Bennett Cooperman & Meryl Nietsch-Cooperman

What We Learned from Aesthetic Realism

  • Meryl Nietsch-Cooperman
    • Eating Disorders
    • Love & Marriage
    • Women’s Issues
  • Bennett Cooperman
    • Actors & the Drama
    • Marriage
    • Men’s Questions
  • Art, Music, Poetry
  • About Us
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Edwin Booth — What Makes Us Truly Important?

First presented in a public seminar at the Aesthetic Realism Foundation, New York City.

July 6, 2015 By Bennett Cooperman

In his definitive lecture, “Mind and Importance,” Eli Siegel said: If you are important because you feel that what’s real is important, that other people can be important…then your importance is good…Every time we make ourselves truly important, we are making something besides ourselves important, whether we know it or not. This is utterly different from what […]

Filed Under: Actors & the Drama, Bennett Cooperman

Self-Esteem & Liking the World: What Is the Relation?

First presented in a public seminar at the Aesthetic Realism Foundation, NYC

May 7, 2015 By Bennett Cooperman

Aesthetic Realism taught me that every person’s deepest desire is honestly to like the world different from ourselves. We were born to know and see meaning in people and the things we meet, and when we have this purpose we honestly respect ourselves. We come from the whole world and have its structure in us—”The […]

Filed Under: Bennett Cooperman, Men's Questions

What Does it Mean to Be Courageous?

With a consideration of Sir Walter Scott’s novel, “Ivanhoe.” First presented at the Aesthetic Realism Foundation, NYC

May 7, 2015 By Bennett Cooperman

Growing up, I thought courage was either an extraordinary heroic act like rescuing someone, or being honest in a difficult situation where you put yourself on the line. And neither of these was for me. I did not feel courageous—instead I saw it as prudent and smart to get what I could from people and […]

Filed Under: Bennett Cooperman, Men's Questions

What’s Missing When Husbands Talk with Wives?

First presented in a public seminar at the Aesthetic Realism Foundation, NYC

May 6, 2015 By Bennett Cooperman

I’ve seen that the education of Aesthetic Realism can enable marriage to be the romantic, kind thing men and women so much hope for. One of the things people are desperate for in marriage—and also despair about—is that they will be able to talk to each other deeply, have exciting, honest conversations. And despite what […]

Filed Under: Bennett Cooperman, Marriage

What Is a Husband’s Biggest Mistake?

First presented in a public seminar at the Aesthetic Realism Foundation, NYC

May 6, 2015 By Bennett Cooperman

I know with my happy life that the scientific principles of Aesthetic Realism can enable husbands to be proud and kind. I learned that the biggest mistake a husband makes is to dislike the world. As a result, he can: 1) try to have a cozy, exclusive nest with his wife, apart from the world; […]

Filed Under: Bennett Cooperman, Marriage

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Welcome!

Bennett Cooperman and Meryl Nietsch-Cooperman

We’re proud as husband and wife of 28 years to study and teach Aesthetic Realism, founded in 1941 by Eli Siegel, the American poet and philosopher.

Here you’ll find information about the ways this education has changed our lives—as to love and marriage, the understanding of eating disorders, the art of acting, and the everyday questions of men and women.

Update

I’m very proud to have written the Aesthetic Realism Foundation’s 2024 fundraising letter. In it, I tell some of the great good effect of this education on my life, including as to love, acting, the hope to have big feelings and what opposes that. You can read the letter here.

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