I once met a man who was a who believed deeply in aestheticism. His perception was that the only thing that mattered was the aesthetics of the thing, nothing more. Morality took a second seat, as did everything else. I could not, for the life of me, convince him that life is a bit more multidimensional than that. With each topic, he would aestheticize it, if you will, then speak of how his aesthetization of the topic proved his point. "See: aesthetics!"
It's no different than those who claim everything is "political", which of course all too clearly betrays their steadfast belief in "historical materialism". If you make everything political, refuse to see anything except through a political lens, then yes - everything is political.
I must say, the man of aesthetics was much more interesting to talk to.
It's no different than those who claim everything is "political", which of course all too clearly betrays their steadfast belief in "historical materialism". If you make everything political, refuse to see anything except through a political lens, then yes - everything is political.
I must say, the man of aesthetics was much more interesting to talk to.