A Table for…

“My comments thus far have been intended to free the aesthetic from the province of the arts alone and to recognize its presence in all human formative activity” (Eisner, 1985: 28)

As I read Eisner’s article last week, with last week’s prompt at the fore, my mind kept drifting to the dining room. I envisioned the ordinary with pots plopped down on the table straight from the stove, a mismatched set of silverware sidled up next to a sorry set of dishes, and cups and glasses of all kinds capping off each tough-looking table setting. While homey, perhaps, and certainly not a hindrance to hospitality, this arrangement would not be considered aesthetic by any stretch of the imagination.

How would the eating experience be different if the food was served up in matching dishes designed to adorn the table center? What if the conforming cutlery cascaded down from the top of the plate to the table’s edge in a flowing fashion like that of water? What if the plates and bowls, bound together by a beautiful border, brightened the table and somehow subconsciously bolstered the flavor of the food? What if crystal cones and cylinders containing cool, refreshing drinks sparkled as a synchronized set? Is this something reserved only for royalty? Or, can the regular Joe relish these aesthetic amenities?

As I thought about this masterpiece before the meal, my mind marveled at how the mundane can be made marvelous. What a surprise I experienced when Eisner noted a similar scene. “The need for coherence… manifests itself in all walks of life from the setting of a table to our social interactions. The exquisite creation of either is a very high aesthetic achievement.” Eisner goes on to say, “The aesthetic, then, is motivated by our need to lead a stimulating life” (Eisner, 1985: 30). Does this mean that if we set the table more aesthetically the food will taste better, the conversation will be more captivating, and the meal will be more memorable overall? Does this mean that, while satisfied with sustenance, we search for the zest and the salt and sparkle?

How does this connect to the classroom? How do we create coherence?

To be continued…

(My train of thought was interrupted... I need to return to this at a later time)