The Function of Beauty: A Transdisciplinary Conference

“Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.”

— Khalil Gibran

Conference Dates: April 24-25, 2025
Location:

Day 1-Pembroke Lodge (Richmond Park, London) / Online (Hybrid Format)

Day 2- Online only
Abstract Submission Deadline: March 1, 2025
Cost: 180 GBP (in person)
100 GBP (Online)

Conference Webpage: https://labrc.co.uk/2025/01/10/the-function-of-beauty/

What is the role of beauty in our lives, and how does it shape our world? What can it teach us, and what does it offer? Fyodor Dostoevsky famously declared that “beauty will save the world,” while Plato observed that “in the presence of beauty, we are moved to contemplate the divine.” From ancient philosophers to contemporary thinkers, beauty has been celebrated, debated, and reimagined across cultures, disciplines, and eras. It has been examined through various lenses, including philosophy, psychology, sociology, politics, the arts, the sciences, spirituality, and both historical and contemporary cultures.

This conference invites scholars, creatives, and practitioners to explore the function of beauty from diverse interdisciplinary perspectives, examining its impact on art, society, science, the environment, and beyond. We welcome proposals for 15-minute presentations, panel discussions, creative works, and workshops. Topics may include, but are not limited to:

Philosophical and Theoretical Perspectives

1. The Purpose of Beauty: A Philosophical Inquiry
   Exploring aesthetic theories from classical to postmodern thought.
2. The Ethics of Beauty
   How beauty shapes moral and ethical values in society.
3. The Sublime and the Beautiful
   Revisiting historical distinctions and their relevance today.

Psychological and Cognitive Approaches

4. The Psychology of Beauty
   Investigating how beauty impacts mental well-being and emotional states.
5. Cognitive Mechanisms of Aesthetic Appreciation
   How the brain perceives and processes beauty.
6. Beauty and the Uncanny
   The interplay between attraction and unease in aesthetics.

Sociocultural and Political Dimensions

7. Beauty as Power
   Examining beauty’s role in societal hierarchies, privilege, and influence.
8. Cultural Constructs of Beauty
   How different societies define and value beauty.
9. The Politics of Beauty
   Investigating beauty standards, inclusivity, and their societal impact.

Artistic and Creative Interpretations

10. The Role of Beauty in Art
    Historical and contemporary uses of beauty in artistic practice.
11. Beauty in the Avant-Garde
    Challenging traditional notions of beauty through experimental art.
12. Beauty and the Everyday
    Finding beauty in ordinary, mundane, or overlooked aspects of life.

Scientific and Technological Angles

13. The Biology of Beauty
    Evolutionary theories of beauty and attraction.
14. Beauty in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
    How AI and machine learning create and define beauty.
15. Mathematics of Beauty
    Exploring symmetry, the Golden Ratio, and patterns in natural and human-made forms.

Environmental and Ecological Connections

16. Ecological Beauty
    The relationship between aesthetics and environmental conservation.
17. Beauty in Chaos
    Exploring fractals, natural disasters, and the paradox of beauty in destruction.
18. Sustainable Beauty
    Aesthetics in design and architecture promoting sustainability.

Literary and Cultural Studies

19. Beauty and Narrative
    The role of beauty in storytelling, mythology, and literature.
20. Beauty in Popular Culture
    How media and entertainment shape and reflect societal aesthetics.
21. The Ugly Beautiful
    Contradictions in beauty, grotesque aesthetics, and their cultural significance.

Health, Wellness, and Spirituality

22. Healing through Beauty
    The therapeutic role of beauty in art therapy, nature therapy, and holistic wellness.
23. Beauty and Sacred Spaces
    Exploring spiritual connections to beauty in architecture, ritual, and art.

Contemporary Challenges and Debates

24. The Commodification of Beauty
    Critiques of beauty industries and consumer culture.
25. Digital Beauty
    The impact of social media and digital tools on perceptions of beauty.
26. The Future of Beauty
    Speculating on evolving definitions and values of beauty in the Anthropocene.

Submission Guidelines:

• Please submit a 250-word abstract along with a short bio on the form below by March 1, 2025: https://forms.gle/2AAPUmnk4SPZv67f8

• For inquiries or further information, please contact us on conferences@labrc.co.uk (kindly allow at least 2-3 days response time)

            We look forward to your participation!