The USU SHAFT opening social is happening Friday, January 16 at 6 p.m. in Old Main 006 (six at six, see, you won’t forget!). Pizza and snacks will be provided, and we’ll probably have a movie showing as well. Bring your friends, games, and whatever else you want; it will be a good time!
Author: Huenemann
Steve Jobs’ Stanford commencement address
If you have a spare 15 minutes, check out Steve Jobs 2005 commencement address at Stanford University. Words of wisdom.
Genes, traits, and personality
A fascinating article by Steven Pinker in the New York Times muses over genetic determinism, and what he has discovered about himself by having his own genome sequenced. (In all modesty, I must say I was there first.)
Modern art egotistical?
Here is an essay that will perhaps be interesting to the students in Aesthetics. Relevant quote:
The successful modern artist’s subject is himself, not in any genuinely self-examining way that would tell us something about the human condition, but as an ego to distinguish himself from other egos, as distinctly and noisily as he can. Like Oscar Wilde at the New York customs, he has nothing to declare but his genius: which, if he is lucky, will lead to fame and fortune. Of all the artistic disciplines nowadays, self-advertisement is by far the most important.
I do not agree that all modern art is like this. Many contemporary works explore feelings, attitudes, and events in our experience without feeling the need to tie them to transcendent themes. Some are merely explorations of color and composition. I don’t think you need “transcendent juice” in a work to make it powerful, beautiful, or provocative.
USUPhilosophy 