I agreed with the article. I think that you need to actually take the time to look at art and to look at it from different perspectives. Whether its for studying or for enjoyment, I think that art's main purpose is to create the sort of responses that the article is talking about from people. I think the article makes a lot of really good points that I never even thought to think about. It is one thing to see a thing and another to see its depiction. The artist and the viewer will always have different experiences. The only thing we see when we look at art is the depiction. "We are interested, in part, in creations that capture our attention directly and in their own material uniqueness, and not merely as transparencies through which to encounter whatever it is that they represent." I think that when it comes to certain art, specifically abstract and modern art, there isn't any link between what the artist saw in his/her head and what the viewer can depict. If I saw a statue of a man I would know it was a man, I wouldn't know what the original person looked like but I would have a general concise. Like the article said, you can't see everything that the artist saw. Like shadows. But with modern and abstract art, there isn't anything for you to refer to. This was a really interesting article. It was a lot to take in though because of how much information there was.
John Yusza The way we understand art is not quite so narrow. Sometimes it just needs a little push. I know that the story in the beginning of this week’s reading where the guy is walking through an art gallery and just sees the same thing everywhere. That is definitely how I felt when I first walked in. Your brain wants to understand the art but it is not really something you can train your brain to decipher. But through discussion like we have had in class about pieces really helps people like me who have a hard time understanding art. When people point out things in a piece it really expands the view of the piece. Discussion of a piece is more conductive to learning than sitting there thinking you have a secret meaning locked away in your head. Art can be tough for some to understand but I guess after enough practice it becomes easier. At the beginning of the semester I could look at some piece and not think a single thing about it now if I look at a piece I can think of at least a few worthwhile things to point out and mention. The way we have been doing art makes it easier. For most of the time I have had to do art throughout my education art has been narrowly defined with no flexibility and we only really explored thinks like painting and drawing. But this year we have explored a wide array of topics. I think the most important thing we learned this semester is that there is not one single point of view or interpretation to a piece the actual artist’s interpretation is just as valid as your own. That being said that is a huge change in pace and it will forever change the way I think about and look at art.
I find it extremely interesting that different people can perceive the same things differently. What in our brain makes me like something and find it very intriguing but my neighbor or friend finding something appalling and very mundane? This relates to art, religion, politics, and many other opinions people dispute and share. I think art is on a different level than the other two categories I mentioned. I sort of understand how people can disagree on who should run the country or how the world came about, but opinions on what is art and what looks good or doesn’t look good confuses me. I think it is interesting the way some people’s brains are programmed to see art in such a detailed, distinct, meaningful way while others only see the big picture not noticing the tiny details or how it related to whatever is it supposed to relate to. I have been struggling with that a lot in class this semester. In the beginning I could almost never see what the deep meaning behind the painting or sculpture was or how it related to what was happening during that time period. I merely just had opinions on the physical attributes of the artwork. Whether I thought it looked good or not, and I wasn’t quite able to evaluate it deeper. Continuing on through the semester I was able to look at things more critically and was able to develop opinions on the piece that weren’t fed to me. I have also been able to think more critically about my own art pieces and been able to make better decisions about my art piece that add to my theme. I also really like to hear everyone’s opinions. Like when we were critiquing the underwater submarine porthole art piece. There were so many different interpretations of that one art piece. Some people saw a telescope, some people saw a window, and some people saw exactly what it was at first glance. That really shows the immensity of the human brain and the capabilities of different brains to see and develop different ideas. I think it is interesting that scientists are trying to quantify an art experience or any feelings in general. I don’t think you can quantify or generalize feelings or emotions. I think that is really freaky and they engineering part of me really wants to understand why all of this is the way it is and understand the facts and the numbers, but this is one thing that I don’t think anyone can understand. I think it is worth looking into though. I am not saying that scientists should stop their research. I think the more that we understand about the brain the more we can understand different diseases and how to stop them. As of now I don’t think there is a cure for Alzheimer’s but if these scientists keep looking for the indescribable, non-understandable things that I assumed I will never understand, then maybe we will have a cure for a disease that affects a lot of people.
Anna Strang Everyone has a brain, and everyone's brain views different things in different ways. That is what this first article is talking about. In the beginning the author is talking about two people walking through an art gallery. One of those people looks at the painting and moves on without noticing a lot of the detail within the painting. The other person called them back and told them to focus on certain point of the painting. For example they should be looking at the patterns and colors of the paintings. After listening to their friends they realized that there was a lot more to the painting. They had to look away and look once again to get the full effect and message of the painting. The article then continues to talk about the brain and how everything goes through the brain. It also talks about the concept of neuroaesthetics. Neuroaesthetics is what scientists are trying to figure out, the reason people react and see different aspects of a piece of art. There are a lot of loose ends to this concept and I hope to learn more about it in the future.
