Sparshott’s Theory of Aesthetics
Aesthetics is the domain of philosophy that deals with forms, functions, and the nature of beauty and seek to defend, enrich and refine our awareness of beauty and its principles. Its value is considered through practical function. Sparshott traces the developments in dance aesthetic from ancient to present days arguing that the dance as an art is able to sustain a wide variety of audience responses corresponding to a wide variety of inputs through several levels (26-35).
At the flesh level, it involves showing emotional expression, aesthetic enjoyment and physical responses in enforcing conformity to social norms (Harrington 48). Therefore, good physical and temporal relations with the people one interacts with are expressed as a way of developing a positive version of lifestyle. The flesh level is an analogy of unconditional representation, as far as the cultural codes enables it, and the people I interact with to recognize the referent in our interactions. Embodying experiences through senses, emotionally and physically help me convey the experiences to others.
On the second level of mechanical, one considers individual works and how they enter into actual experiences of individuals. Under this level, I am able to consider my career, styles, movements and subject them to actions that enhance my interaction with other people. The mechanical aspect enhances sharing in learning and engagement with art forms. Therefore, this interactive aspect helps me have a participatory involvement with the art from other experiences.
Lastly, the lexical representation, which involves the use of gestures to stand for certain ideas, enhances effective communication and channeling ideas to others (De Jorio 35). Through gestures such as holding hand to my heart to signify love expresses human impression of emotions, behaviour, and influence the moods of the people I interact on the daily basis. This creates a conventional affective significance of our linguistic, feelings and responses.
Works Cited
De Jorio, Andrea and Adam Kendon. Gesture in Naples and Gesture in Classical Antiquity. Bloomington,:Indiana University Press, 2000, 12-53
Harrington, Austin. Art and Social Theory: Sociological Arguments in Aesthetics. Polity, 2004
Sparshott, Francis Edward. The theory of the Arts. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2014.