To figure out what companionable art and aesthetic experience might be, we must first define, at least in the context of this essay - for doing so is really an impossible task - what is "art" and what is "aesthetic experience".

To answer the question of what might companionable art and aesthetic experience look like, we must first make a detour and discuss the differences and similarities between art and aesthetic experience. After all we have been referring to these terms as separate yet using them in conjunction with one another. So what exactly do we mean when we say “art” and “aesthetic experience” respectively?

Art

Amidst the countless literature that attempts to define art, two particular ones stand out to us → optional opening

• Lit review of definitions
  • Quote Alva noe
  • Quote aesthetic brain
• Something from art as agent …
  • If in this essay a companion can be anything, art too of course can be an a companion, meaning that - jumping the gun a little - art too has agency to acknowledge a relationship. Taking this view, we must then of course include definition from art agency
• Art Vs artwork? Artworks are always manmade. Art…is? Artwork is a piece of art.
  • Art can be the works, can be the field, can be the technique. In this essay we really just mean artworks then?

Weaving these definitions, In context of this essay, when we say art, we mean anything intended, either by its creator or someone else, as art.

Aesthetic Experiences

• Richard shusterman book definition
• Ours from the proposal in AE.
  • Like there's a phenomenology view of this and a neurological view…
    • Taking a neurological view, aesthetic experience

Art VS Aesthetic Experience

What then is the relationship between art and aesthetic experience, in this essay?

Are aesthetic experiences subordinate to art? But we know that aesthetic experiences can be evoked by things that are not art, for example, nature. (Though some might argue that nature is the ultimate piece of art )

Trying to decide which comes first is a chicken and egg problem we feel…

• art is the manifestation of an individuals aesthetic experience, art has to be designated by a person
  • E.g. nature becomes art when we intend for it as such (link our to prof’s docent thing and maybe a musing)
• But not art leads to aesthetic experience
• Aesthetic Experience can be triggered by anything…one could argue that any object that was not intended to be art becomes artified or “aestheticized” when it triggers an aesthetic experience even unintentionally
  • The unintentionality is curious though
    • Say a beautiful sunset… is the sunset. When we feel awe, we aren't intentionally aestheticizing it. It's almost a b imposition, we cannot help but find it beautiful. So the is the sunset itself positioning itself as art? But the sun is just setting. Who then is doing the aestheticizing? Our biology?
    • Thankfully the answer to this question is not essential to our mission and is merely a curious rabbit hole.
  • Key difference are least for our purpose, is the site. Art exists in the tangible world. Aesthetic experience happens in a person's mind. Which is why an artwork can only really just be a catalyst for aesthetic experiences and intend to inspire or invite or even impose a. Aesthetic experience but it cannot be it.
  • What brings humans well-being is aesthetic experience, not art. Engaging in acts of art, to actively invite aesthetic experience is what is good for us engaging in acts of art can be making art, appreciating art, or even aestheticizing art. (Is aestheticizing then an act of art making? Aesthetic mindset then js the act of turning things into art)
• To make it so that we can use art and aesthetic experience interchangeably here on out …?