Topic of the day: Why respond emotionally to art?

About the Aesthetics series

As an artist, you run into questions all the time: What makes something art? Does it need to be original? Can art be judged? What's it even for?

These aren't just practical questions—they're philosophical ones.

Casual but rigorous. We provide philosophical frameworks without academic stuffiness.

Reading is optional. Come, listen, think, discuss. If you want to read more on your own, we'll provide resources.

Discussion-based. Your experiences as artists inform the conversation. Philosophy isn't abstract theory—it's tools for thinking through the questions you already face.

No philosophy background needed. If you make art and wonder about why/how/what it means, you're qualified.

This 9-week section tackles the fundamental questions that come up when you actually make and encounter art. We'll explore different answers philosophers have offered and see how those frameworks apply