The next article talks about why we should study arts and humanities. Before reading this article I had a few of my own thoughts. I do believe we should take art and humanities classes. These classes make people more cultured and more aware of the fact that we are all different and we need to respect everyone. But I do think there should be a sort of calibration with professors. An example the human behavior CORE is different depending on the professor you receive. I learned about different culture and different types of people, while some classes only learned about Native Americans, or did trust exercises. The Core classes should be interesting to everyone, not a class that people dread because of the fact that the classes are either boring or really hard. I believe this is what this last article was trying to say. Schools should teach art and humanities, but in a fun and interesting way that every student will enjoy.
This weeks readings were based on two online articles. The first article is about the importance of art and humanities in our world. The author goes on and talks about what art does such as its impact on our perspective and senses as human beings. The viewing of different art forms broadens our perspective of how people and cultures around them behaved years ago in comparison to how those people and cultures behave today. Art also puts our worries away for a moment because it distracts the mind from all that stresses the individual out. Watching a movie or listening to music helps calm the senses and gives the viewer/listener a feeling of tranquility by acting as a scapegoat for the mind. Likewise the second article talks about the brain and its response when viewing art as well as the neuroscience behind our different states of feelings, emotions, and knowledge that occur within the brain. The viewing of aesthetic work grabs our attention and results in a thought process, however this thought process can be altered by an outside influence. For example, if you were informed of the story or history behind a work of art and it's production, or a friend were to recommend it, then that work of art would be looked at more differently as well as longer than when viewed previously without the knowledge.
Nicole Marmo How We Perceive Art In the first reading, the author goes over the science of art and how it affects us. For example, the author had talked about how a first glance at a painting or drawing can seem dull and flat, but when looked at again with new things in mind it becomes a completely different piece of art, an art that you can now understand and can now see the beauty in. It is very helpful to go to an art museum with someone who understands the different types of arts, the eras, the artists, etc. Since they know and understand all of this information, they can easily help you to understand the artwork in the same way they do by pointing out the little things that they may not have noticed before, but had significantly changed their mind as soon as they saw some little detail. I thought this article was a little strange because it also talked about the neurological side to art, but was very confusing at the same time. This author basically went on to explain how everything you experience only happens in the brain and nothing else, which confused me because where else could it possibly affect you? Everything you do goes through your brain and that is how one sees a painting. This article was just too confusing for me to enjoy. They kept using big words I didn’t understand along with a bunch of comparisons that weren’t really clear. The next article didn’t really interest me either because I’ve never had any desire to study the humanities. However, I do agree with the point the author was making; that the study of art gives people creativity by trying to understand a piece of artwork in their own way, and they can’t be wrong. I also agree that artwork relates to experience. Whatever you bring to the table before viewing a piece of art can dramatically affect your experience. For example, if you’ve never heard of or seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa before and you saw it for the first time in a painting without any explanation you would be able to interpret the painting in so many different way. One could think it was a building on its way to the ground, you could see it as a deformed building, or even see it as a building being put up. The possibilities are endless and nothing you say can be wrong unless you confront the artist yourself. It is nice to be able to have your own opinion when looking at art and I think that’s what makes it more enjoyable.
This week we were tasked with reading two articles. The first titled " How art Reveals the Limits of Neuroscience" was about bridging the gap between science and art. It talked a lot about neuroaesthetics. Neuroaesthetics is the study of how art effects the brain. It analyzes how brains respond to art. I found my ideas best correlate to those of John Dewey, he argued that art is about the experience, it is achieved through a thoughtful and active engagement with the piece which allows for interpretation and finding meaning for you. I feel as though Neuroaesthetics some what belittles the experience. I think there should be a gap between art and science i do not think everything needs to be understood on the scientific level. Furthermore i do not know what knowing the science behind art does for society. To me art is purely entertainment and for me knowing the science behind how our brain interperpates art does not add to the enjoyment.
The next article we read was titled " Why Study the Arts and the Humanities?" This topic was covered in depth in my lit/phil class last year. But from the article i learned that in essence, the humanities help create a more well-rounded person. The article argues that they " allow someone to think critically and independently, read powerfully and perceptively, write lucidly and precisely and speak articulately." I agree with the article here and i believe these are all extremely important skills when entering a work place. Furthermore the article argues "by awakening our imagination art intensifies and complements our own experiences." I completely agree with what the article says here. The humanities allow people to learn more about themselves which leads to a more well-rounded person.
