Aesthetics for Birds

Aesthetics and Philosophy of Art for Everyone

March 5, 2017
by Aesthetics for Birds
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Whispers of Power #15 Winner

Congratulations this week to Jennifer for her Rainer Maria Rilke quote! “Perhaps everything terrible is in its deepest being something helpless that wants help from us.” [German: ” Vielleicht ist alles Schreckliche im tiefsten Grunde das Hilflose, das von uns Hilfe will.”] – Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet House of Cards, Season 4, Episode 13, 55:33 Title: Terror Description: “We do not fear terror. We are the terror.” The house of Claire and Frank Underwood appears to collapse, and then they utter these words. This climactic scene that ends the show’s fourth season, and we are left afraid and uncertain. A timely message given that, in today’s political climate, we are also left wondering whether there is anything past fear and uncertainty. Thanks again to all who contributed to make this a great series! We’ve had a lot of fun putting it out, and it’s been interesting to think through during this especially … Continue reading

February 21, 2017
by Aesthetics for Birds
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Whispers of Power #15 *final Installment!*

Announcement: This is the final entry in the Whispers of Power series. Thanks to all of you who have gotten involved so far! You’ve made it a great series. Remember: if your caption wins, it will be drawn into the partially finished artwork you see below, and your caption + the below image will become the final artwork, on which you will be listed as an official collaborator! You will also receive, by mail, a print of the final version. Good luck! House of Cards, Season 4, Episode 13, 55:33 Title: Terror Description: “We do not fear terror. We are the terror.” The house of Claire and Frank Underwood appears to collapse, and then they utter these words. This climactic scene that ends the show’s fourth season, and we are left afraid and uncertain. A timely message given that, in today’s political climate, we are also left wondering whether there is anything past fear and … Continue reading

February 19, 2017
by Aesthetics for Birds
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Whispers of Power #14 Winner

Congratulations this week to Jennifer M for her Shakespeare quote! “All the world’s a stage, / And all the men and women merely players.” – Shakespeare, As You Like It (Jennifer: Email us at aestheticsforbirds@gmail.com with your contact information to collect your prize!) House of Cards, Season 4, Episode 2, 11:38 Title: Show and Tell Description: Innocent waves to the crowd turn into something more ominous in this week’s drawing. After more fierce fighting, the Underwoods are back on stage again. They have vowed to fight for the presidency with Frank as President and Claire as VP, a teaming previously unthinkable. Have the rules changed? Have their cards? Next and final piece up tomorrow! Keep tabs on the project and contest at the project website here, or review the project over at the previous post here.

February 6, 2017
by Aesthetics for Birds
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Whispers of Power #14

Announcement: This is the penultimate entry in the Whispers of Power series. Thanks to all of you who have gotten involved so far! You’ve made it a great series. And just a reminder for those of you who have wanted to contribute, but haven’t yet, we will be leaving the remaining contests open for two weeks rather than one. Remember: if your caption wins, it will be drawn into the partially finished artwork you see below, and your caption + the below image will become the final artwork, on which you will be listed as an official collaborator! You will also receive, by mail, a print of the final version. Good luck! House of Cards, Season 4, Episode 2, 11:38 Title: Show and Tell Description: Innocent waves to the crowd turn into something more ominous in this week’s drawing. After more fierce fighting, the Underwoods are back on stage again. They have vowed to fight for the presidency … Continue reading

February 6, 2017
by Aesthetics for Birds
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Whispers of Power #13 Winner

Congratulations this week to Maxine for her George Orwell quote! House of Cards, Season 3, Episode 10, 20:19 “The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.” – George Orwell, Animal Farm Title: Opponent Description: Every hero needs a villain. Viktor Petrov (Lars Mikkelsen) is the gray, cold, Russian counterpart to Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey). The confrontation shown here, with Viktor’s face on the big screen, triggers an instinctive fear and impulse to overcome. In this moment we identify with Frank. The moral line that usually separates us from him evaporates, and we only want to see Viktor fail. Next piece up later today! Keep tabs on the project and contest at the project website here, or review the project over at the previous post here.

