Aesthetics
Art Beauty and Creativity
The book is an attempt, among other things, to bring together Indian and Western theories of art, and engage them in a constructive debate with one another. In recent philosophical thinking about art, it has been suggested that the concept of art is a local institutional concept. It is institutions located within a culture that determine-so the argument goes- whether and whether it is good or bad art. While this may be true ofthe concept of art, as it taken the shape in modern west, there is, surely, a larger, more global concept of art which links it with our concern, the beauty,which is common to all mankind.The book is an attempt, among other things, to bring together Indian and Western theories of art, and engage them in a constructive debate with one another. In recent philosophical thinking about art, it has been suggested that the concept of art is a local institutional concept. It is institutions located within a culture that determine-so the argument goes- whether and whether it is good or bad art. While this may be true ofthe concept of art, as it taken the shape in modern west, there is, surely, a larger, more global concept of art which links it with our concern, the beauty,which is common to all mankind.
Foundations of Indian Aesthetics
Rasa in Aesthetics
The Indian tradition of criticism is over two millennia. And its rasa theory has, from the begining, essentially influenced authors, connoisseurs and art critics alike. First expounded sometime between the 1st century BC and the 4th century AD in the eminet aesthetician, Bharata's Natyasastra, rasa theory deals with the 'emotive content' of a work of art- how it is depicted, inferred and transmitted. Dr. Patnaik's book is a unique effort that demonstrates, with diverse examples, the universality of this ancient theory and its applicability to modern Western classics.