Aesthetics

Abstract

In the context of communication studies, aesthetic theory may be defined as the attempt to understand people's enjoyment of certain forms of communication – such as stories, movies, music, dance – that are apparently attended to for their own sake, despite their lack of any ostensible instrumental value. Although this type of enjoyment can be considered an inherent feature of human biology (Dissanayake 1992), the specific experiences that give rise to it differ widely among the cultures of the world (→ Intercultural and Intergroup Communication). Simply put, the study of aesthetics seeks to answer two basic questions: what do people like or dislike about such experiences – and why?