And this is why I switched majors from architecture to mechanical engineering. I was asked just one too many times, "What does this painting say to you?" As you may imagine my responses along the lines of, "It says the guy had a lot of yellow paint to get rid of." were not well received.
You either like it or you don't.
I agree!You try to equate everything to engineering with its rules and formulas. I personally find that a staggeringly limited, narrow minded, and unimaginative way to view the world. Sorry, but when it comes to emotional things, like what's beautiful and what's not, there aren't any rules and formulas. All there are are 7.06 billion (the world's population) subjective, emotional opinions about what constitutes beauty.
I personally think the ability to recognize beauty is about 75% learned and 25% innate. But one dosn't know beauty by just successfully passing through the womb.
Interesting comment and in the photographer's perception, absolutely correct! When you look at a photograph whos composition is extremely well done, it's balanced! Turn it 90 degrees to either side or even upside down and it's still balanced. That is indeed, a form of symmetry!Murray--- if you look at your avatar photo you will see--- if you have the ability to do so--- that in fact it is symmetrical in terms of its balance.
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I think you are still missing the point though. This girl is following rules, in that she is interpreting music which was created by other people, and those other people were following the accepted "rules" which allow their music to be considered classical music.
Marin I didn't know having a "six figure income" qualifies one to know beauty when they see it.
I'm thinking you need a hell of a lot more exposure to the world if you want to truly understand art and beauty.
Walt, You said:I think I know where you're coming from, Eric. What you are attempting to explain and pass on as the requirements for beauty are in fact the accepted rules (learned) for the use of engineering disciplines such as geometry, math, structural engineering. etc. Your definitions of what creates beauty, really apply more to structural design and efficiency. And with that, I would agree with you! Beauty, however, is outside those parameters and is a very subjective thing. In it's in the eye of the beholder, for which there are no rules or formulas. Many people consider the "Mona Lisa" to be beautiful. I am not one of those people.