Art work has meaning whether it is apparent when first viewed or is hidden. We often look at things that make sense more, and even prefer to look at things that make sense to us ever since we were born. It is part of the human brain to prefer order and structure over chaos. Art is not about being structured and orderly which makes it sometimes hard for people to see. I know that before this class, abstract art was completely lost on me and still is a little bit. Art as we discussed is defined by meaning and connection so artists often express themselves and their meanings in ways that are not structured. For me, the only way to understand art is to get out of my normal thinking pattern, stop trying to find logic and look more into emotions and then I can begin to understand the art. I believe art is important for everyone to study at some point in their educational career. It allows people to have a different insight on life and events. I agree with the article that art allows us to gain an understanding of how other people live. Not only can art be educational about history or other cultures it is also enjoyable. Using art in the classroom can keep learning interesting and reach students who have difficulty studying in only one way. Both articles explain how art gives experience, it allows viewers to gain knowledge and memories from their very own experiences with a piece of art. I think going to a museum or a play is an experience that is often remembered more than a classroom lesson on the same subject. I think I would enjoy classes, especially history, if they incorporated art more.
Kristin Portsmouth Aesthetics Response 12 November 30, 2015
These week’s readings were articles about why everyone should study art and humanities and how art reveals the limits of neuroscience. I really enjoyed the first article about art and humanities because I agree that learning about these topics is very important. When the author started talking about the utility and the quality of life of humanities I was confused what he meant. He later continued on the subject by saying the utility side stresses learning to think critically and independently, read powerfully and perceptively, write lucidly and precisely, and speak articulately. I think all these aspects are important to know how to do in life, and they will greater improve your ability to learn and develop ideas of your own. He continued on about the quality of life and how art takes us to imagined worlds created by others and how that allows us to see and understand others live. My favorite quotation from this article is, “We are what we read, the museums we visit and the performances we see and hear.” This is because I completely agree with it. For example if you watch a movie you really like, you will quote that movie all day and it becomes part of your life, it influences your humor and how you see things related to it. This always happens to me whenever I read a book. If you look at the books a person reads without ever speaking to them, you can get a feel for their personality and what they like.
The second article talks about how art reveals the limits of neuroscience. Just after reading the title, I had no idea what the article would be about. Of course it would relate art and neuroscience, but I couldn’t think of any connection between the two. After reading the article it was clear. Neuroscientists are studying the brain and are trying to come up with theories that relate our brains to how we view life. At the beginning of the article the author talks about how you may look at a painting at one point and if you come back to that same painting, minutes or years later, you can see a completely different image. I like the way the author described it “Art illuminates us to ourselves.” This is what scientists are studying now and its called neuroaesthetics. Both these articles were very intriguing and I would love to learn more about these topics.
I found these online articles to be extremely intriguing. I specifically enjoyed how the first one linked art and neuroscience in a way I’ve never really explored myself. I’ve visited a number of art studios before and always found a lot of it to be incredible. Some of the art I would appreciate mainly for the talent it must have taken to create such a masterpiece but other works of art spoke to me on a more personal level. I found myself related to certain pieces and that is really where this article started to make sense to me. It was interesting to see that this author really describes the connection between art and neuroscience as not understanding the art per say but using the art to better understand ourselves and that idea alone really got me thinking more about my experience with art. It forced me to now rethink how I view art and if I am looking at a piece for the beauty of it or if I am looking at it trying to understand myself through someone else’s artwork. The second article helped me understand why taking a class such as Aesthetics is more important than most people realize. It explains the connection between a painting or sculpture and how it relates to social issues and the modern world. One line that really stuck out to me in this article is when the author wrote, “Much more stress in college and university curricula should be on how to attract students rather than how to satisfy faculty.” This is so important and a lot of times, I find this is not the case. A lot of the time the curricula we are taught sets one goal and that is to pass tests but for certain subjects there is no focus really on engaging students and making them want to learn. However, with this Aesthetics class I think a main aspect was getting the students involved and making them want to ask questions and learn more. I felt as though I was more engaged in class and learned more because of it.
the quote "Neuroaesthetics seems unable even to bring its own subject matter, art, under observation." Is something I do not necessarily agree with. The article, to what my "head" can describe is saying that art is biochemistry in the brain. That we perceive art as what we do because of science. I think that when I look at art, I just look and kind of describe it and make meaning of it. it does not make sense to me that it has to do with the chemicals in my brain or "head" as they say. I think we can perceive things different from human to human but I think that has to do with your interest, morals, values and things of that nature. I do not think science and art need to be linked. I think art is something beautiful on its own as well as science. I wish we could just accept the beauty without having to relate it all or make things more complicated than it is. Im not an artist but I can imagine if artist do read this article they would disagree. It much more emotional and feelings driven .There does not need to be an explanation for everything. It may sound like im being narrow minded, but as I finish up this course I am realizing we are all artist in our own way here. and although I am not a professional, I do not not feel the need to explain my emotions towards art with science.
