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Author

Tay Kheng Soon
25 Oct 2001

2001
Some Aesthetic Categories

Aesthetics consists of sense-categories independent of meaning, taste or beauty. Aesthetics operates primarily in sense and not in rational thought. Aesthetic categories are therefore distinct but not static. Interacting with thought enables it to respond to inscribed and ascribed meaning, supporting it and is itself modified in the process but there are limits.    Thus, aesthetics can be conceived as a somewhat pliable vehicle on which a cargo of meaning is carried. When the vehicle is adequate, the cargo is satisfactorily carried. When there is full integration, a work of beauty and order is present. When inadequate, there is aesthetic disorder. Art is the extreme extent of successful interaction. Such art may not be immediately accepted by society as beauty but will in time be accepted because beauty is a socialised amalgam of aesthetics and significant meaning. Bad Kitsch is when the content or cargo is unsupported by the vehicle. Good kitsch is aesthetically supported. 

 

Appreciation and pleasure-in-things, events and spaces captivates the senses only when aesthetics is present to articulate, cohere and make consistent the cargo of meaning inscribed or ascribed to the thing. A masterful artist or designer is one who integrates aesthetics and meaning to the greatest extent.

 

Kinship of form

Adjacency and proximity

Clustering

Aggregating through kinship

Aggregating without kinship through sheer proximity

Grammar of different construction materials

Balance of visual weights

Scale and pace relationships

Distinction by scale

Distinction by colour

Distinction by form

Distinction by spacing 

Continuity of line

Continuity of form

Continuity of space

Connectivity of space

Pattern connectivity

Tectonic connectivity

Tectonics of space

Tectonic of form

Sustainable interval

Rhythmic progression

Horizontal incrementality

Vertical incrementality

Integrity of plane

Integrity of surface

Independency of object

Independency in space

Separating from another

Associating with another

Distinction by contrast

Distinction by distancing

Distinction by distortion

Distinction by colour

Distinction by form

Rectilinear regularity

Rectilinear plasticity

Non-rectilinear plasticity

Symmetrical axiality

Asymmetrical plasticity

Symmetrical regularity

Curvilinear plasticity

Shearing spatialisation

Shearing form

Curvilinear spatialisation

Curvilinear form

Disaggregated spatialisation

Aggregated spatialisation

Layered spatialisation

Transparent spatialisation

Ambiguous layered spatialisation

Singularity

Repetition

Merging formal transformation

Rectilinear Meshing

Non-rectilinear meshing

Veiling

Shading

Attenuating

Interruption

Break point

Formal Transition point

Directionality

Reflection

Inflecting

Resonating

Concavity

Convexity

Anticipating

Terminating

Acceleration

Deceleration

Implied spaces

Defined spaces

Flowing spaces

Connecting spaces

Centralising

Edging

Delineation

Emphasis

Implied emphasis

Emphatic emphasis

Layering

Sequencing

Tension

Tautness

Slackness

Shearing

Occluding

Ambiguity

Indeterminacy

Affirmation

Repudiation

Cancellation

Absence

Trace suggestion

Reception

Repulsion

Centrifugality

Centripetality

Radiation

Convergency

Divergency

Cushioning

Inflection

Rotation

Anchoring

 

 

 

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