In Defining 'Aesthetics' for Non-Western Studies: The Case of Mesopotamia, Winter (2002) argues that the Western view of 'aesthetics' has hindered the way in which Ancient works of art are interpreted and understood. More specifically, Winter (2002) argued that Mesopotamian culture must be examined before defining what was considered aesthetic at the time of its creation. Although the Mesopotamian languages ​​did not include a word for "aesthetics" or "art", nor were there any texts explaining artistic theories, Winter's thesis stated that this did not mean it did not exist in Mesopotamian society, but that "aesthetics" was simply seen differently than it is in modern Western cultures. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay One of the main arguments in favor of Winter's thesis is the fact that the term "aesthetics" was not coined until 1735 by A.G. Baumgarten (Winter, 2002). After the creation of the term "aesthetics", the word began to be better defined; over time, “aesthetics” began to include some aspects of the fine arts alone, such as painting, sculpture, architecture, etc. (Winter, 2002). Furthermore, aesthetics began to be another term for “beauty,” which shaped the way art was viewed and appreciated (Winter, 2002). That said, aesthetics became a definition used only to describe certain things created in a way that utilized beauty. However, this understanding and definition of aesthetics was non-existent in the Mesopotamian period; How could “aesthetics” and “art” be explained in the text if no term was assigned for this concept? Winter explained that, although there was no written word to describe it, the aesthetic sense in Mesopotamian art was expressed in a variety of other ways. One way Winter (2002) described the ability to determine the aesthetics of Mesopotamian art is to consider culture, context, and other surrounding variables. Mesopotamian culture must be examined when considering the “aesthetic” value of works of art, which involves examining art differently than we do in modern Western culture. For example, the emotional response provoked by specific works of art can provide information about their value and importance during the Mesopotamian period. Likewise, the environment for which a work of art was created can explain a lot about its meaning; the art used in temples and “divine” places suggests great importance and dignity. Because the pre-modern culture of Mesopotamia was very different from that of today, it is essential to consider all aspects of how it operated and existed. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Customize essayAll in all, I believe Winter (2002) was successful with his argument. Cultural norms vary greatly depending on where (and when) the culture resides. Winter argued that the Western way of viewing art must be avoided when examining Mesopotamian artworks, because the understanding of “aesthetics” was not the same as today. By adopting a new perspective on pre-modern objects, such as works of art, we can begin to understand them more accurately and have a better sense of meaning..