Aesthetics: The Intro

What is a poet? An unhappy man who conceals profound anguish in his heart, but whose lips are so fashioned that when sighs and groans pass over them they sound like beautiful music. His fate resembles that of the unhappy men who were slowly roasted by a gentle fire in the tyrant Phalaris' bull—their shrieks could not reach his ear to terrify him, to him they sounded like sweet music. And people flock about the poet and say to him: do sing again; Which means, would that new sufferings tormented your soul, and: would that your lips stayed fashioned as before, for your cries would only terrify us, but your music is delightful. And the critics join them, saying: well done, thus must it be according to the laws of aesthetics. Why, to be sure, a critic resembles a poet as one pea another, the only difference being that he has no anguish in his heart and no music on his lips. Behold, therefore would I rather be a swineherd on Amager, and be understood by the swine than a poet, and misunderstood by men.

This quote comes from Soren Kierkegaard's work, Either/Or. It is from a section of that work named "Diapslmata." That quote has always haunted me. It provokes me to think about the meaning of beauty. I am sure many people have written books and essays on Christian aesthetics. I have not read many of these, however, and am not very familiar with many perspectives on aesthetics. That being said, I have begun to formulate a philosophy of Christian aesthetics. I want to be able to define and describe what beauty means for a Christian. Kierkegaard is an excellent resource in this field. The book I mentioned above discusses many aspects of beauty. One of K's main teachings is his "spheres of existence." The first of those spheres, or stages, is the esthetic stage. This stage is much more than what is commonly indicated by esthetics. It involves living in the moment. It involves an emotional, accidental perspective on the universe. But it does contain many descriptions of beauty. I have not read anyone who could eludicate on beauty as poetically as K. He is a master. One of the most astounding passages I have ever read is "The Banquet" from Stages on Life's Way.
I have formulated some beginning principles on beauty, which may or may be tenable.

1. Beauty is a reflection of God.
2. Beauty is transcendant.
3. Beauty is illogical.
4. Beauty exists in context.
5. Beauty is contrast.
6. Pain is the absense of beauty.
7. There is a false beauty.

I hope to add more. I hope to expand on these basic principles. I hope to find what true beauty is.