects the idea of art as mimicry and sees it more as a human-made diagram that helps us view and understand the world to the best of our ability. While art is based off of the world, it is from a limited human perspective. This lens means that any art we create is inevitably separated from nature due to our consciousness being unable to conceive the entirety of nature and the Earth. This limited, yet complete artistic view, as Merlau-Ponty puts it, turns into something slightly beyond mimicry. Merlau-Ponty also argues that art and the perspective of a painter are much more than the cold hard facts of traditional science. While I agree with this notion, I would like to suggest that a more factual representation of Earth, like data, can be combined with more expansive practices such as ...

  “The Other Wes Moore” is a book that covers the lives of two young black boys with the same names that had very similar childhoods, but different lives. It tells the story of their life choices and how it determined their fates. One of them ended up being in and out of jail throughout his life because he was using drugs to make money. He also got a girl pregnant when he was 15. His mom tried to help him but he couldn't be helped. The other Wes Moore had gotten in trouble when he was 13 years old for spraying spray paint on a public building’s wall. The cop let him and his friend off with a warning but this experience frightened him. He had let his friend convince him to do something that he knew was wrong. He made other mistakes growing up, but eventually ended up getting sent to military school. This story made me think about life decisions and fate and how a person is able to decide their own future and path through life. They could have so easily ended up having eachothers liv...

  “A Thousand Splendid Suns” is a book based on true events that occurred in the ‘90s and early 2000s. It is set in the Middle East in the nation of Afghanistan and examines the lives of a woman who got promised to marry a man when she was 8 years old because her grandmother and mother had passed away, and her birth father didn't want her. He had 3 other wives and several children. Even if I had a lot of children I would still be there and support them because having kids is preventative. The little girl ended up having to stay with her husband who was more than fifty years older than her. She did not have the ability to birth children, so he treated her awfully. He was mean to her and made her do everything around the home. He would beat her and during this time period in Afghanistan, women were not allowed out of the house without a man. There were many other restrictions for both women and men because Afghanistan was in a time of war. Eventually another young woman who has no fa...

  “Discipline and Punish” is a book about the logic and methods of human discipline and how they have changed over time. It's very interesting to me because humans started out being very savage, and they have the tendency to be brutal. Humans are technically classified as animals so this is kind of expected. But this book explains that humans used to think pain was the worst form of punishment, and they have become more humane overtime. In other words, punishment used to target the body (pain) but now it targets the soul (mind, thoughts and will). The book also goes in depth about how society operates. Throughout time, the European regime system has evolved to a less brutal form of punishment. There would always need to be consequences for humans who broke the law, or there would be no reason for us to follow the rules. When I think about it torture is just as motivating as incarceration to obey the law because no one would want either one of them. It is not worth breaking the rule...

  “The Magnificent Thing” This is a book I was given by my treatment team before I came to college. Whenever I first went into a partial hospitalization program I was pretty much a shell of a person. I had forgotten who I was and the qualities of my personality. I did not know myself and I had been thinking low of myself for so long, I had to learn how to appreciate myself again. Or love and show compassion for myself. The book is about a little girl that is given a simple thing that she didn't know could be magnificent. In treatment, where I was, they gave children’s books to each woman that completed their time there, and it was supposed to represent their journey in recovery. I didn't know I had value and that I could like myself; I didn't know I had potential to be something magnificent. Even though my mental health sucked and it was a hard thing to go through, something positive and beneficial came out of it. That was something I never expected, but I am so grateful fo...

  “A Little Life” by Hanya Yanagihara tells the story of a group of young men who are artists in their 20s trying to make it through life. One of them has a form of autism but his friends, including his brother, take care of him because his parents have suffered so much loss and grief that they are not able to care for any of their children anymore. The couple lost four of their children. The story evolves into accounts of the said parents' childhoods and explores why they are like this. It all eventually relates to the way their own parents treated them. They were unable to love anyone since their parents had treated them so terribly while they were being raised. The main message of the book is that some people have experienced too much emotional trauma to change, be happy, or love others. This is a very unfortunate but true fact because once humans get past a certain emotional point, they are unable to become as they once were. I believe that this is extremely possible and very h...

