t e n e t design + aesthetics + art + culture
ISSUE ONE 2014 FREE
t e n e t design + aesthetics + art + culture
issue one
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18 22 07 editor’s letter 08 homewares
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12 blogging is the new black 14 hyacinth girl 18 eloise georgia mae
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22 buckets and spades 26 scout and company 30 you have great taste 33 aesthetic binaries
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40 pen to ink to paper 44 inspired whimsy 48 the aestheticians
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contents | 03
t e n e t editor designer features writer art director manager proofreader madeleine duthie
interviewees morgan ashworth e l o i s e w o rr a l l- b a d er m at t h e w p i k e britney hazeldine p e t er g i l d er d a l e e l s p e t h a l i x b at t
typeset in g o u dy o l d s t y l e ado b e c a slo n pro g oth a m
product images angus
&
celeste
c i t ta d e s i g n c o l l e c t e d b y l ee a n n ya re free d o m f u r n i t u re
editor’s letter W
elcome to the first issue of Tenet! One thing I’ve noticed during my time at university is that the art of conversation is so important when brainstorming and problem solving, especially for those of us working within the creative sphere. Conversation—where different opinions and perspectives come together—can create fertile ground for new ideas and solutions to problems, and therefore conversation is an invaluable tool for us as creatives. Tenet is a place where conversations are curated and opinions are assorted to act as inspiration for creative people, from other creative people. Tenet is for people from all over the creative spectrum, we don’t discriminate. All creative practices have the potential to influence and inspire each other in limitless ways, and I believe
that we as creatives should do more to encourage interdisciplinary discussion, both within education and beyond. I decided to create this magazine after researching and writing a paper on the topics of aesthetic theory and graphic design. While working on this paper and discussing my research with my classmates, I realised that aesthetic theory was littleunderstood by many, and often disregarded as something too ‘highly-academic’. Many principles of aesthetic theory are very relevant to us as creative people today and I wanted to create a space where ideas surrounding aesthetics could be diluted, simplified, and integrated within a less intimidating medium. Within this issue you’ll find interviews with people from the fields of visual arts, videography, design, fashion, makeup, calligraphy, and illustration. I hope that some of their words will inspire you to branch out creatively, to try something new, or to simply place more value in the conversations you have every day.
Madeleine Duthie, Editor madeleine.duthie@gmail.com
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Function > Form
Minimal, clean-lined, and ultimately functional, this is for those of you who value simplicity.
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1. Citta Design, CafĂŠ Coffee Cup with Navy Handle, shop.cittadesign.com 2. Freedom, Roosevelt Clock, freedomfurniture.co.nz 3. Collected, Z Lamp, collected.co.nz 4. Collected, Ceramic Egg Holder in White, collected.co.nz 5. Citta Design, Porcelain Large Deep Round Bowl, shop.cittadesign.com
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iamarchive.com
Form > Function
Expressive, colourful, and whimsical, this is for those of you with a more eclectic taste.
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1. Collected, Geometric Metal Light Shade, collected.co.nz 2. Citta Design, Diamond Cut Portuguese Wine Glass, shop.cittadesign.com 3. Angus & Celeste, Drip Glaze Cups in White, angusandceleste.com 4. Angus & Celeste, Gold Spot Salad Bowl, angusandceleste.com 5. Freedom, Felix Cushion, freedomfurniture.co.nz
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Blogging is the New Black Four bloggers from across the creative spectrum share their thoughts on blogging, creativity, and design.
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Hyacinth Girl Wellington-based Morgan blogs about beauty, without any bullshit. p h oto g r a p h y by m o r g a n a s h wo rt h h ya c in t h g i r l . c o m
What inspired you to create your blog? I had originally pitched a no-nonsense beauty column to my university magazine, but they didn’t like it so I shelved the idea. After sitting on it for a while and buying more and more makeup, I decided I needed an outlet to talk about it and started the blog. Originally I thought it might help me save money, but it has turned out the opposite!
In what ways do you think your blog has developed since you started it? The most obvious change is that at the beginning my friend Harriet was also a contributor; she has since moved on, but still pops up here and there. Content-wise, skincare definitely features more than it used to, as that’s an area I’m really interested in. I’ve also updated the design of the website.
