The Relationship between Aesthetics and Anthropology

Zahra’ Abdul-Baqi Abdul-Wahid

Summary
The relationship between aesthetics and anthropology dates back to ancient Greece. It has taken various forms. Some considered it merely a social phenomenon, placing art in the service of the public, while others believed that artistic activity was simply a luxury. There were also those who combined these perspectives, as well as those who linked art with ethics, and some who advocated "art for art›s sake." It must be stated that the relationship between art, social classes, and the function of art—whether effective or ineffective—emerged as a result of the simultaneous development of societies and the arts. In this study, through a descriptive and analytical approach, we sought to clarify the relationship between anthropology and aesthetics. We began by discussing the concepts of aesthetics and anthropology, discussing the connection between beauty and anthropology, and examining the views of early aesthetic sociologists, whose perspectives were shaped by the influence of social and natural factors. We then explored the functions of art in society, questioning whether there is a connection between anthropology and beauty according to the views of the philosopher and social thinker Émile Durkheim and the philosopher Charles Lalo. Finally, we concluded that art is not detached from its social responsibility and cannot be imagined as disconnected from society, whether in terms of its subject matter or its purpose. Art is, in essence, a genuine expression of the human spirit.

Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)