Is there anything that is or can be universal in aesthetics, beyond barriers of culture, custom, nationality, education and training, wealth and poverty, religion, and other human differences? At least tentatively the answer seems to be yes.
Either coming from God in creation, or arising by the process of naturalistic evolution—take your pick as to which of those you think is correct—some universal characteristics seem to be shared by all humans. Some scenes and motifs—some examples are mother with child; hero overcoming adversity and succeeding—appeal nearly universally, as do certain musical intervals and harmonies.
What makes fashionistas willing to pay a small fortune for a particular designer accessory -- a luxe handbag, for example?
Why is it that people all over the world share the conviction that a special occasion only becomes really special when a champagne cork pops - and even more special when that cork comes from a bottle of Dom Perignon?
Why are diamonds the status symbol gemstone, instantly signifying wealth, power, and even emotional commitment?
And... how Europe invented and set the standards of High-Fashion, Fine-Food, Chic-Cafes, Style, Sophistication, and Glamour that rule our lives nowadays?
The fundamental principle governing arts & aesthetics is not mimesis but the pursuit of sensuous perfection, then it amounts to nothing less than obeying the oracular injunction “Know thyself!”
A central tenet of artistic creation is the dichotomy between the desire to be universal yet, at the same time, individual and unique. It is a polarity which as well mirrors the human condition. The artist is constantly striving towards expressing and integrating these two aspects to achieve a workable and intriguing balance. As Albert Einstein wrote: “Universality is a part of real greatness.”
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