In the spring of 2016, the ASA conducted an essay competition for junior scholars on the future of aesthetics and the ASA. Entrants were asked to address these questions: What is the future of academic studies of aesthetics, what new possibilities exist, and what innovations should the American Society for Aesthetics pursue as it develops future plans?

The winning essay writers presented their ideas at a special session at the 74th Annual Meeting in Seattle in November 19, 2016.

FIRST PRIZE: John Dyck, PhD Student, CUNY-The Graduate Center, New York, NY

SECOND PRIZE: Brian Soucek, Assistant Professor, UC Davis School of Law, Davis, California

HONORABLE MENTION (in alphabetical order): Robert R. Clewis, Philosophy Department, Gwynedd Mercy University, Philadelphia, PA

Peter L. Doebler, Kettering Postdoctoral Curatorial Assistant in Asian Art, The Dayton Art Institute, Dayton, Ohio

Sarah Gokhale, Graduate Student, CUNY-The Graduate Center, New York City, NY

Please note that each author retains copyright on his or her own essay. If you reproduce for your teaching, please give full credit to the author. For commercial use, please contact the individual author for permission.