Zeng Yike Bourdieu Kant: The Right of Aesthetic Criticism

Why is a pop culture icon like Zeng Yike discussed together with philosophical masters like Bourdieu and Kant?

I wonder if anyone has noticed? When judging and speaking out about popular culture, it is almost difficult for us to form a first-class knowledge, even within a very limited scope.

A small debate came up almost casually: Is the mistake Zeng Yike made in the airport security incident worth being banned?

Is it wrong for Wang Yuan to smoke?

Is it wrong for a talk show actor to make jokes about idols smoking?

There is no doubt that the law has legal boundaries, and those who violate the law will be severely punished. But what about the boundaries of public power and discourse discussion? It's hard to tell. There are rules and feelings.

Most of us block him or her because we hate him or her. Until scrutiny and criticism come to your own territory.

One of Zeng Yike’s recent hot searches that made me think about it is: #泽伊克questions the recruitment standards of the program team#, a variety show "The Girl Is Afraid of Darkness" produced by Goose Factory.

"I feel that from the very beginning until now, I feel inexplicable, where did you find this audience?"

"You can find the audience, but you must Audiences who understand music, what is the mission of the program, establish the aesthetics of music, and lead China's darkness and Chinese music to a better place."

I think it's very good. Please note that a logic that runs through daily work and life is: users are the biggest, and users have the most say. Whether it is art or consumer goods, what is your creative motivation and what is your derivation logic? In the end, it cannot be compared to one sentence: I am a real user. I think what you said is wrong.

This eliminates the existence of aesthetic standards in every industry. It removes the bottom line of professionalism. Therefore, there are a large number of TikTok songs made with routine chords and apps, and there are a large number of brainwashing advertisements that make people uncomfortable but claim to have insight into big data of human nature. Among those who hold decision-making power, they are low, but effective. Because users pay for it.

Zeng Yike instinctively put forward the professional requirements of the communication objects. Not everyone can appreciate art, even pop music.

Kant defined what is beauty in his philosophical world of truth, goodness and beauty.

Beauty is logical purposelessness.

Beauty itself does not consider good or evil, true or not.

You cannot say that a documentary is extremely real, so its artistic value must be high.

You can't deny a person's artistry by saying he has obvious shortcomings. For example, Yu Dafu’s morbid aesthetics.

This is the philosophical basis of modern aesthetics.

Return to contemporary life.

Bourdieu believes that aesthetic taste is not just aesthetics, aesthetic taste is not purposeless, and aesthetic taste is a class distinction. It is through specific aesthetic tastes to distinguish what class I am.

For example, a friend posted a picture of a National Day picnic in Moments, and someone pointed out that the tablecloths and chairs he used were from a niche artist brand in Japan. What was the purpose of him and the person who pointed it out? Both: we are a class category beyond simple rich people. We are the middle class and urban elite.

You go to Starbucks not only because it is a third space, but also because it reflects your aesthetic taste.

Therefore, my conclusion is: what you watch, listen, eat, and use all determines your aesthetic taste. Aesthetics is technical and has high and low distinctions, and aesthetics is modern life with a purpose. When you happily spend the National Day watching short videos, your brain secretes dopamine to tell you that you are happy, but your aesthetic taste will remind you that you are not just a leek under the big data algorithm. Capital can decide who the draft champion is, but capital is not responsible for the art and aesthetics of the era.