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How do you think Hyacinth Girl differs from other beauty blogs out there? I’m really big into being candid and honest, and that hasn’t changed even as the blog has grown and I’ve started working with brands. There are a lot of beauty blogs out there but I think it’s my personality and humour that makes Hyacinth Girl unique. What do you think are some misconceptions that some people have about beauty bloggers and other people who are interested in makeup? There’s still an underlying belief for a lot of people (men in particular) that women are somehow lying or deceiving them by wearing makeup. In reality I’m usually wearing makeup for myself, not to impress or deceive anyone else. It’s a skill I’ve worked hard to develop and it’s really satisfying when I achieve something new or different. There’s also the implication that caring about makeup makes you vapid, and still sometimes I’m hesitant to tell people in my workplace or academic circle that I write about makeup. It’s silly, because beauty and intelligence aren’t mutually exclusive. Would you consider makeup a sort of creative outlet for you? Absolutely. I express my mood through makeup, when I’m feeling particularly low—for example—I tend to go as monochrome as possible. Makeup is definitely a skill that I’m excited to develop and next year I’ll be working on becoming a qualified makeup artist. How would you describe your ideal makeup aesthetic? As much as I would like to
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think I have a ‘classic’ aesthetic, my ideal look does change as trends do. That being said, I’ve always favoured natural-looking skin, defined crease, strong brows and an interesting lip. On an everyday basis, do you tend to stick to one look or do you like to experiment? I’ll generally have a go-to look I wear exclusively for a month or so, before I get bored and switch it up. At the moment it’s warm tones on the eyes and stacks of mascara. There’s not usually time to experiment on a daily basis, because I tend to sleep in. What would you consider some do’s and don’ts for blog layout design? I see a lot of new bloggers using default templates, but if you want to be noticed as a blogger your site needs to look unique. I worked with a professional designer on my site but I make sure to learn as much as I can along the way, just so I’m not helpless when it comes to doing it myself. Design-wise I’m a fan of clean layouts and big images, particularly because beauty is such a visual topic. How important do you believe graphic design is in the world of blogging? Graphic design informs a lot of what I do, even if it isn’t intentional. When taking photographs, for example, you want something that looks good in a post but will also translate well across social media and can stand alone somewhere like Pinterest. A distinct logo is also really important. Even though my blog is really personal, I’m always thinking about my brand and how it’s represented.
Eloise Georgia Mae Artist and student Eloise blogs about her creative endeavours. p h o t o g r a p h y b y e l o i s e w o rr a l l- b a d er e l oise g eo r g i a m a e . c o m
What inspired you to create your blog? I was in high school when I first created my blog and I’d just discovered that I was actually capable of making art and doing things that are creative. So around that time I sort of found my footing, however I didn’t have anywhere to express it. I’d been reading a couple of blogs that I’d discovered—and to be honest I didn’t know what a blog was, or anything about the community—but I started my blog as a place where I could
just put whatever I wanted. A creative outlet, a reflection of me. In what ways do you think your blog has developed since you started it? My blog was first called ‘Princes and Paintbrushes’ (ha!) and the banner was a frog with a crown and a paintbrush! Bear in mind I was still in high school so it was only expected. I go through seasons where I’m more interested in one thing or another and it’s evident in
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my blog. But I’d like to think my blog has matured and weathered over the years just like me. How would you describe the content you post on Eloise Georgia Mae? I would say I post anything that tickles my fancy. Although, in saying that, I do prefer original content. I think it’s a lot more interesting and kind of combats that idea that everything has been done before. If you’re just sharing the same thing as every other blogger then your readers could just find that content on any other blog. I post a lot about art which is what I study, I have a series called ‘The Daily’ where I occasionally post my outfit of the day, and I would like to start posting more about travel. What are you currently exploring in your artwork? I used to do a lot of ‘typical’ art, art that was ‘trendy’, but I’m at a point in my practice where I now value intelligence over aesthetic. I don’t strive to make ‘beautiful’ things, I strive to make well-crafted things. At the moment in my artist practice I’m exploring building a foundation of understanding and skill, controlled situations, and the historical and archaeological implications of both clay as a material and in the vessel form. I could go on and on for days! How has the development of your artist practice throughout your degree influenced your blog? I often describe my degree as a degree in thinking because we don’t get taught any practical art skills, but rather we get taught how to think critically.
