An Analysis of The Participatory Model of Aesthetics and Japanese Gardens

In this essay, I seek to explore and evaluate Arnold Berleant’s participatory model of environmental aesthetics, and see how it might be improved upon. I argue that Berleant’s model is valuable and for the most part accurate, but incorrect in its scope of what ought to be appreciated and lacking in terms of its applications, and that further elaboration upon both is necessary in order to perfect the model. I do this in part by considering the case of Japanese gardens, the design elements behind which allow for a unique perspective on Berleant’s model that apply not only to the gardens themselves, but also more broadly to the way we appreciate environments in general.