Analysis Of David Hume's Essay 'Of The Standard Of Taste'
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The knob on the stove turns, the gas ignites, and the chef sets the pot down carefully onto the stove. After a swift frenzy of hands fly across the counter, pulling strange powders, he creates the perfect combination. He stumbles back in awe; there is nothing more delicious. He names it; it is his child. It is ballet.
In David Hume’s essay, “Of the Standard of Taste,” he writes about the differing sentiments of people regarding their desirability of certain objects. In the first twelve paragraphs of his essay, Hume differentiates between opinion and taste, stating that the word opinion focuses on a matter of fact; however, taste focuses on the arts. In this essay, Hume discusses the arts in terms of literature and art such as the ballets performed…show more content… Ballet is one such art that is often associated with a dreadful or dull taste. However, ballet is entirely tasteful. Ballet is one of the most popular forms of dance that is watched to this day. Its aesthetics lie in the difficulty and complexity of the body movements required by the ballerina and the ballerino. Hume’s standard of taste can easily be applied to ballet. The standards of ballet should be the same as those of other types of more popular and contemporary dance, such as the whip. Only if one has had real, unprejudiced experience with ballet can that person truly begin to judge it and accurately apply his or her sense of taste on the dance…show more content… The people who hold the expertise to be able to fully appreciate a work of art such as ballet are highly respected. They are usually well educated in the particular field—they have the required delicacy of taste. They are able to spot and enjoy the things that make art appealing. They are good judges of art because they have the delicacy of taste, they have the experience, they have the open mind to appreciate art. Good judges of ballet are those who not only enjoy it, but also understand the art, in all its complexities and intricacies.
Ballet is misunderstood all too often. Thus, it is important to consider why some people think of this style of art so negatively. One must look at it through a lens of taste, and apply Hume’s definition of the word to the eternally fantastic dance form. In fact, it is essential to do so, as it is imperative for one to understand where the true aesthetics and moral significance of ballet lies, and why it is so dearly loved. It is important to evaluate ballet in the eyes of Hume’s definition of taste, and to realize that those who appreciate ballet have a good sense of