I found this article interesting because of its context and thought provoking manor. The article explains how art can mean something to one person and have a completely different meaning (or perhaps no meaning at all) to another. This has always been an interesting concept in my opinion. How can I see something deriving from an artwork yet another person come up with an entirely different concept. The same goes for when me and another person feel the same about a piece of art. It is equally remarkable that two people could come up with a similar explanation for something that may be completely abstract. I have determined (after many art classes and courses) that art is truly in the eye of the beholder although the beholder can possibly be persuaded by events around them. Like the example given in the article regarding the friend explaining the piece of art to another and changing the person’s perspective of the artwork. Another concept I found strange was that we, as humans, are merely a brain floating in a pile of bodily fluids, and organs. I found the argument rather unconvincing that the brain is the reason we are who we are. The article further explains that we would not develop in the way that we have if it weren’t for our senses. Our senses drive our emotions, feelings, and essentially are what helps us to discover the world around us in general. The article states “it is the very existence of art objects that stands in the way of our framing a plausible aesthetic theory. It isn’t about the objects, he argued. It’s about the experience. And experience, crucially, is not something you get for the price of museum admission. It’s more hard-won than that. It is something we achieve through thoughtful and active engagement.” This summarizes the fact that without our bodies we would not know what was around us. The experience is what forms our world, and without it we would have nothing.
In this article about humanities, we read for this weeks readings, I agreed that perspective has a lot to do with art. It has a lot to do with it because it could mean something different to everyone, not just the artist’s meaning. It talks about how organized art is because of forms and where it says, “Form not only organizes and controls art but also other bodies of knowledge within the humanities. Form imposes structure that our own lives -- as we move from moment to moment through time -- may lack” I found interesting because I did not think before of this connection to form and the structure of our lives. I really found the connections in this article a little confusing but different- in a good way. I think a lot of people should read this article because it’s good to learn. The next article I thought was really interesting and I thought it was cool how art affects the brain. Also I liked how they explained the connection between art and science. Although some people may not agree that there even is a connection, I think its cool how someone put them together and shared their thoughts on these topics.
In the article from the Chronicle, I found it interesting when the writer described a scenario in which a friend asked you to look closely again at a painting that you had quickly glanced over before, thinking it was dull and boring. Although the painting itself has not changed, certain aspects of the painting may look different because you have analyzed it more and found meaning in certain colors or shapes. I have a high appreciation for paintings so I take my time looking at them. I always connect the colors used in the painting with ideas from color psychology. I used this concept a lot in high school, where certain colors represent certain emotions so that the painting has a certain mood. Like the article later states, "It is one thing to see a thing and another to see its depiction." What I got from this article was that neuroscientists are having a hard time describing how the brain sometimes changes not what it sees but how it sees things; art is a questionable subject in modern neuroscience studies. The article from the Huffington Post defends the idea that the humanities help students pursue their goals and make them a better citizen in a democracy. The author of this article mentioned several humanities, only a few of which we have discussed in class such as literature and performing arts. The author lists philosophy, religious and cultural studies, history, anthropology, and linguistics as humanities, although some can also be classified as social sciences. I think that what we have been discussing in class has been more "art" like art you can see and develop meaning from and not necessarily all 'humanities" even though our textbook is the beginners guide to the humanities. I do not agree that philosophy and history are art. I am more open to accept linguistics as art. I love listening to people speak different languages. I can speak french almost fluently now, I've been taking it since 6th grade and will have finished my minor by the end of this year. Anthropology and cultural studies seem to me more like a science than an art.
