BS: How subjective can esthetics be?

Subject: BS: How subjective can esthetics be?
From: frogprince
Date: 16 May 08 - 11:53 AM

I guess the simple answer would be "completely". My wife and I took our usual morning walk to the Tim Horton's just over a mile away. We sat down with a couple of folks we know. The ongoing conversation was
about favorite old cars. This dear lady announced her conviction that the 1958 Thunderbird was one of the most beautiful cars ever. I blinked a little. She then went on to say that the '57 Thunderbird was ugly . At that point I about laughed my butt off; our tastes couldn't have been more diametrically opposed.

So, which one of us is crazy? And, just for fun, what instance have you encountered lately in which an otherwise supposedly sane person made an esthetic evaluation that you found hard to comprehend?

Subject: RE: BS: How subjective can esthetics be?
From: pdq
Date: 16 May 08 - 12:00 PM

Talk to sveral people about Chrysler's "P. T. Cruiser" or Honda's "Element". Both current production vehicles, as far as I know. See how many say "cute" and how many say "I wouldn't be caught dead in that ugly..." about the same car.

Subject: RE: BS: How subjective can esthetics be?
From: Bill D
Date: 16 May 08 - 12:03 PM

I don't know about lately, but some guy years ago tried to promote an OBJECTIVE esthetic rating system for nature! His objective was to establish a way to protect parks & such by giving 'points' to various attractions...flowing water, tall trees, trails, wildlife..etc. Needless to say, it never got any support.
He failed to comprehend that all he was doing was pretending subjective was objective.

Subject: RE: BS: How subjective can esthetics be?
From: Bill D
Date: 16 May 08 - 12:06 PM

...and of course, the example has been with us for years of Hugh Hefner's notion of what constitutes 'beauty' in women. Blonde, busty, and dressed in strange little costumes.

Subject: RE: BS: How subjective can esthetics be?
From: Wesley S
Date: 16 May 08 - 12:26 PM

Frogprince - Yes you are correct. The 57 was the superior car. If your friend doesn't see that then she should be pitied. Let's hope she has other redeeming qualities.

I have similar problems when someone talks about their great Taylor guitar. Many fine musicians play them but Taylors do nothing for me. I guess that's my 58 T-Bird.

Subject: RE: BS: How subjective can esthetics be?
From: Newport Boy
Date: 16 May 08 - 12:54 PM

I don't know about Thunderbirds, but about 1970 Ford introduced a new range in the UK. I was working on a site with 2 contractors - Wimpey on the roadworks and Fairclough on the bridges.

Fairclough's project manager received his new Ford, and we were invited to admire it.

After a few minutes examination he asked what we thought. Wimpey's PM said "If you bring it to the plant yard this afternoon, we'll fit the blade"

We were definitely in a 2 to 1 situation.

Phil

Subject: RE: BS: How subjective can esthetics be?
From: Amos
Date: 16 May 08 - 01:23 PM

Goodness, badness, beauty and uglitude have no basis other than opinion, of this I am sure. Opinions are like skin-pore openings. Everyone has several million of them.


A

Subject: RE: BS: How subjective can esthetics be?
From: Ebbie
Date: 16 May 08 - 03:36 PM

I call my friend's Element a 'Barbie Car' but I've grown to appreciate it. It has a number of excellent features I have never seen in another vehicle.

Subject: RE: BS: How subjective can esthetics be?
From: MMario
Date: 16 May 08 - 03:48 PM

There may be some facets of esthetics that are hard-wired in the human brain - but I'll bet they are not only hard to determine but also not 100%

Subject: RE: BS: How subjective can esthetics be?
From: Don Firth
Date: 16 May 08 - 04:23 PM

Beauty is as beauty does?

Don Firth

P. S. I recall some years back seeing a woman in a restaurant whom I thought was about the most beautiful and attractive woman I'd ever seen.

Then she opened her mouth!

Subject: RE: BS: How subjective can esthetics be?
From: gnu
Date: 16 May 08 - 05:18 PM

Bill D... "...and of course, the example has been with us for years of Hugh Hefner's notion of what constitutes 'beauty' in women. Blonde, busty, and dressed in strange little costumes."

I agree. When I was a young man, I hated those little costumes.

Subject: RE: BS: How subjective can esthetics be?
From: Bill D
Date: 16 May 08 - 05:27 PM

When I was young, ANY images of semi-nude females were fascinating..*grin*..so I would look thru "Playboy" when I had a chance. Then, about 40 years ago, a friend took me to the Playboy Club in Kansas City. One look at those poor girls 'in the flesh', being uncomfortable in waist-cinchers and with thick make-up and stupid shoes cured me almost on the spot of THAT image!

Subject: RE: BS: How subjective can esthetics be?
From: GUEST,Edt T
Date: 16 May 08 - 07:24 PM

Kucky for us that beauty is judged differently by different folks.
It keeps us from crashing our heads together moving for the same target.

Subject: RE: BS: How subjective can esthetics be?
From: GUEST,Ed.T
Date: 16 May 08 - 07:26 PM

Kucky?
My kids call all pre 2000 cars as car-cars.
They look like Dinosaurs to them.

Subject: RE: BS: How subjective can esthetics be?
From: pdq
Date: 16 May 08 - 07:35 PM

I have a 1988 Dodge pickup truck for handyman chores, mostly.

When I see a 1993 or later model, I say "that looks like a tadpole pouting". They have a little puckered face.

Old and boxy is a real pickup. Anything that don't look good lowered is OK, too.

Subject: RE: BS: How subjective can esthetics be?
From: Bill D
Date: 16 May 08 - 07:43 PM

Ed T...show the kids some of THESE!

Subject: RE: BS: How subjective can esthetics be?
From: Don Firth
Date: 16 May 08 - 08:25 PM

I was out roaming around the neighborhood yesterday afternoon when I saw one of these critters zippin' down the street. Both driver and passenger were lookin' real smug.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: How subjective can esthetics be?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 May 08 - 10:11 PM

Smug as long as all you went out for was the equivalent of two sacks of groceries. Those things cost a small fortune. I read a comparison a while back between that Smart Car and some of the little Japanese/American models. By the time you look at the price difference and the fuel savings, the home made cars are a better buy and they can carry more stuff and passengers.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: How subjective can esthetics be?
From: frogprince
Date: 17 May 08 - 10:02 AM

A few years ago, I came across a comment in some article on automotive styling to the effect that the taillight arrangement on THIS rear end constituted exceptionally good styling. What's your reaction to it? (I know what mine has always been).

Subject: RE: BS: How subjective can esthetics be?
From: GUEST,don
Date: 17 May 08 - 10:08 AM

Buckminster Fuller had it right

the tear drop shape is the most aerodynamic sllcik shape on Earth.

cars today only hint at it.

as for aesthetics, there are fewer asymetric shapes we all like, unless they are fractal, compared to bi lateral symetry.

Subject: RE: BS: How subjective can esthetics be?
From: frogprince
Date: 17 May 08 - 10:23 AM

I was never aware of this vwesion of the '60 Edsel until a few months ago. To me, you can't get much further down in the barrel than the styling of that rear end.

Subject: RE: BS: How subjective can esthetics be?
From: frogprince
Date: 17 May 08 - 10:25 AM

To re-emphasize; I think the styling of that Edsel wagon is as confused as my spelling of "vwesion".

Subject: RE: BS: How subjective can esthetics be?
From: pdq
Date: 17 May 08 - 10:29 AM

The Edsel had a few problems in the style department, but the real problem was the name. Nobody wanted to say "I just bought a new Edsel".