The TED talk with speaker Denis Dutton covers his ideas on the complexity of beauty; how we understand it, and why we all call something beautiful. He mentions in the first minute how it is such a difficult concept to understand, because of the vast variety of beauty, “from a babies face to a central California landscape” these are all things people see as beautiful (0:50).
Dutton uses Charles Darwin’s theories to divulge his concept of how our ancient ancestors are the ones who instilled our powerful reaction to art, music, and any type of image or entertainment. He does not believe that “beauty lies in the eye of the beholder”, but rather that we find beauty in something done well, and this is found not from a cultural background, but it is found amongst all humans of all cultures, meaning that this concept of finding beauty in something done well will stay “as long as the human race exists” (16:40). He argues that both artistic and natural beauty are not cultural – and uses the example of not cave paintings from 32,000 years ago being the first forms of art, but the hand axes that have no evidence of wear or use, and were once considered a practical appliance but are considered a showpiece, or what we would consider art (10:40-12:00).
I have never thought about what my definition of beauty is, but after Dutton states it as “something done well”, I began listing in my head things that I find beauty in. I would have to agree that something done well is probably the simplest but truest reason why a person considers something beautiful. This concept is universal, and includes people of all backgrounds. What a person sees as well done varies, but not the reasons why they consider it beautiful.
What does one consider as “well done”? For me I think of it as an object or experience that someone put extensive effort and passion into, and something that is nice to look at or hear (whether that be symmetrical, clean, neat, pleasing voice/looks, etc.), that is up to each individual to decide.
Beauty definitely lies in the eyes of the beholder, as you say, but most people do agree that something done well is beautiful in some way. For example, something as simple and common as a chair could be considered beautiful if it is crafted well and is made with unique or noticeable styles. Do you think there’s something that wouldn’t fit into this category? Maybe someone who knows a lot about car engines might see an engine and think it is beautiful, but for someone who doesn’t know much about cars, it might just look like any other normal engine. I do think that craftsmanship and being done well matter, but if I don’t have the background to recognize that, then it may not matter much to me personally.
I think something well done is something that feels or looks polished, and functions or looks exactly how it is supposed to. In the case of music, it should sound smooth, with rich highs and lows, instead of tinny like it is being played out of an old car stereo. Things like this make me think that it is done well.
I would agree that beauty is, as Dutton put it, “something done well”. And I would agree that was his central point. But, isn’t that too simplistic an answer? It doesn’t seem to cover all the bases for me.
He spent some time talking about the pleasing nature of a landscape and how cross-culturally similar the appealing characteristics are. Does that get adequately covered with, “something done well”? I don’t believe it does. There’s something missing in that description of the appeal of a landscape as beauty or art. When I see a photograph (for example) of a beautiful landscape, there are several emotions that go well beyond it being done or framed well – if that even applies. The picture (or painting for that matter) of a beautiful landscape can give me a feeling of peace and serenity. The enjoyment is more than mere appreciation and borders on the transformative. I might even experience a sense of longing and/or desire to be there – in that place.
I think beauty also encompasses at least the idea of it’s capacity to spark an emotional reaction.