A Monumental Reckoning
A conversation with Dr. Jack Simmons
Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy concerned with principles of beauty and artistic taste. Public art reflects not just how we see our communities and the world but also who we are. So what should we make of statues and other monuments, such as Mount Rushmore or Confederate memorials, still rooted around us today? What messages do these monuments convey, and who is the “public” revealed in their mirrors? What communal dialogue and processes are needed to understand and enhance art that is public? Philosophy professor Jack Simmons joins Leigh E. Rich in a discussion of aesthetics and ethics … and what we should do with the symbols that speak — whether honestly — about our past.
(Photo © FreeImages.com/Ania K)
To skip the intro, fast forward to the 2:15 mark.