 A well documented phenomenon in psychology is something called flow state. The basic idea is that we are doing an activity that requires just enough effort relative to our skill level we enter a state of intense concentration where time seems to fly by. If you've ever found yourself fully absorbed in a book, video game, or even writing a paper you've probably experinced this. I wonder how this concept might apply to beauty. We talked about in class how the moment you realize you are experiencing the beauty of something, it takes us out of the moment. What are some of the other factors that cause us to be "in the moment" or "out of the moment"  Specifically I wonder how this concept affects live music. Concerts tend to be notorious for providing the feeling of losing yourself and entering into flow state. Is this affected by genre and style? Does it depend on the sense of community with those you are singing with? Specifically for myself as a Christian I won...

 Here is my initial writing from the one of our first classes about experiencing beauty  A few days ago I invited my friend to a late night service at a small church in williamsburg that meets in a coffee shop. It was a prophetic service, where we were trained in how to hear God's voice and share what we believed to be hearing with others. We had an exercise where everyone was supposed to ask Jesus how he saw the somebody else in the room. I was really praying for my friend to be encouraged by the service and this activity really blessed her. One man looked over at my friend and said he thought God had called her to be a “heart healer” and elaborated about what that meant for several minutes. For context, my friend is a mental health counselor who works with troubled youth, many of which struggle with suicidal and homicidal ideations. I saw as she listened to the strangers words that it deeply reasoned with her. She felt seen, and not just by people, but by God himself. It was...

 This is my second in a series of posts, featuring some of my most profound experiences with the presence of God In my experience, nothing is more healing than looking into the eyes of God, and being overwhelmed with his affections for you. There is no greater strength than knowing that no matter what you have done, that your creator loves you with an intense passion, and would die a thousand deaths just to be with you. To love of God is greater than the love of any friend, parent, or lover. It is in experiencing this love that I was freed completely from suicidal ideation in my junior year of high school  I was at liberty university for there College For A Weekend program in the fall of my junior year. My father had recently passed away after suffering 2 years of abusive treatment in a nursing home following a stroke. I was tormented daily with thoughts of killing myself. Seeing the slow death of my father, along with other traumas which I will not share here, really messed w...

 In many times during my life, often during seasons of intense suffering, I have experinced what I as a Christian would call the presence of God. In these blog posts I would like to retell some of these experiences  It was June 2021 and I was on a retreat at a large how beside a lake. The large backyard had a firepit, a dock, all manner of lake related accessories, and a beautiful view where the sun set over the water. I was there for a summer internship I had taken with a Church in richmond. It was a very large church and I was one of a total of 17 interns. The weekend retreat was meant to be an opportunity for us all to hangout and build connections before we ventured into the difficult work of youth ministry together. While the trip was a lot of fun, I couldn't help but feel a lingering anxiety in the back of mind, throughout each game we played and small group time we shared. I didn't feel ready. While part of me did genuinely want to serve at this church, I knew deep down...

 In this reading, the concept the author pushed on two ways that humans can move forward with the environment reminds me of things that I have learned in my major. The author states that we could either find a nonhierarchical way to make connections with the environment or leave nature and the environment alone altogether. Other than the nonhierarchical portion of the first suggestion, these two solutions remind me of conservationism and preservationism respectively.  Additionally, in my Environmental Ethics course, we discussed the nonhierarchical attachment to the environment in-depth as well. With this knowledge as my background, I believe that choosing one form or the other is not that simple. Context is key. In some ways, preservation might be the most necessary, especially when trying to preserve a certain habitat or animal. Conservationism, in my opinion, is the best way to go about most other issues. We cannot simply leave nature alone, with our dependency on nature an...

