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Traditional fine arts are often regarded as rarefied, something accessed by the uniquely talented and displayed in impressive museums or on lavish stages. Art thusly conceived is something that most people never practice in their lives. Yet in day-to-day life we all experience creative satisfaction through interaction with the physical and social environment that is a form of artistic practice. In Transformative Arts: Biological, Digital, and Everyday Aesthetics, Gary A. Berg explores what we gain through understanding ways to live imaginative lives and considers the increasingly important collaborative role of computers and interaction with nature.
List of contents
Introduction
Starting Point
Shaping Questions
Plan for the Book
Conclusion
Chapter One: The Origin and Evolution of Western Aesthetics
Philosophical Foundations
Spirituality and Art
Religious Traditions and Art
The Sublime and Transcendence
Modern and Contemporary Scholars on Art and Spirituality
Modern Aesthetics
Psychological Perspectives
Conclusion
Chapter Two: Beyond Western Aesthetics
Anthropological Foundations
Regional Histories and Contrasts
Cross-cultural Patterns
Beauty in Disinterestedness
Beauty of Spirituality and Transcendence
Beauty of Imperfection and Process
Beauty Every Day
Conclusion
Chapter Three: The Aesthetics of the Everyday
European Precursors
John Dewey and Art as Experience
Aesthetics of the Everyday
Conclusion
Chapter Four: Digital Art
Origins
Machine Learning and Art
Deep Learning
Generative Adversarial Networks
Applications Using Text Prompts to Create Art
Robotics
Computers in Music and Literature
Computers and Performing Arts
Computers and Consciousness
Conclusion
Chapter Five: Biological Art
Using Technology to Uncover Beauty Up Close and Far Away
Animal Art
Development of Bio Art
Humans Interacting with Living Organisms
Conclusion
Conclusion
Primary Questions
Impact of Computer and Biological Advancements on Aesthetics
Power of Everyday Aesthetics
Conclusion
Bibliography
About the Author
About the author
Gary A. Berg, PhD, MFA, is the author or editor of eleven previous books including A Career in the Arts: The Complex Learning and Career Needs of Creative Professionals and The Rise of Women in Higher Education: How, Why, and What's Next. His research published widely in journal articles, as well as interviews and opinion pieces in popular media, has spanned topics such as technology used for educational purposes, innovation in non-profit and socially-responsible organizations, and university admissions and financial aid public policy.
