Aesthetics for Birds

Aesthetics and Philosophy of Art for Everyone

August 29, 2018
by Aesthetics for Birds
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ASA Releases Statement Amidst Growing Concern

The American Society for Aesthetics (ASA) have released a statement regarding the renewed interest and concern surrounding last year’s sexual harassment incident and their policies on discrimination, harassment, and respectful behavior. The text of their statement is reproduced below.

August 11, 2018
by Aesthetics for Birds
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Update: a Statement Regarding the ASA Harassment Incident

Last November, AFB reported on an accusation of sexual harassment at the American Society for Aesthetics (ASA) Annual Meeting. Five days ago, AFB reported that the accused harasser was on the program for the upcoming ASA Annual Meeting, along with the accuser. Since then, a number of differing accounts have emerged regarding how the original accusation was lodged, largely via discussions on social media. In particular, some members of ASA leadership have stated that no official complaint was ever made by the accuser. The accuser has asked us to publish the following statement. UPDATE: See a fact-checked summary of the full incident.

August 7, 2018
by Aesthetics for Birds
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Update: How is the American Society for Aesthetics Doing on Diversity and Inclusion?

Last November, we reported an accusation of sexual harassment at the American Society for Aesthetics (ASA) Annual Meeting. ASA member Anne Eaton wrote: “One alleged case of sexual harassment by a senior man toward a junior woman. I say “alleged” because the case has not been (nor will it be) officially adjudicated, although it has been reported to ASA governance. I know the details of this case and find it 100% credible. In fact, I have myself in the past had trouble with the senior male philosopher in question.” We also reported that, in response, “…the ASA leadership took immediate and decisive action in response to the report of sexual harassment. In addition to sending a forceful message to the harasser, ASA leadership immediately set up a committee to develop an official policy on sexual harassment.” The ASA has recently released new policies regarding discrimination (including best practices and how to … Continue reading

November 29, 2017
by Aesthetics for Birds
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The ASA at 75: Diversity and the Tipping Point

The following is a guest post by Charles Peterson (Oberlin College). This is the third of three companion pieces that reflect on the ASA’s 75th anniversary. Click here for the first, by A.W. Eaton, and the second, by Paul C. Taylor. See also the ASA Officers’ response letter here. The age of 75 can signify multiple indicators. At 75 years old, an ant would be ancient. At 75 years old a mountain would be considered infantile in its span and at 75 years old a human being, has lived to a ripe and healthy age. For an academic organization, 75 years is a perfect time to celebrate its longevity and take stock of its future. The American Society for Aesthetics is at this point in regards to the inclusion of diverse scholars and discourses in its proceedings.  The ASA stands at the threshold where its present efforts to open up, … Continue reading

November 27, 2017
by Aesthetics for Birds
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The ASA at 75: ‘splaining and Safaris

What follows is a guest post by Paul C. Taylor (Penn State). [Updated:] This is the second of three companion pieces that reflect on the ASA’s 75th anniversary. Click here for the first, by A.W. Eaton, and the third, by Charles Peterson. See also the ASA Officers’ response letter here. By the time my father turned 75, he was freely exercising the wide-ranging license to offend that family elders often enjoy. He could say or do pretty much anything, and we would chalk it up to him being set in his ways. We would weigh the costs and benefits of contesting his frequently insensitive and sometimes just rude behavior, or of reminding him of all the considerations that militate against talking about women or Jews or whatever like that anymore. And we would usually decide that discretion was the better part of valour, and we would let him alone. So on he … Continue reading

November 27, 2017
by Aesthetics for Birds
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The ASA at 75: How Are We Doing with Diversity and Inclusion?

What follows is a guest post by A.W. Eaton (University of Illinois-Chicago). [Updated:] This is the first of three companion pieces that reflect on the ASA’s 75th anniversary. Click here for the second, by Paul C. Taylor, and the third, by Charles Peterson. See also the ASA Officers’ response letter here. The 75th anniversary of the American Society of Aesthetics is an opportunity to reflect upon both our progress regarding inclusion and diversity and also upon the remaining work to be done. I discuss them here in turn.

September 25, 2017
by Aesthetics for Birds
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Art and Cultural Heritage (ASA Diversity Syllabus #1)

The American Society for Aesthetics has sponsored the development of new, annotated reading lists, with an eye to increasing diversity. These are intended for use in teaching, but would make a great reading list for curious minds! These are publicly available at the ASA website, but Aesthetics for Birds has asked the designers of these reading lists to provide us with brief overviews of what we can find in the documents. That way you, our readers, have a better idea of what you are looking at and what you might want to look for. First up is “Art and Cultural Heritage” [link to pdf] by Erich Hatala Matthes.

June 7, 2017
by Rebecca Millsop
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Congrats to the Winners of the 2017 APA Curriculum Diversification Grants

The American Society for Aesthetics is pleased to announce the winners of the 2017 Curriculum Diversification Grant competition: Chris Jenkins, Associate Dean for Academic Support, Oberlin Conservatory Project:  The Aesthetics of African-American Classical Music Erich Hatala Matthes, Assistant Professor, Wellesley College Project: Art and Cultural Heritage Rossen Ventzislavov, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Woodbury University Project: The Aesthetics of Performance Art CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE WINNERS!!! Each will receive a grant of $5,000 to prepare the proposed diversity curriculum. These will be posted on the ASA web site in September 2017. This is a project of the ASA Diversity Committee, chaired by Thi Nguyen. To see the final curricula of the 2015 and 2016 winners, click here.

April 26, 2017
by Rebecca Millsop
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ASA Student Travel Grants to Conference on Race, Art and Aesthetics

The Board of Trustees of the American Society for Aesthetics has approved $7,000 in funding to support the conference on “Exploring Beauty and Truth in World of Color: Race, Art and Aesthetics in the 21st Century.” The conference, organized by Professor Charles Peterson, will be held at Oberlin College September 29-30, 2017. The ASA Trustees also approved an additional $1,000 to support travel by ASA student members to attend the conference. The conference will be free and open to the public. KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Kymberly Pinder (University of New Mexico) FASHION Siobhan Carter-David (University of Southern Connecticut) Monica Miller (Barnard College) Christina Moon (New School-Parsons) TECHNOLOGY Sam Liao (University of Puget Sound) Mariana Ortega (John Carroll University) AFRO-FUTURISM RaShelle Peck (Oberlin College) Meredith Gadsby (Oberlin College) HUMOR Gillian Johns (Oberlin College) Luvell Anderson (University of Memphis) Lissa Skiltolsky (Susquehanna University) VISUAL ARTS (Film) Dan Flory (University of Montana) Matt Strohl (University … Continue reading