 I am glad I chose this reading because I had to study this subject for my major. In my Introduction to Environmental Studies class, we focused on how the Hudson River Valley School slowly redefined what was considered beautiful through paintings of large and sublime wilderness. Learning about the European history of art and wilderness was interesting because we never covered that topic in class. By reading the Italian and English sections, it is shown that the American form of capturing nature was incredibly behind these other countries. Granted, America was an incredibly new country at the time, and for many years during this phenomenon, they were not a country. Nevertheless, I expected colonials, who came from all over, to pick up some of these ideas and transfer them to the United States. In some ways, they did, like bringing with them perfectly manicured lawns desire to tame nature that came from England, but I guess I expected more. The Hudson River Valley School and their wo...

 I decided to use this material for my final paper as I find this particular reading incredibly interesting. Both Ancient Greece and ancient human behavior fascinate me and I believe that Jane Allen Harrison does a fantastic job at lacing together history with philosophy. What is interesting about viewing art with participation as ritual, is that it can be utilized in different ways. First and foremost, the author's main argument is that the Dionysiac rituals that involved choir and playwriting eventually turned into the plays, dramas, and television that we see today. Over time, the ancient ritual became modern art. We can also look at her argument from a modern standpoint, where activities like tourism and the greater phenomenon of globalization can lead people from one country or ethnicity to experience the rituals of another. To the tourist or the foreigner, it is a piece of art, while to the native is it a ritual.  I do disagree with the author on a few points. Jane Allen...

 One of the readings we had that stood out to me the most was easily this one. Merleau-Ponty’s thoughts echo those of another philosopher, Martin Heidegger, particularly in his work “The Origin of the Work of Art.” Both philosophers contemplate the essence of art and its capacity to disclose truth. While Heidegger discusses art as a setting-into-work of truth, Merleau-Ponty emphasizes the embodied nature of perception and the artist’s role in bringing forth this truth. Heidegger’s focus on the ‘Un concealment’ of being complements Merleau-Ponty’s emphasis on the pre-reflective, bodily engagement with the world. For Merleau-Ponty, the search for beauty as we discuss across this course, is an existential quest that transcends beyond surface level aesthetics. It is the pursuit of reality as it presents itself to us, unmediated by conceptual frameworks. Beauty, then, is not an attribute of objects but an experience of harmonious relations. This beauty is not static but dynamic, an...

 When discussing beauty, the first thing that comes to mind is concerts. Concerts have long been spaces where music transcends mere entertainment, inviting us to explore deeper dimensions of existence. As the crowd begins to gather, a sense of community emerges, a shared pulse that unites diverse individuals coming together through a shared artform. Kant’s idea of community is reflected in the atmosphere of a concert. He believed that community arises from making distinctions yet finding unity, much like how a concert crowd, though made up of individuals with different stories and perspectives, comes together in harmony with the music. As the audience moves to the rhythm, each person finds their unique place and moment, yet they are connected by the collective experience. This shared movement and moment create a bond among the attendees, and the music acts as a bridge, linking their individual experiences into a collective narrative. Whether it’s the energetic punk rock o...

 As I may or may not have mentioned in previous journals, I am a practicing Hellenistic pagan. With that practice comes a load of ritual practices each with their own beauty. Though I could talk about this forever I will just focus on the art of tarot for the time being. In Van der Leeuw’s work, “Sacred and Profane Beauty: The Holy in Art,” he explores the profound connection between the sacred and the aesthetic, suggesting that the experience of beauty is intrinsically linked to the experience of the holy. This relationship is vividly embodied in the ritualistic practice of tarot reading, which, through its rich symbolism and ceremonial structure, bridges the gap between the mundane and the divine. As the cards are shuffled and laid out, the reader and the deck engage in a dance of discovery, where each card’s placement and relation to others reveal a narrative far greater than the sum of its parts. This ritualistic process mirrors Van der Leeuw’s concept of art as a hol...

