what is meant by the term "aesthetics" in art? Why is the issue of "aesthetics" controversial?

Answer 1

aesthetics boils down to basically "what is beautiful/how is it beautiful". It's subjective. It tries to intellectualize that initial gut attraction you might have to a work of art, puts words to the feeling.

I don't know if it's "controversal", but a lot of artists don't like to talk about the meaning of art. Either it hits the viewer or it doesn't and a lot of talking about it isn't really going to create something that isn't there to begin with.