The first article discusses the science behind how your brain works- specifically when thinking about art. It is discussed that everyone’s mind works differently and by having a one track mind, you can only perceive things in one way. When discussing art with people who are more into picking out little details of art work, you are able to go from having a one track mind to perceiving things in a completely different perspective. You will begin to see the beauty of art through its bounty of details and the story it tells. Before taking this class, I always thought of art as stupid and boring, after taking this class I have discovered that art is something more than what I was ever able to comprehend. Halfway through the semester, I visited the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) with a friend who is very into the arts. After that visit, my idea of art changed and I soon became interested in visiting again. Just like the article described, when I first visited, I saw the art work as dull and flat but after my friend explained the background of the pieces, I was intrigued in the beauty that surrounded us. The second article focuses on the humanities. I agree that it is important that everyone should know about the humanities and as a result, become well-rounded. The article argues that "by awakening our imagination art intensifies and complements our own experiences.” I agree with this statement because if you think outside your one track mind, you will be able to experience things you would never had before. This article correlates with the first article because they both discuss having an open mind about things, thus being able to think and see outside the box.
I agreed with the article. I think that you need to actually take the time to look at art and to look at it from different perspectives. Whether its for studying or for enjoyment, I think that art's main purpose is to create the sort of responses that the article is talking about from people. I think the article makes a lot of really good points that I never even thought to think about. It is one thing to see a thing and another to see its depiction. The artist and the viewer will always have different experiences. The only thing we see when we look at art is the depiction. "We are interested, in part, in creations that capture our attention directly and in their own material uniqueness, and not merely as transparencies through which to encounter whatever it is that they represent."
ReplyDeleteI think that when it comes to certain art, specifically abstract and modern art, there isn't any link between what the artist saw in his/her head and what the viewer can depict. If I saw a statue of a man I would know it was a man, I wouldn't know what the original person looked like but I would have a general concise. Like the article said, you can't see everything that the artist saw. Like shadows. But with modern and abstract art, there isn't anything for you to refer to. This was a really interesting article. It was a lot to take in though because of how much information there was.
John Yusza
ReplyDeleteThe way we understand art is not quite so narrow. Sometimes it just needs a little push. I know that the story in the beginning of this week’s reading where the guy is walking through an art gallery and just sees the same thing everywhere. That is definitely how I felt when I first walked in. Your brain wants to understand the art but it is not really something you can train your brain to decipher. But through discussion like we have had in class about pieces really helps people like me who have a hard time understanding art. When people point out things in a piece it really expands the view of the piece.
Discussion of a piece is more conductive to learning than sitting there thinking you have a secret meaning locked away in your head. Art can be tough for some to understand but I guess after enough practice it becomes easier. At the beginning of the semester I could look at some piece and not think a single thing about it now if I look at a piece I can think of at least a few worthwhile things to point out and mention. The way we have been doing art makes it easier. For most of the time I have had to do art throughout my education art has been narrowly defined with no flexibility and we only really explored thinks like painting and drawing. But this year we have explored a wide array of topics. I think the most important thing we learned this semester is that there is not one single point of view or interpretation to a piece the actual artist’s interpretation is just as valid as your own. That being said that is a huge change in pace and it will forever change the way I think about and look at art.
I find it extremely interesting that different people can perceive the same things differently. What in our brain makes me like something and find it very intriguing but my neighbor or friend finding something appalling and very mundane? This relates to art, religion, politics, and many other opinions people dispute and share. I think art is on a different level than the other two categories I mentioned. I sort of understand how people can disagree on who should run the country or how the world came about, but opinions on what is art and what looks good or doesn’t look good confuses me. I think it is interesting the way some people’s brains are programmed to see art in such a detailed, distinct, meaningful way while others only see the big picture not noticing the tiny details or how it related to whatever is it supposed to relate to. I have been struggling with that a lot in class this semester. In the beginning I could almost never see what the deep meaning behind the painting or sculpture was or how it related to what was happening during that time period. I merely just had opinions on the physical attributes of the artwork. Whether I thought it looked good or not, and I wasn’t quite able to evaluate it deeper. Continuing on through the semester I was able to look at things more critically and was able to develop opinions on the piece that weren’t fed to me. I have also been able to think more critically about my own art pieces and been able to make better decisions about my art piece that add to my theme. I also really like to hear everyone’s opinions. Like when we were critiquing the underwater submarine porthole art piece. There were so many different interpretations of that one art piece. Some people saw a telescope, some people saw a window, and some people saw exactly what it was at first glance. That really shows the immensity of the human brain and the capabilities of different brains to see and develop different ideas.
