Table of Aesthetic Values
Table of Aesthetic Values by Robert Castagna, 24 X 36 inches (first draft)
Enlarge image for a closer look.
The above is a recent endeavor whereby I created a scale of common aesthetic elements fashioned after Chemistry's Chart of Elements. The Table of Aesthetics has two alternate names: The Scale of Aesthetics and The Aesthetic Chart of Commonalities. It contains the common denominators of all art with thought or concepts at the top and matter at the bottom.
The following are notes which can be found at the bottom of the chart which helped define, explain and develop the work.
In addition one can find a paper of further extrapolations from the chart at Equations for Creativity.
Aesthetics and Science:
The chart must be scientific in proportion to the table of elements. It must be aesthetic in presentation and can involve many revisions and drafts. It must be large and on art paper. The chart includes stable values and unstable values such as opinions of art critics. Light values are on the top. There are 118 known elements (observed even if only briefly during decay), 94 are found naturally on earth, 1 possibly in space and 22 artificially derived and radioactive.
Aesthetics and Art:
The word "aesthetics" derives from "perceive" and is therefore a philosophical discussion of our perceptions on art. The word "art" is derived from "skill" and is an act or doing. This chart is an aid to the perception and discussion of art. It is also a tool for the artist to create. One can fashion a table of his own aesthetic values.
Aesthetics and Spirit:
When dealing with aesthetics one is as close as one can be to the spiritual aspect of man. One is at the threshold of the spirit and the physical, the place where the two merge. The superscript °T represents the creator of thought and is written in the form of an isotope. Superscript 1 T represents the aesthetic value of thought, the lightest value on the table. (note: the 1 should be smaller and higher to truly represent this - a limitation of my keyboard skills).
Finally:
Axiom: Art could be described as minimum matter with maximum thought.
Note: I have worked out a mathematical equation to express this axiom however I'm unable to type it in html code here. It states that Matter is less than Thought to the power of infinity. The greater the thought the greater the art produced. This is relative and does not diminish statuary or other "heavy art forms".
Original Greek Elements:
The original Greek elements were Fire, Earth, Water and Air. These have been converted to Concept, Creation, Communication and Culture respectively. Together they make the Cycle of Creativity which you see on the bottom left of the chart.
Aesthetic Values:
Below are a list of the Aesthetic Values as seen on the first draft of the table from top to bottom:
Thought
Imagination
Concept
Originality
Creativity
Authenticity
Perception
Viewpoint
Identity
Personality
Inspiration
Vision
Self Expression
Perspective
Abstraction
Composition
Design
Presentation
Experimentation
Harmony
Simplicity
Rhythm
Form
Space
Pattern
Arrangement
Balance
Symmetry
Color
Hue
Texture
Depth
Dimension
Repetition
Proportion
Muse
Aesthetic
Lines
Shape
Scale
Beat
Pitch
Intensity
Light
Gradation
Shadow
Emphasis
Unity
Refinement
Direction
Wabi Sabi
Counterpoint
Allusion
Tone
Voice
Reflection
Communication
Participation
Appreciation
Experience
Impression
Contribution
Feeling
Resonance
Wavelength
Vibration
Emotion
Elegance
Grace
Poetry
Beauty
Mystery
Geometry
Movement
Melody
Lyricism
Metaphor
Vocabulary
Mood
Shade
Contrast
Chiaroscuro
Subject
Time
Skill
Technique
Quality
Representation
Criticism
Taste
Interpretation
Style
Avant-garde
Symbology
Tradition
Overtone
Allegory
Sensitivity
Significance
Meaning
Value
Iconography
Audience
Portrayal
Integration
Genre
Nature
Reality
Place
Imagery
Series
Perfection
Appropriation
Collaboration
Context
Media/Matter
Universality
Culture
posted by Robert Castagna at 8:09 AM
2 Comments:
I like the idea. Where is beauty on the chart. There is a good deal of data on aesthetics on the PDC tapes, by the way. I think it would be difficult to assign the words to the chart. How did you come up with the concept, of the gradients of Aesthetics concepts. In other words, what concept would be the lightest and what concept of aesthetics would be the more solid. I think concepts of beauty, ideals, affinity, etc. would have to be arranged in their order of "lightness" to the more grosser, solider, ones. It is a great game to work it out.
G.
Thank you for your comment. I've put beauty as number 71 in a section entitled "shared values". My reasoning is that beauty is mainly concerned with the viewer or enjoyer of art, and that the artist, although very much concerned with the beauty of his creation is usually more concerned with the concepts and ideas of creation first. Also I've tried to structure the table in an order of creation and therefore beauty is typically seen at or near completion of the work of art. The process of creating a hierarchy of values was not an easy one and this table is my first draft of the process. As noted in the original post, these values can and should be worked out for each individual and will provide them with a sound ability to make value judgements in the future.
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