Despite the cultural relativism that Geertz sees as inevitable in any attempt to understand the social function of art, there is, none the less, he suggests, some artistic commonality across cultures, and that is, its aesthetic quality - it appeals to the senses, it is perceptual and tends to be non-utilitarian. What seems to be shared by most societies is the practice of engaging in symbolic activities that bracket off and give expression to aspects of human life which are seen to have some significance and value for that society.