21st Century Agora

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

To answer the first question on columbus---I think its obvious that the beauty/artistic element of a building is secondary to its functionality. whats the use of a pretty prison if it can't keep convicts inside? The question of why art impresses us/affects us is a really good one. Why did we all think the huge house with the gardens was pretty? is there a definition of what's beautiful and what's not? For me, it's HOW it was made and how UNIQUE it is. Its impressive because men made it; if it were mass produced at a factory by machines, it wouldn't be impressive or unique, and therefore not have much appeal, in my opinion. Old houses or other old pieces of art are impressive because we ASSOCIATE them with the past, which many people admire. Maybe we can't say that anything's truly "beautiful" on its own----because what is "beauty" anyways? we can't define it because it differs so much from person to person. maybe it's the feelings and ideas the object represents in our past or memories that's beautiful

3 comments:

Magister P said...: You say that it is obvious that the artistic element of a building is secondary to its functionality by saying there is no use for a prison incapable of containing its inmates. Let me throw this at you.... If a building cannot contain its inmates, then it ceases to be a prison. A building that does contain its prisoners is by definition a prison. So the issue becomes not whether we have a prison or a beautiful building, but whether we can have a beautiful prison. Is there an advantage to prisoners, guards, or the community in having a beautiful prison? Is there an advantage to any of these in having an oppressive or ugly prison?; September 19, 2007 at 2:07 PM
Jade said...: I think there might be an advantage in having a beautiful prison, because beautiful things make people happy. (which has been proven to happen) Why should a prison be depressing to the innocent people outside its doors?; September 30, 2007 at 9:44 AM
Molly said...: yeah...mr. perkins makes a good point. There are advantages to both--a beautiful prison might inspire convicts to change...but an ugly prison would make convicts want to stay out. A prison must be a safe place, but if it's beautiful as well as safe, jail wouldn't be much of a punishment anymore; people might perfer sleeping in a nice prison than sleeping on the streets.; September 30, 2007 at 12:29 PM

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21st Century Agora

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

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