ReplyDeleteI think it is interesting that scientists are trying to quantify an art experience or any feelings in general. I don’t think you can quantify or generalize feelings or emotions. I think that is really freaky and they engineering part of me really wants to understand why all of this is the way it is and understand the facts and the numbers, but this is one thing that I don’t think anyone can understand. I think it is worth looking into though. I am not saying that scientists should stop their research. I think the more that we understand about the brain the more we can understand different diseases and how to stop them. As of now I don’t think there is a cure for Alzheimer’s but if these scientists keep looking for the indescribable, non-understandable things that I assumed I will never understand, then maybe we will have a cure for a disease that affects a lot of people.
Anna Strang
ReplyDeleteEveryone has a brain, and everyone's brain views different things in different ways. That is what this first article is talking about. In the beginning the author is talking about two people walking through an art gallery. One of those people looks at the painting and moves on without noticing a lot of the detail within the painting. The other person called them back and told them to focus on certain point of the painting. For example they should be looking at the patterns and colors of the paintings. After listening to their friends they realized that there was a lot more to the painting. They had to look away and look once again to get the full effect and message of the painting. The article then continues to talk about the brain and how everything goes through the brain. It also talks about the concept of neuroaesthetics. Neuroaesthetics is what scientists are trying to figure out, the reason people react and see different aspects of a piece of art. There are a lot of loose ends to this concept and I hope to learn more about it in the future.
The next article talks about why we should study arts and humanities. Before reading this article I had a few of my own thoughts. I do believe we should take art and humanities classes. These classes make people more cultured and more aware of the fact that we are all different and we need to respect everyone. But I do think there should be a sort of calibration with professors. An example the human behavior CORE is different depending on the professor you receive. I learned about different culture and different types of people, while some classes only learned about Native Americans, or did trust exercises. The Core classes should be interesting to everyone, not a class that people dread because of the fact that the classes are either boring or really hard. I believe this is what this last article was trying to say. Schools should teach art and humanities, but in a fun and interesting way that every student will enjoy.
Dustin Wade
ReplyDeleteEmail Reading Reflections
This weeks readings were based on two online articles. The first article is about the importance of art and humanities in our world. The author goes on and talks about what art does such as its impact on our perspective and senses as human beings. The viewing of different art forms broadens our perspective of how people and cultures around them behaved years ago in comparison to how those people and cultures behave today. Art also puts our worries away for a moment because it distracts the mind from all that stresses the individual out. Watching a movie or listening to music helps calm the senses and gives the viewer/listener a feeling of tranquility by acting as a scapegoat for the mind. Likewise the second article talks about the brain and its response when viewing art as well as the neuroscience behind our different states of feelings, emotions, and knowledge that occur within the brain. The viewing of aesthetic work grabs our attention and results in a thought process, however this thought process can be altered by an outside influence. For example, if you were informed of the story or history behind a work of art and it's production, or a friend were to recommend it, then that work of art would be looked at more differently as well as longer than when viewed previously without the knowledge.
Nicole Marmo
ReplyDeleteHow We Perceive Art
In the first reading, the author goes over the science of art and how it affects us. For example, the author had talked about how a first glance at a painting or drawing can seem dull and flat, but when looked at again with new things in mind it becomes a completely different piece of art, an art that you can now understand and can now see the beauty in. It is very helpful to go to an art museum with someone who understands the different types of arts, the eras, the artists, etc. Since they know and understand all of this information, they can easily help you to understand the artwork in the same way they do by pointing out the little things that they may not have noticed before, but had significantly changed their mind as soon as they saw some little detail.
I thought this article was a little strange because it also talked about the neurological side to art, but was very confusing at the same time. This author basically went on to explain how everything you experience only happens in the brain and nothing else, which confused me because where else could it possibly affect you? Everything you do goes through your brain and that is how one sees a painting. This article was just too confusing for me to enjoy. They kept using big words I didn’t understand along with a bunch of comparisons that weren’t really clear.
The next article didn’t really interest me either because I’ve never had any desire to study the humanities. However, I do agree with the point the author was making; that the study of art gives people creativity by trying to understand a piece of artwork in their own way, and they can’t be wrong. I also agree that artwork relates to experience. Whatever you bring to the table before viewing a piece of art can dramatically affect your experience. For example, if you’ve never heard of or seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa before and you saw it for the first time in a painting without any explanation you would be able to interpret the painting in so many different way. One could think it was a building on its way to the ground, you could see it as a deformed building, or even see it as a building being put up. The possibilities are endless and nothing you say can be wrong unless you confront the artist yourself. It is nice to be able to have your own opinion when looking at art and I think that’s what makes it more enjoyable.
