Beauty in HP (WAS: THEORY: Hogwarts curriculum)

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 112621

<Lotsa snips>
Kneasy wrote:
>>> Oh - has anyone come across anything described as 'beautiful' in 
the books? Can't recall it myself. A society with no concept of 
beauty - how primitive can you get?

It's a very pragmatic society, probably deliberately so, seemingly
concerned with the business of everyday affairs, totally uninterested
in what might loosely be described as cultural matters.<<<
 
 
SSSusan:
<more snips>
>> So hopefully that helps explain my take on the search for a 
reference to Beauty in the books.  I'll grant Potioncat's point that 
we get Harry's perspective, primarily, so it could be that it's at 
Hogwarts, fully established in the curriculum, along w/ routine 
discussions of morality & ethics but that it's simply not noted by 
our Harry.  After all, we don't hear about brushing teeth or taking 
showers, either, and presumably that's happening. :-)  In this case, 
though, as opposed to the tooth-brushing, I think these "non-
pragmatic" parts of education just really AREN'T dealt with much at 
Hogwarts.  Being a liberal arts kinda gal, I think that's a bit 
sad.<<

Kneasy again: 
> Yup; you've got my intended meaning.
> Many everyday things can be described as beautiful (though not many
> really justify the adjective) but what I'm on about is the study 
> and appreciation of beauty, particularly in man-made (cultural) 
> items - aesthetics, in essence.
> 
> There are no beautiful paintings, statues, prose, poetry, 
> buildings - in fact no concept or even acknowledgement of even its 
> lesser forms - design, style, fashion (except Ron's hatred of his 
> dress robes) - nothing that indicates that the WW has any taste at 
> all. 
> They're a bunch of barbarians.


SSSusan:
[Snort!]  Barbarians, indeed. :-)  You know, in thinking this over, 
I think Snape's speech about potions at the start of first year came 
as close as anything to a present-if-subtle message about Beauty.  I 
can't recall anything else from a class which came closer.

As to Potioncat's question a bit ago about electives, no, I don't 
know what kind are offered, if any, except that Muggle Studies is 
clearly optional.  And actually, I wasn't thinking of a separate 
class or classes at all--though Art Appreciation or Wizard Theatre 
might be nice!--but more about these themes of aesthetics, ethics, 
and moral consideration being INCORPORATED INTO those classes they 
all do take:  Potions, DADA, Transfiguration, History of Magic.  

Sometimes things are learned best when a separate course, yes, but 
sometimes the concepts are more easily grasped & applied when they 
arise from a discussion of some specific content such as "What 
happened to bring about the Goblin Rebellions?" or "Why are THESE 
things considered Unforgiveables but not THESE things?"

Am I making any sense?

Siriusly Snapey Susan