Is beauty a matter of form, or content?

Since we discussed this very question in last week's seminars, and since we'll almost certainly return to it next week, I hope you all watched Matthew Collings What is Beauty? documentary on Saturday evening. Sure it clashed with the X-Factor: but that's no excuse ... it was a really illuminating and accessible attempt to define what 'beauty' is; and in face Collins begins by framing his question as being about form versus content. Luckily for you, it's there on the BBC iPlayer to watch for the next seven days. So watch it. The examples are all from visual art; but the fundamental question is one of aesthetics.