What is beauty?

A talk and discussion led by Barry Newman. All welcome — free entry. A small donation of around £3.00 is appreciated but not obligatory. Join us for a drink in the bar afterwards.

We all experience and seek out beauty — in nature, people, music, the colour of walls in your home, a plate of food — in fact in every aspect of life — however trivial. But what actually is this quality that we call beauty? Is it a universal that we can all agree on, or just personal taste? Why does it seem so important to us and why do we often disagree about it? In this discussion we’ll explore beauty from many directions, looking at how it affects us and our choices.

This event isn’t just for art lovers or academics (though they are welcome) — it’s for anyone who’s ever been struck by a sunset, a song, a fashion, a face, a picture, a building, or a shop window. Why does beauty catch our attention? What draws us in? Why do some things seem beautiful to one person but leave another cold? Come along and share your views — whether you simply enjoy beauty or find yourself asking deeper and more philosophical questions.

Barry is a member of our committee and he’s given us a number of informative and thought provoking talks in the past.