Abstract
I suggest asking why we should bring aesthetics and economy together, a question I will in the end reverse and ask if it is possible not to bring them together. In relation to Critical Theory and Phenomenology represented especially by Gernot Böhme’s work on aesthetic capitalism and the concept of atmosphere I suggest that aesthetics, viewed as sensorial cognition or perception, enables us to approach economic interests that today are present in any aspect of our environment. Similar to how cultural artefacts traditionally were of importance for influencing communication and education, and to how the theory of the cognitive aspect of this influence became aesthetics, we should see how any cultural artefact influences us today with strong economic agenda and aesthetics as an offer of a critical approach creating awareness of this influence and how to relate to it.
