Jessica O’Brien
Bio
Poet and visual artist whose work has been recognized for its empathic portrayals of grief and grace.
Stories (2)
Filter by community
Beauty and the Bystander
Aesthetic judgments allow us to define and categorize beauty in a world of indeterminacy and relativity. Aesthetic objects, however, first strike us unconsciously––we are fascinated by the beauty of a snowflake before we realize its delicate symmetry. While initial sensory experience may bring about a pure moment of awe, aesthetic judgment provides a standard by which we can further measure and strive toward the beautiful. Experiences of aesthetic judgment cause us to consider our unique role in the world, and bring about an even more expansive and personal ‘feeling of life’ than that obtained by sensory faculties alone: one that persists throughout time and circumstance. Regardless of truth value, the very action of judging objects provides an individual with a newly reconstructed perspective of herself. In becoming conscious of the relationship between judge and aesthetic object, we are able to regulate this boundary to an extent that is meaningful for us. By exposing and clarifying our relationship with the beautiful, aesthetic judgments provide an avenue for the growth that characterizes life.
By Jessica O’Brien2 years ago in Art
Nathan's Story. Top Story - March 2019.
Nathan’s room was blue, but it isn’t anymore. We used to draw all over his walls—impossible triangles, strange faces, intricate patterns. We’d planned to cover the ceiling, too. We would sing Beatles songs and eat fruit and talk philosophy.
By Jessica O’Brien7 years ago in Humans