 When going through this reading I kept thinking back to the stories Kip has told us throughout the semester surrounding his hikes. His interpretation of long-distance hiking as a form of pilgrimage, as he discussed in a previous class of his I was in, resonates with the themes in Wartenberg’s anthology, where art is not just an imitation but an experiential journey akin to a hiker’s traverse through the wilderness. The anthology, like a hike, invites readers to embark on a path of self-discovery and reflection, finding beauty in the natural world that surrounds us.  Furthering this understanding, reflecting on this anthology, one appreciates the multifaceted nature of art. It is seen as imitation, as cognition, as expression, and as experience. Art is a mirror reflecting the human condition, a window into the soul, and a hammer with which to shape reality. It is both sacred and profane, a source of pleasure and a means of communication. Overall, its important. I think th...

  Outside Reading Reflection: Some More Kant in Practice My term paper discussed Immanuel Kant’s Essay The Critique of Judgement. In the paper I was comparing his ideas about aesthetics in art to the idea that famous designer/artist James Whistler held. In the end I found that both men felt that talent and human touch was required for something to be considered art, while their view on the depth/ purpose of art probably differs (Kant felt that good art allows for contemplation while Whistler practiced art for the sake of art). While reading Kant’s essay I found a point that stood out to me that I wasn’t able to work into the paper. Coincidentally, the day the term papers were due, the Fine Art department’s Senior who participated in the Senior Showcase had one last critique with the Torggler’s Curator, Lucas, as we visited our pieces in the gallery. When talking about a classmate's series, Lucas actually mentioned Kant and this same point that stood out to me. Kant States: “Hence t...

  In Class Reflection: Living Aloof In class on January 25th, we began the class discussing how one can’t fully realize what he was participating in until after the fact when he has time to reflect. We talked about the idea of flow being a transcendent experience where one is not thinking, but doing- only able to recognize that he was in a state of flow when he recounts the experience. A sentence that stood out to me this class while discussing this topic was when the professor said: “To view art, we’re allowed to be aloof, and aloofness is a part of spectating”. This doesn’t sound like anything entirely profound, we know that to view something in the moment we are looking at it from the outside. We are removed from it. Being in flow is being in participation of something, and being aloof is being an observer of another. What is not good is when in both circumstances one does not take the time to reflect on either. What caught my attention was the word: “Aloof”. I’ve been told ...

  In Class Reflection: Garden Atriums The visitors that came into class on the 16th of April brought with them some interesting reflections about the aesthetics of modern houses and their effect on human mentality. Both Stu and Trina stated that the number one reason that people were interested in their property at the Garden Atriums was because the houses were beautiful, not sustainability, not the community, and not anything that I would have assumed. It brings up that question- why are our houses so ugly today? They don’t have to be- it’s not like it’s impractical architecture or it’s entirely too expensive. When driving through the suburbs and new housing developments, my first thought isn’t “ how beautiful”- it’s “how depressing”. Modern houses look like they are designed to depress, and I’m not sure why that is. Not to turn this reflection into a conspiracy blog, but I feel like a lot of things in Modern American Society are designed to make us sicker (whether intentional...

    Student’s Choice: The Danger of Ritual in Worship During a Sunday Sermon at my church several weeks ago, the Pastor gave a short anecdote that stood out to me as it reminded me of the topics we discussed early in this class. In our church, we believe that salvation is given by faith alone and has nothing to do with our “good works”- save for the act of accepting Jesus as one's Savior. Due to this fact, the Pastor stated that because of this when ritual is introduced into worship, it can be problematic. It’s no secret that rituals- especially in worship- are beautiful. Ornate cathedrals and dress, traditional objects and text all come together to make worship services that leave one feeling in awe. And while ritual CAN certainly have its place- I think I lean more on the side of my Pastor when it comes to its place in worship. If I solely rely on feeling and an order of events to be fulfilled spiritually- am I really digesting the Bible and God like I should? Am I taking ...

