The appeal of aesthetics: A cross-cultural lexical analysis.

Abstract

Art and aesthetics have long been understood as central to human well-being and flourishing. However, the academic study of these phenomena has been critiqued for its Western-centricity and general lack of cross-cultural engagement. As such, this article aims to broaden our appreciation of the contours of aesthetics by engaging with relevant “untranslatable” words (i.e., without an exact equivalent in English), thereby enriching our conceptual map of this arena. Over 300 relevant terms from 24 languages were located and analyzed using grounded theory. Four main metathemes were identified, each with several themes: stimuli (spanning the sensory modalities of sight, sound, taste, smell, touch, and the mind), qualities (harmony, naturalness, simplicity, prettiness, and shock), dynamics (appreciation, understanding, and inspiration), and modes (modalities, movements, and techniques). The article therefore adds to our understanding of this vital arena of human well-being and flourishing, though, as ever, further work is needed.

Cognitive entailments among “the true, the good, the beautiful”: a mainland Chinese sample

“…However, this "language trap" (cf. Pöppel, 2018) is often overlooked; for example, studies in empirical aesthetics often implicitly assume that the word for "beauty" maps onto the same BEAUTY concept across different languages and cultures (this is what makes beauty judgement questions across languages and cultures comparable, as in Bao et al, 2016;Zhao, Zhang & Bao, 2018;Yang et al, 2019;Hitsuwari & Nomura, 2022;Ho, Szubielska & Kopiś-Posiej, 2022), which may not be the case (Bao et al, 2017;Thompson, Roberts & Lupyan, 2020;Brielmann, Nuzzo & Pelli, 2021;Lomas, 2022). The "same" word (i.e., linguistic form) may also point to more than one concepts.…”

A Comparative Study of Printed Fabric Product Lines and Design Concepts of Texstyle Ghana Limited

“…SD 2 (personal communication, 30 October 2021) further explained that Adepa collections showcase a diverse range of prints with an array of colours and patterns with motifs such as floral, geometric shapes and abstract designs that meet the taste of a broad spectrum of consumer preferences for traditional or classical designs. Thompson (2022) and Lomas (2022) affirm that the fabrics utilised in this collection are crafted from top-notch materials and are available in an array of colours and patterns, encompassing floral motifs, geometric shapes, and abstract designs. Notably, these designs gained popularity during the period spanning from the 1990s to the early 2000s, owing to their incorporation of symbolic names.…”

A flexible map of flourishing: The dynamics and drivers of flourishing, well-being, health, and happiness

“…Aesthetic. While intellective happiness involves deep understanding of a valued object or idea, many people experience happiness simply through the perception of natural beauty or some object (Lomas, 2022b). Likewise, for millennia, humans have sought out experiences involving appreciation, and moreover have produced art forms that appeal, at least in part, to one's sensual perception (i.e., that are pleasing to perceive as their own end) (Pawelski, 2022).…”