MEANING

I found this month's Millpond theme of 'meaning' dovetailed nicely with research I'm doing ahead of the new academic year starting in September.

That research concerns ideas around the use of aesthetics in art - whether it is the aesthetic quality of a piece of art that makes our heart sing and our response to its beauty is the endgame - or whether its aesthetic appeal is just a visual gateway to the meaningful intent contained within the work - or the possibility that both of those things can apply simultaneously - or none of the above!

I don't have a clear point of view on it yet, and am beginning to suspect this may (appropriately) turn out to be the work of several years to come, the thought of which is both exciting and daunting. But more than that, I intuitively feel this research could be just one building block of a familiar wider search for meaning and truth, in which I want to better understand creativity's place. 

Above all else, the research feels meaningful to me at a visceral level in a way I didn't expect, and find quite moving to experience.

And, as per some of the points Kerry makes in this month's MIllpond issue, I've arrived at this bigger picture sense of meaning from a series of small exercises in pursuing what interests me - a gentle bottom-up exercise in building and sustaining meaning in my life, rather than the more prevalent digital age, shouty top-down approach of headlines and drama.  

Right, enough, back to the books!

Jem