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Throughout my degree my self-awareness has developed, so I’ve become much more aware of how I’m portraying myself on the internet via my blog. I’ve had a blog for so long that I think it shows my intelligence and maturity growing, and also my stylistic influences developing. I’ve gone from very preppy and childlike to quite minimalistic. The development of how I think and act, as well as my taste and style, all stems from my time at university and I think I’ve kind of implemented that into my blog. How would you describe your ideal design aesthetic? My ideal design aesthetic is quite minimal, but not boring, if that makes any sense. I like things that are uncluttered and clean, but also a little bit fun. What would you consider some do’s and don’ts for blog layout design? Don’t have too many colours! Always have a basic foundation. It’s like an outfit, you’ve got to have a basic foundation before accessorising. If you’ve got a shit foundation, it’s all going to fall to pieces isn’t it! Clean and simple navigation is really important. Your photos all need to be the same size or I will die and quit your blog. And I also dislike centred text in posts, it looks messy and it’s hard to read. How important do you believe graphic design is in the world of blogging? Hugely important! There’s that thing about first impressions, every time someone clicks onto a blog, what they’re seeing is their first impression and first impressions last! If it’s designed badly, they’re not going to stay or pay much attention to the content.
Buckets and Spades British design-enthusiast Mat blogs about style, creativity, and design. p h o t o g r a p h y b y m at t h e w p i k e b u c k e t s a n d s p a d es b l o g . c o m
What inspired you to create your blog? I wanted to improve my writing skills, as I knew my spelling and grammar were both pretty poor. I started writing when I started uni and the blog was a way to try and stay ahead of the game. I also needed more space on my computer so I started blogging simple images. I could then just come back to them at a later date when I needed them. In what ways do you think your blog has developed since you started it? Oh gosh it’s changed dramatically. I used to just concentrate on men’s fashion stuff but
I slowly starting blogging about artists, installation, and photography—which led on to product design, packaging, travel, and more specific menswear subjects. Aside from your blog itself, which social media platform do you believe is most vital for a blogger? Why? For me it seems to be Twitter. I have gained a lot of contacts through it but also friends, which have gone on to be actual friends in real life. It’s that instant connection to other humans that really seems to resonate with a lot of us. It’s also a great way to find work, if you stick at it people will eventually start
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to recommend you for specific things, like events and meet-ups. It’s also the easiest way to speak to brands directly. What do you most often post about on Buckets and Spades? It’s a toss up between men’s fashion and design-based posts. I enjoy the design content more because generally it’s a little more fun and also can be quite conceptual. I can’t wait to publish those things, and I think people react quite well to them. Where do you currently live and what do you love the most about it? So I live in the North West of England, in a seaside town called Blackpool, in the county of Lancashire. It’s a pretty old fashioned but traditional British town, but was once one of the most important towns in the UK for entertainment. We have a tower, theme park, theatres, illuminations display on the seafront, and quite a lot of creative things going on. How would you describe your personal fashion style? Good question. My style is heavily influenced by Americana and sportswear; mix those two influences with a bit of utilitarianism and that pretty much sums it up. I enjoy adding colour into my outfits too, never matching and never over the top. I try and buy stuff that will last years, denim is a big thing for me too. Classic styles over seasonal trends. What about your ideal design aesthetic? Again I think it has a lot to do with colour but also simplicity. I enjoy eye-catching designs
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when it comes to label design but also love clever and practical designs when it comes to everyday items, gadgets, furniture and gifts. It’s usually best to keep things simple. I’m really into architecture too, supermodernist things float my boat but I also enjoy the really old stuff—the buildings that make you stop and think about how much effort has gone into one structure. What would you consider some do’s and don’ts for blog layout design? Don’t overcomplicate things, which is the first thing people do when they start a blog. It’s easy to pimp it out with all the add-ons and gadget you think you need, but it becomes messy and you don’t really know when to stop. I’ve been there. I don’t like blogs with music in the background either, or flashy pop-up videos. Strip it back and let the content do the talking. You don’t see many blogs which scroll diagonally at the moment, I’d quite like to see that. How important do you believe graphic design is in the world of blogging? Very important, and it’s no accident that many fashion bloggers are involved with graphic design. Graphic designers approach fashion from a very different angle to bloggers with a fashion background, and that shows. Designers look at things with a much more critical and bold eye, and are usually true perfectionists. Take Goodhood, the clothing store in London. They come from a graphics background and run one of the best fashion stores around in my opinion, well thought out and spot on for our modern values.
