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Category: Aesthetics

Aesthetics, derived from the Greek word “aisthesis” meaning perception, is the branch of philosophy that deals with the nature and appreciation of beauty, art, and taste. It explores how people perceive and experience the world through their senses, especially through visual and auditory stimuli. Central to aesthetics is the analysis of what constitutes beauty and why certain things are perceived as beautiful or pleasing.

Aesthetics encompasses a wide range of topics, including the principles of design, the philosophy of art, and the sensory-emotional values that are found in art and nature. It involves critical discussions on the nature of beauty, the role of the artist, the process of artistic creation, and the impact of art on viewers.

One key aspect of this is the concept of “the sublime,” which refers to a quality of greatness or grandeur that inspires awe and wonder. This can be found in both natural and artistic phenomena. Another important concept is “taste,” which relates to the personal and cultural preferences that influence an individual’s aesthetic judgments.

Historically, aesthetics has been shaped by various philosophical movements. For instance, Immanuel Kant’s “Critique of Judgment” argues that aesthetic experience is a subjective, yet universal, human experience. In the modern and contemporary context, aesthetics has expanded to include diverse perspectives, such as feminist and postmodern critiques, which challenge traditional notions of beauty and artistic value.

Ultimately, aesthetics is about understanding the human experience of beauty and art, and how these experiences shape our perception of the world.

St Etheldreda

Saint Æthelthryth, or Etheldreda. of Ely23rd June, marks the feast day of St Etheldreda, a saint associated with Ely Cathedral who died in 679AD. jon rosling

Etheldreda, also known as Æthelthryth, is particularly significant to the Anglican tradition due to her association with Ely Cathedral, which remains a key site of pilgrimage and historical importance within the Church of England.

St. Etheldreda, sometimes also known as Audrey, was an Anglo-Saxon princess, abbess, and saint who lived in the 7th century. She was born around 636AD in Exning, Suffolk and was one of the four saintly daughters of Continue reading

Whitby Abbey: The Illuminated Abbey

 

 
Halloween is always an atmospheric time of year – glowing pumpkins, roasted chestnuts, Yorkshire parkin and faces painted in a myriad of ghoulish disguises. But this year was made all the more so by spending Samhain in the Gothic surroundings of Whitby and it’s wonderful illuminated abbey ruins. jon rosling

English Heritage‘s Illuminated Abbey event in 2019 was a week of activities at the abbey that sits in a prominent position on the headland overlooking Whitby’s ancient harbour. The abbey itself is, of course, a ruin – years of neglect after the violence of it’s dissolution in 1540 left it a shell. The bracing wind, rain and salt spray  from the North Sea have also taken their toll on the stonework and an attack by German battle-cruisers in December 1914 did further severe damage.

Wide angle photograph of Whitby Church of St Mary's and Harbour. Photo by John Rosling

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St Leonard’s Church, Thrybergh

St Leonard's Church, Thrybergh Image Source: Jon Rosling

St Leonard’s Church, Thrybergh

Tucked away from the main road down a narrow lane is St Leonard’s Church in Thrybergh, South Yorkshire. When I visited it was mid-February 2017 and the air added a dampness that seemed reflected in the dark stone and gloom of the church, though it was off-set somewhat by the pretty little flowers that were growing in and around the cemetery, snowdrops for the most part. jon rosling

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Lincoln Cathedral – Arches and Architecture

Lincoln Cathedral was home to me for a few hours last month while I spent time happy snapping with the Fuji Finepix I have. Finally, I got around editing the photos.

Click the images to enlarge each one.

I particularly like this one of the arches and vaulting at the end of the south aisle.

Vaulting and arches at Lincoln Cathedral
Vaulting and arches at Lincoln Cathedral Source: Photo by the author

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