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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Clavis" data-source="post: 3766368" data-attributes="member: 31898">I will posit the idea that our desires and standards (aesthetic, moral, etc.) are the product of a dynamic relationship between three factors:Biology - genetic and epigenetic factors for exampleSociety: The cultural norms imposed on the individual and accepted by themPersonal Psychology: Desires that are the result of the personal history of the individual.We know that monkeys have a sense of when they are being treated unfairly. Recent research indicate a real brain difference between those who self-identify as Conservative and those who declare themselves to be Liberal. We also know that the proportions that constitute beauty in woman (although not the size) are universal in every culture on Earth, from the most primitive to the most advanced. So I believe there are some universals with regard to aesthetics and morality, but that they are expressed differently in every culture, and every individual has their own interpretations of his or her culture's expression.It is easier to say what isn't beautiful than what is beautiful. Nonetheless, I believe there definitely are better and worse works of art. However, we can't take the argument too far before we simply cross over into a conflict over taste, cultural and personal.Some questions I ask myself to determine is a work of art is "good" are:Does this art display technical skill beyond that of an ordinary person?Does experiencing this art deepen my appreciation for my own life?Does this art encapsulate the experience of some other person or persons in a meaningful way?Is this art beautiful?Does this art startle me into considering some point of view I may have been ignoring?Does this art hold my interest?Is the message of this art timeless?Does this art have a message for all people, as opposed to only those of a particular culture?For myself, the more "yes" answers I can find to those questions, the "better" I think the art is. There are definitely lesser works that I personally find more entertaining than greater works, however. Yes, I can watch "crap", find it entertaining, and still know it's "crap". I often do it on purpose, and have a particular love of B-horror movies and 42nd Street grindhouse films. In some ways, I find bad art more interesting than "good" art. There are only a few ways to do things right, but many, many ways to do them wrong.</blockquote>

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