EVERYDAY AESTHETICS Aesthetics of objects, environments and situations from our everyday life. Reasons for interest in everyday aesthetics:1) Western modern aesthetics is focused on fine arts ( aesthetics = philosophy of art)2) Western aesthetics is focused on the spectators experience3) Working with IR students (future professional world-makers)4) Professional or not we all participate in the world-making project as citizens and consumers and everyday aesthetics plays an important role The power of everyday aesthetics: to form attitudes -> to guide toward actions -> to determine the quality of life for better or worse We are moved to act more often, more consistently, and more profoundly by the experience of beauty in all of its forms then by intellectual arguments, abstract appeals to duty or even by fear. ( David Orr, The Nature of Design). Yuriko Saitos thesis: We all participate in the world-making and seemingly insignificant and trivial everyday aesthetic tastes and decisions can make a significant contribution: it is important to cultivate aesthetic literacy and utilize the power of aesthetics, toward better world-making. EXAMPLES OF THE POWER OF EVERYDAY AESTHETICS1) Environmental ramification of everyday aesthetics regarding nature, consumer goods and built structure Environmentalists continually face the political reality that support and funding can be won for soft, cuddly and attractive animals, but not for slimy, grubby and ugly creatures or for habitats (Stephen Jay Gould, The Golden Rule). One-third of the farms fruits and vegetables have been discarded by the farmer or the supermarket for aesthetic reasons. (Harvey Blatt)2) Political persuasion through landscape aesthetics The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom (Lucy Walker film, 2011), victims of the tsunami derived consolation from the beauty of the cherry blossom3) Respect for others ( both human and non-human) expressed aesthetically mostly Japanese culture examples: Japanese cooking ( each ingredients is exhalted, giving a palette and the guest can play his own painting); Japanese gardens