Scout and Company Videographer Britney makes Youtube videos and blogs about fun stuff. p h oto g r a p h y by b r it n e y h a ze l d i n e s c ou ta n d c o m p a n y . c o . n z
What inspired you to create your blog? I was bored over the summer between high school and uni, and like a true internet kid rather than heading off to the beach I spent the summer learning how to code a good layout for my future blog. It took me a few months until I was happy with the look of my blog before I officially ‘launched’ it. I was such a geek that I even sent out invites to my friends and family to the launch of my online website. Not many people seemed to be doing it back then, so they just thought it was weird. In what ways do you think your blog has developed since you started it? In design first and foremost, and of course in my content. There are things that I blogged about in my first year that I wouldn’t do now just because it’s not my ‘style’. I like to think I have an audience—no matter how small—
so I tend to write about things that they’d find interesting and of course that which I am interested in and deem worth sharing. As much as people say only blog for you, you really shouldn’t. You’re the same as your favourite television channel, just on a smaller scale. You have an audience, keep ‘em coming back. What advantages and disadvantages does blogging have in comparison to making videos for Youtube? I think it depends what type of person you are. You may be visual and because of that, creating Youtube videos is more of your thing. Or you might like words and shouldn’t be sat in front of a camera recording a 15 minute video. The Youtube world—and the blogging world I suppose—is saturated in content. I like to think it’s easier in the blogging world. The gap between ‘big bloggers’ and ‘smaller
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bloggers’ in comparison with Youtubers is less. I’ve seen a lot more bloggers hopping on the Youtube train lately. It’s great! But also can be bad because if you’re churning out the same content as every single other Youtuber out there then why is someone going to watch you over Zoella? Are there any differences between the blogging and Youtube communities? I’m perched between both communities, I don’t really know what I am. I suppose I’m in both! The Youtube community seems more dense because it’s on a solid platform. In New Zealand everything is on a smaller scale, which makes our communities smaller too. Both communities are so welcoming if you engage, but a lot of people don’t even know they exist! And some of the ‘bigger’ bloggers and Youtubers don’t engage simply because they don’t need to. But it’s there, so why not take part! What are some challenges you’ve encountered when creating videos? I’m a perfectionist. So in every video I find there is something I’d change. But that’s why you create more, because then you are constantly growing and learning, both as a human and in technique. Sometimes when you’re smaller you can think, “What is even the point in this when no one is watching?” It’s just important to remember that people are watching. No matter how small your audience is, you’ve got one! So be grateful. Where do you commonly find inspiration for your blog posts and videos? Lame that it sounds, I don’t actually know! I’m a creative
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person so there is always something up there churning and a blog has always been an outlet for that. Which films or television shows would you consider “must-see”? Orphan Black is the one I seem to harp on about. But there’s this one actor—Tatiana Maslany—who plays a bunch of different clones, and they are so different! You really can’t tell it’s the one girl playing them. I recommend it to all my friends and they’re always like “noooo we haven’t seen it” in a whiney voice. But one day I’ll get them and they’ll see how good Orphan Black is. What would you consider some do’s and don’ts for blog layout design? What about for Youtube videos? No matter how good your content is, I’m not going to read your blog if your layout is ugly. It sounds super silly and superficial, but I just can’t. A good layout gets me excited to read more because it hints at the content. Make sure it reflects your personality and your brand. Also try and keep your brand identity flowing through your photographs! Youtube design is something that often gets overlooked, even by me! A logo is important, so put it everywhere. At the start of your video if you do titles, at the end if you do end cards, on the banner of your channel, and on the thumbnails of videos. Consistency is key! How important do you believe graphic design is in the world of blogging? So important! As much as we shouldn’t, the world loves to judge things by the cover. If you have a pretty site, people will want to read it!
you have great taste w o r d s b y m a d e l eine d u t h ie
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hether it be judging art, design, or people, judgments of beauty are an integral part of philosophical discussion, as well as our everyday lives. Taste judgments are made all the time. As humans we have preferences, and can be quite outspoken and stubborn about them. People tend to create standards—or tenets, if you will—asserting that what they believe to be beautiful is correct, and they expect others to feel the same. Sometimes this is accepted and these taste judgments become integrated into parts of our ideology, but sometimes those trying to set new standards are disregarded and tossed to the side. Personally, I believe
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that beauty is subjective and that we should encourage discussion featuring a diverse array of opinion, rather than quash those whose opinions don’t conform to what society deems acceptable. I believe that we are often encouraged or subliminally influenced to accept that certain ideals constitute “beauty”, and the lack of them, “ugliness”. However, I don’t think the establishment of these standards is necessarily bad, as how would the design profession exist in a world without them? We all have the right to an opinion, and you can certainly disagree with mine. Let’s not only encourage discussion between the like-minded, but everyone else too.
