esthétique

17:18 Feb 16, 2021
This question was closed without grading. Reason: Other

French to English translations [Non-PRO]
Education / Pedagogy / School report
French term or phrase: esthétique
Hello

This is a question for people who are familiar with francophone education systems.

The source is a school report for a student in in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As you would expect, there is a list of subjects including "histoire", "anglais", "chimie", "dessin", "géographie" and so on. But there is also a subject "esthétique", which I am not sure about. I am considering these possibilities:
1. "Esthetics" as in "beauty treatments". (In France it is possible to do a baccalauréat specialising in "esthétique cosmétique parfumerie"; on the other hand, the student here is a 12 to 13-year-old male, which makes this interpretation a bit unlikely.)
2. "Esthetics" in the literal sense (i.e. theory of art)
3. "Design"

Can anyone help me choose between these possibilities, or suggest a better one? Thanks in advance,

Michael
M&YTranslations
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:19


Summary of answers provided
3 +4Aesthetics
Conor McAuley
4 +1Art
Bokani Hart


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +4
Aesthetics


Explanation:

The appreciation of beauty. Seems a bit strange, but there you go.

Oscar Wilde, art for art's sake, that kind of thing.

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Note added at 40 mins (2021-02-16 17:58:52 GMT)
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A more formal definition:

"Definition of aesthetic (Entry 2 of 2)
1aesthetics also esthetics\ es-​ˈthe-​tiks , is-​ , British usually ēs-​ \ plural in form but singular or plural in construction : a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty, art, and taste and with the creation and appreciation of beauty"
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aesthetic


Pupils start the French vocational beauty treatments bac course at about age 15 I think.

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Note added at 44 mins (2021-02-16 18:03:00 GMT)
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(The point about the French course being that the French system is often used as a template in French-speaking African countries, of which DRC is one, albeit a former Belgian and not former French colony.)

Conor McAuley
France
Local time: 06:19
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 70

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Barbara Cochran, MFA
5 mins
  -> Thanks Barbara!

agree  Thomas Miles: In a list of fields (whether these fields are GCSE subjects or high-level intellectual specialisms) this would be it.
1 hr
  -> Thanks Thomas!

agree  philgoddard
1 hr
  -> Thanks Phil!

agree  ph-b (X): https://docplayer.fr/14701134-Programme-national-d-esthetiqu...
2 hrs
  -> "Développer la sensibilité de l’élève et ouvrir son esprit aux différentes formes du beau." Thanks! I like it, and I think it can be safely defined as aesthetics and not art, but thanks Bokani.
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Art


Explanation:
'Art' according to a DR Congo friend of mine, which is convenient catch-all phrase for secondary/high school art lessons.

Bokani Hart
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:19
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Lucy Teasdale
30 days
  -> Thanks Lucy :)
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