As I zoom down the snowy slopes, the brisk air gives me a jolt of excitement. The soft, powdery snow under my skis is like a blank canvas for adventure. Every turn I make fills me with a sense of freedom and control, as I carve my own path through the winter wonderland. The towering peaks around me provide a stunning backdrop, adding to the beauty of the landscape. As I gain speed, the rush of adrenaline matches the incredible views unfolding before me. Skiing down the mountain reminds me of the sheer joy and thrill of exploring nature's wonders in all their snowy splendor.

Walking along the mountain trail, surrounded by tall trees and fresh air, I feel calm and free. The sound of leaves rustling and birds chirping fills the air, making me relaxed. Each step I take helps me forget about stress and feel peaceful. The trail goes through green valleys and rocky areas, giving me amazing views of the mountains. When I reach a clearing, I see a stunning waterfall, its water shining in the sunlight. It reminds me how beautiful nature is, and I'm thankful to experience it.

Standing at the edge of Niagara Falls, I am awe-struck by the sheer power and majesty of nature's masterpiece. The deafening roar of the cascading water fills the air, drowning out all other sounds and leaving me in a state of pure wonder. The sight of the rushing water, framed by the lush greenery of the surrounding landscape, is truly breathtaking. Each droplet glistens in the sunlight as it tumbles over the edge, creating a mesmerizing display of rainbows dancing in the mist. As I gaze out at this natural wonder, I am reminded of the incredible beauty and grandeur that exists in the world around us. Standing in the presence of Niagara Falls, I feel a profound sense of connection to the earth and a deep appreciation for the forces that have shaped our planet over millions of years.

Standing on the beach, I feel tiny compared to the vastness of the ocean stretching out before me. The rhythmic crashing of the waves against the shore creates a soothing melody that washes over me, easing my mind and body. As I watch the waves roll in and retreat back into the depths, I'm mesmerized by the raw power and graceful beauty of nature's rhythm. Each wave is unique, yet they all contribute to the endless cycle of the ocean's dance. In this moment, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the sea, I find a sense of peace and tranquility that helps me forget about the stresses of everyday life.

Deep space exploration shows us amazing pictures that make us feel amazed. People use cameras on space probes to take these pictures, but they need people on Earth to make them look really good. These images help us learn more about space and make us feel wonder and excitement. They show us things like the blue clouds of Neptune and the tall cliffs on Miranda. Even though the cameras used to take these pictures were not very good, people make them better by working with the images. Looking at these pictures, we can imagine what it might be like to explore far-off planets like Pluto. They remind us that there is still a lot to discover in space and inspire us to keep exploring.

In today's busy world, it's easy to forget how important trees are. But for many of us, trees mean more than just greenery—they're like old friends. They give us a place to relax and feel calm. Trees are not only beautiful but also really helpful for the environment. They clean the air we breathe, stop soil from washing away, and even give us shade on hot days. It's sad that many people nowadays don't notice trees as much as they should. But places like Auburn University remind us how special trees are. They have amazing trees like the "Toomers Oak" and rare ones like the Dawn Redwood. These trees show us how nature can be both historic and stunning. As we go about our busy lives, let's take a moment to appreciate the beauty and importance of trees. They have so much to teach us about the world around us. https://sustain.auburn.edu/the-beauty-value-of-trees/

The controversy surrounding National Geographic's digitally altered cover of the Pyramids of Giza image highlights the complex relationship between photography, truth, and perception. While the magazine defended its decision as a necessity for fitting the image into a vertical format, the alteration ultimately undermined its credibility. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for viewers to approach mediated images with caution, as they may not always accurately reflect reality. Moreover, it raises questions about the authenticity of other images we encounter in various media and the extent to which they shape our understanding of the world. https://medium.com/engl462/visual-deceptions-national-geographic-and-the-pyramids-of-giza-3fee6d448d0d