January 23, 2017
by Aesthetics for Birds
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Whispers of Power #13

Reminder: The remaining contests will be open for two weeks to allow more time for submissions. Good luck! This week, the US President faces off against the Russian President. One wonders how current US-Russia relations compare… House of Cards, Season 3, Episode 10, 20:19 Title: Opponent Description: Every hero needs a villain. Viktor Petrov (Lars Mikkelsen) is the gray, cold, Russian counterpart to Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey). The confrontation shown here, with Viktor’s face on the big screen, triggers an instinctive fear and impulse to overcome. In this moment we identify with Frank. The moral line that usually separates us from him evaporates, and we only want to see Viktor fail. Readers, please help us by supplying a caption for this image! As a reminder, the winning caption will be hand-drawn into the blank space below the image. The reader who supplies the winning caption will receive a signed print and be named an official collaborator for … Continue reading

January 23, 2017
by Aesthetics for Birds
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Whispers of Power #12 Winner

Congratulations this week to Anonymous for their Shakespeare quote! A conversation between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. House of Cards, Season 4, Episode 2, 11:38 MACBETH: Strange things I have in head, that will to hand; Which must be acted ere they may be scann’d. LADY MACBETH: You lack the season of all natures, sleep. – Shakespeare, Macbeth Title: Opposite Description: Is there ever more distance between two intimates than when they are sitting on opposite sides of a bargaining table? The discomfort between Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) and his wife Claire (Robin Wright) has reached its climax. Their once close relationship has become a mere formality, driven by pure protocol and personal power play. The vertical line down the center of the image divides and separates each into their own space. Is this the end for them? Next piece up tomorrow! Keep tabs on the project and contest at the project website here, or review the project over at … Continue reading

January 9, 2017
by Aesthetics for Birds
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Whispers of Power #12

Announcement: There will be four more entries (including this one) in the Whispers of Power series. Thanks to all of you who have gotten involved so far! You’ve made it a great series. But to allow for more involvement from those of you who have wanted to contribute, but haven’t yet, we will be leaving the remaining contests open for two weeks rather than one. Remember: if your caption wins, it will be drawn into the partially finished artwork you see below, and your caption + the below image will become the final artwork, on which you will be listed as an official collaborator! You will also receive, by mail, a print of the final version. Good luck! House of Cards, Season 4, Episode 2, 11:38 Title: Opposite Description: Is there ever more distance between two intimates than when they are sitting on opposite sides of a bargaining table? The discomfort between Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) and his wife … Continue reading

January 8, 2017
by Aesthetics for Birds
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Whispers of Power #11 Winner

We had a lot of great submissions for this one. It makes it tougher for us, but also more exciting! Congratulations this week to Aron Goossens for his Jim Morrison quote! And honorable mention goes out to JR for a Claude McKay quote. (Aron: Email aestheticsforbirds@gmail.com with contact details for your prize.) House of Cards, Season 3, Episode 7, 46:46 “You can only lose something that you have. You cannot lose something that you are.” – Jim Morrison This Jim Morrison quotes has a couple of great nuances: Can he lose his wife? Should we think of her as “something that [he has]” – or something that has become a part of him? And how much more tragic for him not to be able to lose something that he is, if who he is turns out to be pretty awful. Title: Loneliness Description: The quietest moment in the story is a poetic … Continue reading

December 19, 2016
by Aesthetics for Birds
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Whispers of Power #11

Two special notes this week: 1. It’s the Christmas edition of Whispers of Power! Merry Christmas to readers celebrating the holiday. 2. On a more somber note, our thoughts are with our series artist Jörg Reckhenrich, a Berlin resident, in light of the awful events at the Berlin Christmas Market. House of Cards, Season 3, Episode 7, 46:46 Title: Loneliness Description: The quietest moment in the story is a poetic one. Separated from his wife Claire (Robin Wright), Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) faces true loneliness. In this image, the darkness threateningly creeps up from behind him, as his sole companion and most faithful ally has disappeared. Readers, please help us by supplying a caption for this image! As a reminder, the winning caption will be hand-drawn into the blank space below the image. The reader who supplies the winning caption will receive a signed print and be named an official collaborator for this piece. … Continue reading