Blog #1 on Dutton - Syeda

All right, I know this is a long one but here we go.

Dennis Dutton presented an idea on how beauty is NOT in the eye of the beholder as so many have said throughout the years and to be honest, I mostly disagree with this but a part of me agrees regarding how we do not decide what beauty is all the time. Now let’s start where I agree with Dutton.

Fashion is a successful industry based on what items of clothing or accessories are beautiful and in style at the moment. Many of us find outfits based on what our favorite celebrity is wearing or what magazines feature on the cover. In this sense, what we find beautiful, or should find beautiful, is controlled by those who are older or more experienced and those who were likely influenced by others who are older or even more experienced. More importantly, older styles are constantly incorporated into today’s clothing across the world which supports Dutton’s idea of our ancestors having a large influence on the beauty found in today’s world.

Another argument of Dutton’s that I agreed with was the idea that we find beauty in skill. I think we find beauty in what we cannot do and what is beyond us. For example, I could never reconstruct the amazing landscapes across the world and I find them to be one of the most beautiful works of art. I find the work of a great surgeon to be remarkable because of the skill and practice required and because of the fact that I cannot do so myself. I find a sports car on the track to be a beautiful image as well because I know the amount of skill and training that went into its production and performance. Honestly, sometimes a great plate of macaroni and cheese looks beautiful to me as well. Or a nice steak. I think beauty has to do with uniqueness. I also think that beauty has to do with something that is (or isn’t) in our minds already but that we somehow cannot bring it to life and when we see that others have, it is beautiful and admirable.

Now, to where I disagree with Dutton. A large piece of his TED Talk related to how hand axes were seen as beautiful and diamonds in that shape are seen as beautiful (however, I personally find other cuts more beautiful, further proving my point) and how they resembled a healthy male peacocks feathers. I personally don’t think our tastes go back thaaaat far. I mean, how many people make a conscious comparison like that in their day-to-day lives? Seems like a stretch to me, especially without concrete data supporting it.

From my experiences, I also don’t think our taste in beauty is completely due to evolutionary forces and human nature as Dutton implies. We’re all different in that department (see diamond cut statement from above paragraph). We all have seen something beautiful that someone else could care less about. We all have different tastes in people and activities and music. We all have different likes and dislikes. For example, I can tell you with complete confidence that my liking to adventure is much different than my parents’ and grandparents’.

I think what I’m trying to say is that yes, our ancestors are responsible for some of things we find beautiful today. And yes, some beauty is universal. But NOT ALL of it is. We all have a free will to find beauty in what we personally want to find beauty in. So Dutton, I think we’re just going to have to agree to disagree on this one unless you come up with more evidence. Let the science wars...continue??