Owen Graig
ReplyDeleteThis week we were tasked with reading two articles. The first titled " How art Reveals the Limits of Neuroscience" was about bridging the gap between science and art. It talked a lot about neuroaesthetics. Neuroaesthetics is the study of how art effects the brain. It analyzes how brains respond to art. I found my ideas best correlate to those of John Dewey, he argued that art is about the experience, it is achieved through a thoughtful and active engagement with the piece which allows for interpretation and finding meaning for you. I feel as though Neuroaesthetics some what belittles the experience. I think there should be a gap between art and science i do not think everything needs to be understood on the scientific level. Furthermore i do not know what knowing the science behind art does for society. To me art is purely entertainment and for me knowing the science behind how our brain interperpates art does not add to the enjoyment.
The next article we read was titled " Why Study the Arts and the Humanities?" This topic was covered in depth in my lit/phil class last year. But from the article i learned that in essence, the humanities help create a more well-rounded person. The article argues that they " allow someone to think critically and independently, read powerfully and perceptively, write lucidly and precisely and speak articulately." I agree with the article here and i believe these are all extremely important skills when entering a work place. Furthermore the article argues "by awakening our imagination art intensifies and complements our own experiences." I completely agree with what the article says here. The humanities allow people to learn more about themselves which leads to a more well-rounded person.
Art work has meaning whether it is apparent when first viewed or is hidden. We often look at things that make sense more, and even prefer to look at things that make sense to us ever since we were born. It is part of the human brain to prefer order and structure over chaos. Art is not about being structured and orderly which makes it sometimes hard for people to see.
ReplyDeleteI know that before this class, abstract art was completely lost on me and still is a little bit. Art as we discussed is defined by meaning and connection so artists often express themselves and their meanings in ways that are not structured. For me, the only way to understand art is to get out of my normal thinking pattern, stop trying to find logic and look more into emotions and then I can begin to understand the art.
I believe art is important for everyone to study at some point in their educational career. It allows people to have a different insight on life and events. I agree with the article that art allows us to gain an understanding of how other people live. Not only can art be educational about history or other cultures it is also enjoyable. Using art in the classroom can keep learning interesting and reach students who have difficulty studying in only one way.
Both articles explain how art gives experience, it allows viewers to gain knowledge and memories from their very own experiences with a piece of art. I think going to a museum or a play is an experience that is often remembered more than a classroom lesson on the same subject. I think I would enjoy classes, especially history, if they incorporated art more.
Kristin Portsmouth
ReplyDeleteAesthetics Response 12
November 30, 2015
These week’s readings were articles about why everyone should study art and humanities and how art reveals the limits of neuroscience. I really enjoyed the first article about art and humanities because I agree that learning about these topics is very important. When the author started talking about the utility and the quality of life of humanities I was confused what he meant. He later continued on the subject by saying the utility side stresses learning to think critically and independently, read powerfully and perceptively, write lucidly and precisely, and speak articulately. I think all these aspects are important to know how to do in life, and they will greater improve your ability to learn and develop ideas of your own. He continued on about the quality of life and how art takes us to imagined worlds created by others and how that allows us to see and understand others live. My favorite quotation from this article is, “We are what we read, the museums we visit and the performances we see and hear.” This is because I completely agree with it. For example if you watch a movie you really like, you will quote that movie all day and it becomes part of your life, it influences your humor and how you see things related to it. This always happens to me whenever I read a book. If you look at the books a person reads without ever speaking to them, you can get a feel for their personality and what they like.
The second article talks about how art reveals the limits of neuroscience. Just after reading the title, I had no idea what the article would be about. Of course it would relate art and neuroscience, but I couldn’t think of any connection between the two. After reading the article it was clear. Neuroscientists are studying the brain and are trying to come up with theories that relate our brains to how we view life. At the beginning of the article the author talks about how you may look at a painting at one point and if you come back to that same painting, minutes or years later, you can see a completely different image. I like the way the author described it “Art illuminates us to ourselves.” This is what scientists are studying now and its called neuroaesthetics. Both these articles were very intriguing and I would love to learn more about these topics.
Abigail Lisee
ReplyDeleteAesthetics
November 30, 2015
Online Articles
I found these online articles to be extremely intriguing. I specifically enjoyed how the first one linked art and neuroscience in a way I’ve never really explored myself. I’ve visited a number of art studios before and always found a lot of it to be incredible. Some of the art I would appreciate mainly for the talent it must have taken to create such a masterpiece but other works of art spoke to me on a more personal level. I found myself related to certain pieces and that is really where this article started to make sense to me. It was interesting to see that this author really describes the connection between art and neuroscience as not understanding the art per say but using the art to better understand ourselves and that idea alone really got me thinking more about my experience with art. It forced me to now rethink how I view art and if I am looking at a piece for the beauty of it or if I am looking at it trying to understand myself through someone else’s artwork.
