In the movie Titanic, the villainous Cal suggests that Jack’s drawing of Rose will be more valuable the following morning, when Jack will be dead! Do we sometimes see things as more beautiful because they are worth a lot of money or because other people say those things are beautiful? Photo. By F.G.O. Stuart (1843-1923) [Public domain], via Wikimedia CommonsSome people claim that we often start to see something as beautiful after we realise that it is worth a lot of money. People also claim that we sometimes see things as beautiful because other people say those things are beautiful. How about other art forms, such as music. Do you start to appreciate music because a band or musician is considered “famous” or “popular” by the people around you?
In the story of The Emperor’s new clothes, everyone agrees that the Emperor is wearing wonderful clothes because other people say he is. Finally, it takes a little child to point out that the Emperor isn’t wearing clothes at all! Photo. By Vilhelm Pedersen (1820 – 1859) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
