Lately, the phrase “it's a matter of aesthetics” has been written very often by the authoritative pen of Mayor, mainly on Facebook. That is why I find myself in the unpleasant position of answering questions from fellow citizens who ask me about this, because they think I might have an answer to the dogma that is widely held .
To clarify my position from the outset, It would be incorrect to confuse aesthetics with the “pumpkin pie” of the well-known phrase “To each his own.”.
Aesthetics, and forgive me those who are familiar with the subject, as it begins with the thinking of Baumgarten or Kant, It concerns the cognitive abilities of the individual and their inner world.
Fortunately, Kythirian scientists include Professor at the University of Athens, Ath. Glykofrydi-Leontsini, and I am sure that her books on this very subject will be found in Municipal Library available to anyone interested so that everyone can learn more about the mayor's opinion.
However, I believe that the Socratic view of beauty (the “kalon”), which, according to the great teacher, must necessarily coincide with the “agathon” (the good). They must constitute the other side of the beneficial. That is my opinion, and probably closer to the answer they expect from me.
So, the issue under consideration is good, it is beneficial, and on the other hand, is it useful?;
I would never express an opinion on the work of a colleague, let alone publicly, and even less so on the work of people I respect.
However, I can express an opinion on the process, with the minimal authority that my master's thesis on communication through images and my considerable professional involvement in advertising can give me.
The process of sorting through and selecting from various proposals (when and where aesthetics are a consideration) is the first step in every order. .
And in this choice – selection through discussion – the optimal solution emerges, even if someone's opinion, for various reasons, carries more weight.
It is always in everyone's interest to exchange views. Above all, it is in the interest of the creator who is called upon to fulfill the order.
The process of ”order acceptance” by the customer prior to publication is also important. These things happen always and everywhere.
However, regarding the process, and as a citizen who is moderately involved in public affairs, I cannot help but wonder about the circumvention of rules, about the How is it possible to call democratic processes democratic when they effectively exclude dialogue?. How is it possible to consider the transfer of voting rights and signatures as democracy, how is it possible to call white black, (because the appeal by the entire opposition to the decentralized administration was not upheld, as the mayor celebrated on Facebook, but due to workload, the issue exceeded the time limit and was quietly rejected, i.e., without discussion). Unfortunately, the «Ludovico» practices in our municipality are accepted by the municipal majority. In short, the meaning of words has changed, and this obviously produces aesthetics.
In history, both recent and ancient, there are plenty of similar examples.
And because in this blatant violation of every concept of dialogue and democracy that occurs in our municipality, with various pretexts depending on the case, I have noticed that the phrase “the majority of the people of Kythira voted” is used in a condescending manner, as an «irrefutable» and «brilliant» argument.
Let me remind you, with all due humility, that the majority of the people of Kythira, namely 51% to be precise, did NOT elect or vote for the mayor's ruling party.
This would have happened if he had been elected on the first Sunday of the elections, which did not happen.
The people “chose” him as the best solution to govern in the second repeat election. and that's different.
This fact alone should prompt a different approach, a different way of making decisions, one that is in line with the modern concept of democracy, rather than constantly resorting to Facebook and aesthetic issues, i.e., pumpkin pie.
Manolis Charos
Visual artist
Kythira 4/2021
