We asked five scholars to reflect on, analyze, and think through "Cowboy Carter". Here's what they said. aestheticsforbirds.com/2024/04/18/fiv…

Artistic images pose a special problem for alt text*: How can you describe a visual artwork in <150 characters?? We offer some best practices. *the textual description of online images that blind and visually impaired readers use aestheticsforbirds.com/2024/05/02/how…

"As much as I like Adult Swim’s original programming, a nice chunk of it is kinda bad." Film scholar @GianniBarchiesi looks at the chaotic pointlessness of the show "Frisky Dingo" and explains how it changes our grasp of the nature of storytelling. aestheticsforbirds.com/2024/05/09/emb…

Tiki bar thoughts: "Yum!" "So fun!" "Um, how is this still a thing?" aestheticsforbirds.com/2024/05/17/tik…

In a never-before-seen handwritten letter, Quine explains what philosophy means to him. Plus, some cool outtakes from his portrait session with Steve Pyke. aestheticsforbirds.com/2024/05/27/qui…

UK media scholar James MacDowell (J MacD) - a YouTuber himself! - argues that the literary category of #autofiction is important for understanding personal narrative stories on YouTube - including the very influential videos by Natalie Wynn. aestheticsforbirds.com/2024/05/30/you…

Thrilled to have this short piece about autofiction, YouTube & Natalie Wynn published on the great Aesthetics for Birds site. A video essay will follow soon. (Also, this is the first time anyone has referred to me as a "YouTuber" myself; it feels like I'm stealing valor somehow!)

CFP for people in AI and art: ANU and Yale are hosting a two-day workshop on normative philosophy of computing (Sept 27-28, 2024). Moral/legal/political philosophy & aesthetics focused on AI, digital platforms, search engines, algorithmic management etc. philevents.org/event/show/124…

A different take on Season 3 of The Bear: it's continuous with the rest of the show's examination of craftsmanship and hospitality. Review and discussion by philosopher Errol Lord Errol Lord #THEBEAR aestheticsforbirds.com/2024/07/26/the…

I wrote about The Bear for Aesthetics for Birds

Call for Abstracts! 90s Alternative and Philosophy: Thinking Outside the Heart-Shaped Box Edited by Joshua Heter and Richard Greene, to be published with McFarland and Co. Publishers Inc. #CFA #Philosophy #AltRock philevents.org/event/show/125…

"The ballet Concerto Barocco, set to Johann Sebastian Bach's Double Violin Concerto, illustrates Balanchine’s comment that 'dancing is music made visible'." Univ of Notre Dame philosopher Barbara Montero talks about ballet aestheticsforbirds.com/2024/09/12/bar…

In an extensive and wide-ranging interview, the renowned philosopher portraitist Steve Pyke shares never-seen portraits, reminisces about his philosophers, and teases a third series! aestheticsforbirds.com/2024/09/24/ste…

Haus der Kunst ("House of Art") was erected by Hitler under Nazi Germany. Post-war, it was turned into a venue for modern and contemporary art, including figures like Ai Weiwei and Louise Bourgeois. Philosopher Gwen Bradford reflects. aestheticsforbirds.com/2024/11/07/gwe…

One of the most significant aesthetic experiences of my life - I wrote 100 words about it here:

Spotify and its bizarre, hyper-specific genres are rewriting how we understand music. Why? And should we bother fighting back? aestheticsforbirds.com/2024/12/10/how…

One popular feminist approach to inclusive media is simple. Add more female characters. But one overlooked genre capitalizes on an unintuitive route: creative works made primarily for women and primarily by women, but with no women in them. by Helen Han Wei Luo (罗晗蔚) aestheticsforbirds.com/2025/02/20/ret…

"We inhabit a cultural moment where sexual libertinism is fast becoming the norm. ... Anora tells a story about sex that challenges the character of our current sexual climate." by Dr. Connor K. Kianpour aestheticsforbirds.com/2025/02/27/osc…

Check out my latest piece on Aesthetics for Birds!

First the Palme d'Or, now a pile of Oscars - including Best Pic! Wondering why there's all that buzz about Anora? A philosopher does a deep dive in this essay. #Oscars #Oscars2025 #Cannes #Anora #AnoraMovie #anorasweep aestheticsforbirds.com/2025/02/27/osc…