The Pantheon is an ancient wonder, showing how clever people were long ago. It started as a temple for lots of gods and later became a church. The huge dome on top, made without any support, is really amazing. Inside, there's a special hole in the roof called the oculus. The building has stood for so long, even surviving when other Roman places were destroyed. With its big columns from Egypt and fascinating history, the Pantheon still impresses visitors today, showing how great Rome's past was. https://www.eitchborromini.com/en/Pantheon-an-architectural-miracle/#:~:text=The%20most%20fascinating%20part%20of,meters%20(or%20142%20ft.)

This project looks at how different art and building styles in Ancient Greece affected the famous Parthenon. The Parthenon isn't special for making a new style, but for combining many styles into one amazing work. Other Greek temples, like the Temple of Aphaia and Temple of Hera, show things like optical tricks, different column styles, and cool sculptures. Learning about these influences helps me understand why the Parthenon is so impressive, bringing together many ancient Greek ideas into one awesome building. https://dh.scu.edu/exhibits/neatline/show/greek-architectural-movements-the-parthenon-v2#:~:text=The%20beauty%20of%20the%20Parthenon,one%20single%20work%20of%20art.

Professor Redick shares thoughts on Travis Holoway's paper about nature and art, noting how they connect with ethics and beauty. Redick talks about the difference between "encounters" and "experiences" and questions how Kant sees nature. He compares Kant's ideas with those of Edmund Burke, who talks about feeling small in front of big natural things. Redick also talks about how science and art mix in discussions about the future of our planet, asking how art can help us understand and deal with big changes.

In this story, Professor Redick shares adventures on the water, where he faces both excitement and fear. From sailing the Chesapeake Bay to fishing in the Atlantic Ocean, Redick talks about finding beauty in unexpected places. Using simple words, he talks about how nature can be like a journey for our hearts and minds. He tells stories that make us think about what beauty really means. With clear descriptions and interesting ideas, he helps me see the world in a new way.

In this exploration, Professor Redick looks at how American artists painted nature and how it changed over time. He starts with artists like Francis Jasper Cropsey and Frederick Law Olmsted, who showed the beauty of nature without using it for practical reasons. Redick explains how European ideas influenced American artists and how the way people saw nature changed. He talks about famous scholars who studied this, like Ernst Robert Curtius and E.H. Gombrich. Redick shows how wilderness started to look different in paintings, from being scary to beautiful, and how this affected how people saw it.

As I sit outside my house on a bench, feeling the warm sun and gentle breeze, I think about what it means to be at home, like Martin Heidegger talks about. He says being at home is about feeling connected to everything around us, including nature and technology. Lance Strate adds that technology affects how we see and experience the world. Thinking about Victor Turner's idea of being in-between, I compare hikers to tourists and realize the importance of real kindness in how we treat each other. It's important to think about how technology changes our sense of belonging and how we can keep our connections with each other strong, even in a digital world.

In his talk titled "Reconsidering the Spiritual in Art," Donald Kuspit talks about the important ideas of Wassily Kandinsky, a famous artist. Kuspit thinks it's really important to look again at Kandinsky's ideas, even though they're from a long time ago. Kandinsky thought a lot about how art can be spiritual. Kuspit believes that Kandinsky's ideas are still important today, even though we might not think about spirituality the same way now. He talks about how Kandinsky wanted to show the spiritual side of art, similar to how people feel when they're in a beautiful church. Kuspit also talks about how art today might not be as spiritual as it used to be and compares two artists, Gerhard Richter and Anselm Kiefer, to explain this. He thinks it's important for us to think about Kandinsky's ideas and how they relate to art today.

