this post was submitted on 18 Jul 2024
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I guess this could have just been a shower thought as well...

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[–] imaqtpie 80 points 3 months ago (3 children)

Modern people lack an appreciation for the beauty of existence and the physical world. The most intricate and aesthetically pleasing creative achievements of the human race pale in comparison to the inherent beauty of nature.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Artistic expression is inherent to being human. Our creative achievements are part of the beauty of nature. A painting that can make you smile, a story that can make you laugh, a song that can make you cry, that's all nature, and it is beautiful. If you haven't found something that speaks to you yet, I hope you'll keep looking

[–] imaqtpie 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (2 children)

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate art more than most. But there's an exclusionary aspect that exists with art, wherein only some people can truly appreciate various aspects.

In contrast, nature is more universal and primal. Everyone, regardless of language or culture or education, can appreciate natural phenomena. The beauty of nature speaks to us on a fundamental level, whereas the beauty of art requires a certain degree of acculturation and intellectual effort to grasp.

Furthermore, human art is a reflection of nature and indeed a part of the beauty of nature, as you say. However, that inevitably positions it as a subset of the all encompassing beauty of existence as a whole. Artistic works are small mirrors reflecting back aspects of reality in interesting ways. But because they can only ever represent fragments of the greater whole, they are somewhat less awe inspiring.

Often, works of art can prompt us to engage with the beauty of reality, so I'm not condemning them in any way. I'm just saying that the representation can't be better than the real thing, even if humans wish that it were.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 months ago (1 children)

But it's hard to argue that they could exceed the beauty of the thing that they reflect.

Only if you're looking for objective value of paint on a canvas, or words on a page. What I think is beautiful about art is the way it makes people feel, and the complexity of the human context that allows that. Just this week, a story caused my fiancΓ©e to have a breakthrough in her CPTSD therapy. That's a unique kind of beauty

[–] imaqtpie 5 points 3 months ago

Indeed, I agree with you on that.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago

Nah, thanks to piracy everyone can watch TV and movies for free. If you're a poor person who grew up in the city nature is a lot less accessible.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 months ago

Nah, Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy is better than nature.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago

Yeah this question is just peak consumerism. It'd be funny if it wasn't so fucking sad