Erbil, Wednesday (May 6, 2026)
Today, Dr. Vinos Ismail Bakr delivered a scientific seminar entitled “Aesthetic Experience in the Philosophy of John Dewey”, shedding light on one of the most significant sources in the philosophy of art, namely Dewey’s book **, which explores the fundamental transformations of the concept of beauty in everyday life.
The seminar examined in detail the modern perspectives of , the American philosopher who initiated a major shift in the field of aesthetics. It was highlighted that Dewey connected art to the framework of everyday life and viewed it as a tool for the development of democracy and social awareness, rather than as something isolated and confined to museums.
The seminar also emphasized that, according to Dewey, the “aesthetic experience” is a living process that emerges through the interaction between human beings and their environment. In this context, the recipient is not merely a silent observer, but an essential participant in the recreation of the artwork, as artistic pleasure is achieved through the fusion of emotion, feeling, and the peak of understanding.
In another part of the seminar, practical examples of the application of this philosophy in contemporary art were presented, including the works of and . It was discussed how performance art and physical movement become a visible discourse for Dewey’s philosophy, where the boundaries between artist and audience disappear, and the experience becomes a direct and collective process.
The seminar concluded by reaffirming that, in Dewey’s philosophy, the recipient is not simply a viewer, but an active participant in the creation of aesthetic meaning. Artistic reception itself, according to him, is a living experience that transforms the recipient and develops both artistic awareness and aesthetic appreciation.