  The research of my paper led me to how nature benefits us and why philosophers care about it. This paper told me this question is hard to answer since each research conducted uses different terms, making it difficult to find in a systematic search. Some answers are rendered irrelevant due to their smaller understanding, as they only looked at one aspect and not the whole. However, it is still important when answering how nature helps the mind, body, and soul. For example, Rebecca Lovell’s research studied how biodiverse environments are health-promoting, but only focused on children, and incorporating the heterogeneity of utilizing a narrative synthesis methodology to accommodate the diversity found within the literature, her research when compared next to Chawla, does not cite each other despite having a common theme. Chawla’s research focused on the advantages relevant to children, which entail an educational or school-related aspect, while Lovell’s aimed to delineate evidenc...

In this blog entry, I would like to discuss the Van der Leau quote that follows: "Sacred beauty doesn't have to have religious context; if it moves you in a beautiful way then that is the sacred." I think that this quote is profound in exposing the impact that the search and experience of beauty can have on oneself. I have ascribed to religions before, and have also not. Yet, some of my most beautiful religious moments have been just as impactful as beautiful moments experienced in nature, or by seeing the connection between other people. I love this quote for the way that it makes our whole existence sacred for the beauty we experience within it. 

 Living a life of minimalism means choosing to live more simply with less. Some argue that living this way allows people to be more present and focused on what truly matters. Does minimalism allow people to see the beauty in the mundane? To better see the beauty in what is simple? I think that often, we can lose our ability to see the beauty around us because you forget to be grateful. Gratitude leads to peace and an easier search for beauty. I would argue that being simple-minded and living a life of minimalism makes your search for gratitude more intentional. Intentionality is beauty. 

The Doors of Perception is an autobiographical book written by Aldous Huxley that discusses his psychedelic experiences from sacramental to purely aesthetic. His experiences support the use of psychedelic drugs as facilitators of profound personal insight with many benefits. He shares his own insights experienced, revolving around the importance of the choices that you make in your life. It is important for you to be able to adapt to change and the various stages of your life. Choosing a path is just as important as knowing when to change course. Our life is made up of stages, and we change with those stages. Learning how to best adapt to them is vital to continually being able to find and see the beauty around us. You cannot stay in a past version of your life, because you will miss out on the opportunities that surround you in the present moment.

Entropy is the degree of disorder or uncertainty in a system, and Wabi-Sabi is the beauty of things imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete. The exposure of entropy in art is important as it communicates realistic qualities of life. Art is not meant to be perfect, and I would argue that the imperfection in art is exactly what makes a piece mean something. This is why AI generated images, computer generated images, and mechanistic art do not draw out our emotions. Imperfection is emotive because it is real. Perfection does not move us, because we do not relate to it. Does this mean that art has to be relatable to mean something? I don't think so, but I do think that we search for meaning in art, and the meaning that we find is personal to each individual, because it is influenced by our own personhood and lives.

 A while ago we looked at the "Ecstasy of Saint Teresa," sculpture by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. This sculpture is located in the Church of Santa Maria Della Vittoria in Rome. On the two sides of the sculpture people can be seen watching the event happen. So the sculpture represents Saint Teresa of Avila getting a visit from an angel who seems to be piercing Saint Teresa with an arrow. At first, you would be like what is the meaning behind this but as we learned, the meaning relates to a religious experience. As the angel pierces Saint Teresa, Teresa experiences comfort from God that only God can provide. This sculpture represents the internal journey that Saint Teresa went on with God when the angel came to her. I think it's such a beautiful piece of artwork showing the personal connection between Saint Teresa and God. 

 In class a while ago we talked about Saint Brendan the Navigator. He was one the earliest Irish saints and was known as one of the twelve apostles of Ireland. He represents Irish Christianity and is known for his voyage to the Isle of the Blessed. Dr. Redick talked about how angels took the form of birds and then sang praises through that form which is really interesting because there are so many different ways angels are known to be seen. Saint Brendan's journey to the island took seven years and during that time he saw many of the same places more than once before arriving at the "Promised Land." I think it is interesting that after being on the island for a short time he quickly returned back to Ireland. I've never really learned much about Saints but I do think that Saint Brendan's story is interesting. 