‘funny, truthful and wise’ peter jackson
The
book of
Hat
Harriet Rowland ‘the real The Fault in Our Stars’ laura sell, auckland libraries
at good bookshops, online
& now an ebook!
thebookofhat.com
www.concreteculture.co.nz
Aesthetic Binaries Beauty is seen in the most opposite of places. p h o t o g r a p h y a n d w o r d s b y m a d e l eine d u t h ie
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ome people see flora, fauna, and wide open landscapes as things of beauty, while gazing at cityscapes or industrial streets with disdain. Others can see the beauty in the manmade, sometimes even capturing this in photographs, allowing viewers to see the beauty through the photographer’s eyes. There are many arguments on both sides of the fence regarding looking at the world through the lens of a camera. Some would argue that the constant search for the next photograph distracts the photographer from truly living in the moment. However I’ve found that sometimes, carrying a camera around kind of forces you to keep an eye out for interesting and beautiful things to photograph, things that perhaps you’d usually pass without noticing.
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Pen to Ink to Paper Calligrapher extraordinaire Peter Gilderdale shares a bit of his background and expertise with calligraphy and design.
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How were you introduced to calligraphy? My family spent a year in England in what would have been my seventh form year, and part of that was at art school. We didn’t do calligraphy, but some other classes did, and I remember criticising a hand-done calligraphic poster in the corridor, and someone else saying “that was his sixth attempt—it’s harder than it looks”. I thought to myself that I could do better than that, and got a chance to prove it when I got back to New Zealand and someone asked me to do place names for a wedding (assuming that, since I had been to art school) I would know how to do it. My father had done a bit of calligraphy when he was at art school, and had some model sheets and pens, and so I purloined them and taught myself. And I think I did prove to myself that I could do it better than that poster, at least. What are some of your favourite things about being a calligrapher? I love the engagement with historical letterforms, and the opportunity to go delving into the highways and byways of the history of writing. And I love the challenge that it poses by way of the discipline required to learn it, and the constant improvisation that is necessary to deal with all the things that go wrong! How is calligraphy still relevant in today’s digitally-saturated culture? That is a tricky question, that I don’t think calligraphy has entirely sorted out, as yet. I think that
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doing calligraphy as a hobby, and as an educational tool, still has a great deal of relevance. We think with our hands as well as our heads, and calligraphy is a good reminder of what we lose in the digital realm. However I think calligraphy is getting pretty marginalised as an artform, and I have not yet figured out quite how to reframe it. I don’t think too many others have. Things like calligraffiti are fun, but they won’t be a long term solution. What would you say is the most challenging piece you’ve worked on? The AUT roll of honour. It was very formal, and each sheet consisted of four pages of names. If you misspelt or miswrote any one of those, then all four pages had to be redone. It took over 400 hours to do, that created a lot of stress. People don’t realise how much tougher formal calligraphy is relative to the expressive variety – which is much more forgiving. How would you describe your ideal design aesthetic? I don’t think I have an ideal design aesthetic, any more. I am well and truly over default ‘less is more’ styling. In finished work, I think I am interested in the flow that occurs between the problem, the concepts, the semiotics of communicating ideas, and the selection of appropriate means to communicate that idea. Aesthetics plays into that. But I have come to the conclusion that I really do calligraphy as a form of research—using it to find out new things, and to explore my own ways of relating to the world.
