The appeal of beauty is straightforward but what explains the appeal of tragic, comic or transgressive art? Tragic art asks that we contemplate horrifying events, evoking unpleasant emotions and feelings of disgust, ones we would avoid in real life. In comic art we are often amused by things which would not amuse us in everyday life. Thinking about these questions and looking at works in the gallery, this study day led by Matthew Kieran asks what it is about artistic representation that explains their appeal.