 In class last week we had a professor from Townson who presented to us about her artwork. The first thing she did was define entropy which is the degree of disorder or uncertainty in a system. She then went on to show us a picture of a pile of mulch and compost that when thrown together actually can be seen as beautiful. She took many pictures of all the different colors and different arrangements and to her it was sort of unintentional art. She went on to further define entropy as the general trend of the universe toward death or disorder. She mentioned that she got a lot of her inspiration for art from fairytales, myths, and even stories of the Bible such as Adam and Eve. She showed us her artwork displayed made to look like snakeskin out of words that describe women. The last thing I thought was really interesting is that she found artwork that represented the movie Alice in Wonderland which is one of my favorites of all time from my childhood. 

Yesterday in class, Stu and Trina the owners and creators of the Garden Atriums in Poquoson, VA came to talk to our class about aesthetics and their community. The Garden Atriums is a net-zero sustainable community made up of seven homes. Stu asked us if we knew what it meant for something to be sustainable and the answer he gave us was if it is net-zero. He told us the reason that people bought the homes was because they were beautiful. Stu and Trina answered a bunch of questions that they wanted us to ask them relating to beauty. Trina answered that the beauty in death is that life is a cycle and there is beauty in every cycle. Trina and Stu both said that to see the beauty during hard times means you must reflect and practice gratitude. Trina said that we should not define beauty and put limits on it. When asked why is seeing beauty beneficial, they answered that beauty can change one's perspective and that it lifts your spirit. What they said made someone beautiful to them is t...

 Ruby Blondell’s book focuses on Helen of Troy, a figure from ancient Greek mythology and literature, who is especially known for her supreme beauty. Helen’s beauty is not just physical but also carries a profound symbolic weight as it is considered to be a gift from the gods, yet it also grants her terrifying power over men, posing as a threat. This duality of beauty, as both a blessing and a curse, is a central theme throughout this novel and one that really stood out. This perspective allows us to see beauty not just as a personal attribute but also as a powerful social and spiritual force. it can be better understood considering it as a form of art that’s intimately connected with ritual. When we apply Harrison’s perspective from “Ancient Art and Ritual”, art, in this context, isn’t just about creating aesthetically pleasing objects. It’s also about expressing and engaging with the spiritual, social, and emotional aspects of life Helen’s beauty can be seen as a form of art. It’...

 During this particular lecture I found myself especially drawn in. The homes were genuinely breathtaking, and the sustainable practices behind them make them all that much better. From a philosophical standpoint, the project resonates with the concept of natural beauty. Philosophers like Plato argue that it is an objective quality inherent in objects, while others like Ponty believe it is a subjective experience that arises from the viewer’s associations and knowledge. The garden atriums, with their integration of living spaces and natural elements, seem to embody the idea that beauty is not just an aesthetic quality but also a reflection of harmony and balance with the environment. The sustainability aspect of the Atriums aligns with the philosophical discourse on the sublime and the picturesque. The sublime, often associated with vast, overwhelming natural phenomena, can be seen in the ambitious scope of creating a net-zero community. The picturesque, which involves the apprecia...

  After reading and watching this story I began to reflect on how the true definition of beauty is about character. This story reflects on the maid’s working for white families during the 60’s. These women attempt to dress and act proper and nice, but there is no real beauty because of their personalities. There is one-character Ceilia Foote, who is different from the rest and has a pure heart with good intentions. After this, I began to reflect on what makes someone beautiful. I realized that it had nothing to do with physical characteristics at all. Beauty is something about our character, and it seems to be a reflection of our souls. Beauty is doing the right thing when no one is watching and helping others when they need it. It is not about dressing a certain way or having specific physical features. Similarly in the story, the people who are truly beautiful have a specific feeling associated with it because it is completely authentic. Although the other women did not think hig...