Inspired Whimsy Freelance illustrator Elspeth Alix Batt chats to us about her work. i n t er v i e w b y m a d e l eine d u t h ie i l l u s t r at i o n s b y e l s p e t h a l i x b at t
What sparked your interest in illustration? I was always one of the good “drawers” in class but got sidetracked into studying architecture and fashion design before deciding to concentrate on “art” in some form. I flatted with someone who worked for a publishing company as a designer and illustrated book covers and thought that looked more my sort of thing. Since I completed my Graphic Design degree I have worked as an illustrator mainly in the educational publishing field where I illustrated a lot of School Journals. Some of the design competitions I have entered online have sparked an interest in the field of surface pattern design and my sister and I have just opened an online shop on Etsy where we will be selling greeting cards, including New Zealand themed ones, prints, clip art, and the like. How do you source creative inspiration for your work? Most days I have a look at websites and Pinterest and Instagram sites of people whose illustration I admire, occasionally at pattern trend forecasting websites, new books from the library on fashion, illustration etc., children’s picture books, design books and magazines, greeting cards and wrapping paper in bookstores. Everything seems to undergo this big mash-up in my subconscious and when I start working on a new project all these ideas come bubbling up which I’m sure are recombinations of everything I’ve absorbed, sometimes years before. What materials do you most enjoy working with? I always start off every project with
sketching in pencil on paper. That is what I feel most comfortable with. I particularly enjoy creating the effects of watery media like watercolour and acrylic paints so if I don’t use the actual paints, I try to get that effect in my digital illustration. I also like using those watercolour and acrylic textures in collage work, both real and digital. I use everything from crayons, inks, charcoal, metallic paint, and glitter, as well as coloured pencils to add effects, depending on the project. About the only things I’ve never used are oil paints. Is there advice in particular that you’d give to an aspiring illustrator? If I have any advice to give aspiring illustrators, it would be to try to be as objective as you can about the work that you do. When you’ve spent many hours on something, it’s hard to see that there are things wrong with it that need to be changed. And if you find, say, drawing hands difficult, don’t draw figures who always have their hands behind them or in pockets. It’s a dead giveaway and limits your work. You’re trying to express something with your art, so every bit of your illustration can be part of that expression and hands can be very expressive. Get a mirror and draw the ones at the end of your arms if you have no alternative. Understanding colour and how different combinations work together to create the mood of a picture is also very helpful, as is getting a grasp on perspective and being able to build a believable space for the characters and objects you want to include. You’ll also need loads of passion and endless persistence, but that applies to most worthwhile endeavours.
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To see more of Elspeth’s work, head to eabatt.wordpress.com and lovelythingsonetsy.etsy.com
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the aestheticians
A few key figures in the study of aesthetics, a.k.a. dead white guys with funny hair.
francis hutcheson
david hume
One of the earliest modern aestheticians, Scottish-Irish Francis Hutcheson had a significant influence on Enlightenment thinkers such as David Hume and Adam Smith. Hutcheson himself was influenced by the likes of Shaftesbury, Cicero, and John Locke. A bit of a controversial fellow at the time, Hutcheson was prosecuted by the Scottish Presbytarian church for his “false and dangerous” teaching of doctrine that stated that it was possible to know good and evil without knowing God, and that if you created happiness in others you could be considered “morally good”.
Born in Edinburgh, David Hume was a little bit of a child prodigy, attending the University of Edinburgh at the age of twelve. Hume was influenced by a range of big names in philosophy including the aforementioned Hutcheson, Descartes, and Rousseau. He also influenced quite a few well known thinkers himself, including— among others—Chomsky, Einstein, and Kant. Hume sought to become the chair of philosophy at his university, but failed at his attempt after ministers of Edinburgh protested his appointment because he was believed to be an atheist.
immanuel kant
edmund burke
German philosopher Immanuel Kant is often considered the figurehead of modern philosophy. He still has quite a substantial influence in areas of study such as ethics, metaphysics, politics, and aesthetics. Kant’s main contribution to aesthetic theory was through his Critique of Judgment where he discussed the subjectivity of beauty and taste judgments. He believed that beauty was not a property of something or a natural phenomenon but was rather found in feelings that we have as humans. In Kant’s entire life, he never travelled further than sixteen kilometres from his birthplace.
Dublin-born Edmund Burke was an author, political theorist, and philosopher, and he studied at Trinity College. Burke wrote his only purely philosophical work, a thesis on aesthetics, before he turned nineteen. He is considered to be the philosophical founder of modern conservatism, and he believed that religion is the foundation of civil society. Burke caused quite a stir when he claimed to oppose the French revolution, after he had shown support to American revolutionaries in previous years. He was also a Freemason, as were many thinkers and philosophers.
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g. w. f. hegel
oscar wilde
German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel’s most prolific work on the topic of aesthetics came in the form of a series of lectures taking place in Heidelberg and Berlin. It is widely acknowledged that Hegel’s aesthetic theory is perhaps one of the greatest since Aristotle. The philosophy of Hegel is known as Hegalianism, and its main tenet is “the rational alone is real”, which means that all reality is able to be categorised in a rational way. Hegel studied and was inspired by work by Kant, and he even attempted to reinterpret the Gospel through a Kantian lens.
Playwright and poet Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin to successful, intellectual parents. Wilde was tri-lingual, becoming fluent in both French and German at a young age. Famous for his flamboyance, personality, and wit, Wilde toured the United States as a spokesman for aestheticism, proclaiming that artists should place less value in utalitarian ethics and more in both beauty and pleasure. He also believed that art should not be intertwined with political, moral, or social issues. Wilde shared this view with French poet Baudelaire, who espoused freedom from moral restraint.
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