Description
Support for sustainability efforts continues to grow in many ways, though more work can be done. And one facet that is often not discussed is the role that aesthetics plays in achieving these goals. In this talk, we’ll examine why making products and spaces with a consideration of beauty often leads to longevity. For example, building wind or solar farms has been thwarted because people perceive them as ugly. To convince more people to adopt sustainability practices, aesthetics has been shown to be more effective than data or information alone. While we’ll bring in some aspects of theory, we will also look at practical examples of how aesthetics can be applied toward sustainability.
Michael Spicher began studying theories of beauty and aesthetics over a decade ago. Since then, he has published articles, given lectures (to academics and general audiences), and earned a PhD in philosophy focusing on aesthetics and political philosophy. He serves as the aesthetics area editor for the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, an editor for the Leonardo Electronic Almanac (published by MIT Press), and a lecturer at Boston University, Boston Architectural College, and Mass College of Art and Design. As an artist, he paints and plays harmonica and slide guitar.