The second article helped me understand why taking a class such as Aesthetics is more important than most people realize. It explains the connection between a painting or sculpture and how it relates to social issues and the modern world. One line that really stuck out to me in this article is when the author wrote, “Much more stress in college and university curricula should be on how to attract students rather than how to satisfy faculty.” This is so important and a lot of times, I find this is not the case. A lot of the time the curricula we are taught sets one goal and that is to pass tests but for certain subjects there is no focus really on engaging students and making them want to learn. However, with this Aesthetics class I think a main aspect was getting the students involved and making them want to ask questions and learn more. I felt as though I was more engaged in class and learned more because of it.
Marisa Siino
ReplyDeletethe quote "Neuroaesthetics seems unable even to bring its own subject matter, art, under observation." Is something I do not necessarily agree with. The article, to what my "head" can describe is saying that art is biochemistry in the brain. That we perceive art as what we do because of science. I think that when I look at art, I just look and kind of describe it and make meaning of it. it does not make sense to me that it has to do with the chemicals in my brain or "head" as they say. I think we can perceive things different from human to human but I think that has to do with your interest, morals, values and things of that nature. I do not think science and art need to be linked. I think art is something beautiful on its own as well as science. I wish we could just accept the beauty without having to relate it all or make things more complicated than it is. Im not an artist but I can imagine if artist do read this article they would disagree. It much more emotional and feelings driven .There does not need to be an explanation for everything. It may sound like im being narrow minded, but as I finish up this course I am realizing we are all artist in our own way here. and although I am not a professional, I do not not feel the need to explain my emotions towards art with science.
Shannon Smith
ReplyDeletereadings
november 30, 2015
I found this article interesting because of its context and thought provoking manor. The article explains how art can mean something to one person and have a completely different meaning (or perhaps no meaning at all) to another. This has always been an interesting concept in my opinion. How can I see something deriving from an artwork yet another person come up with an entirely different concept. The same goes for when me and another person feel the same about a piece of art. It is equally remarkable that two people could come up with a similar explanation for something that may be completely abstract. I have determined (after many art classes and courses) that art is truly in the eye of the beholder although the beholder can possibly be persuaded by events around them. Like the example given in the article regarding the friend explaining the piece of art to another and changing the person’s perspective of the artwork.
Another concept I found strange was that we, as humans, are merely a brain floating in a pile of bodily fluids, and organs. I found the argument rather unconvincing that the brain is the reason we are who we are. The article further explains that we would not develop in the way that we have if it weren’t for our senses. Our senses drive our emotions, feelings, and essentially are what helps us to discover the world around us in general. The article states “it is the very existence of art objects that stands in the way of our framing a plausible aesthetic theory. It isn’t about the objects, he argued. It’s about the experience. And experience, crucially, is not something you get for the price of museum admission. It’s more hard-won than that. It is something we achieve through thoughtful and active engagement.” This summarizes the fact that without our bodies we would not know what was around us. The experience is what forms our world, and without it we would have nothing.
In this article about humanities, we read for this weeks readings, I agreed that perspective has a lot to do with art. It has a lot to do with it because it could mean something different to everyone, not just the artist’s meaning. It talks about how organized art is because of forms and where it says, “Form not only organizes and controls art but also other bodies of knowledge within the humanities. Form imposes structure that our own lives -- as we move from moment to moment through time -- may lack” I found interesting because I did not think before of this connection to form and the structure of our lives. I really found the connections in this article a little confusing but different- in a good way. I think a lot of people should read this article because it’s good to learn.
ReplyDeleteThe next article I thought was really interesting and I thought it was cool how art affects the brain. Also I liked how they explained the connection between art and science. Although some people may not agree that there even is a connection, I think its cool how someone put them together and shared their thoughts on these topics.
In the article from the Chronicle, I found it interesting when the writer described a scenario in which a friend asked you to look closely again at a painting that you had quickly glanced over before, thinking it was dull and boring. Although the painting itself has not changed, certain aspects of the painting may look different because you have analyzed it more and found meaning in certain colors or shapes.
ReplyDeleteI have a high appreciation for paintings so I take my time looking at them. I always connect the colors used in the painting with ideas from color psychology. I used this concept a lot in high school, where certain colors represent certain emotions so that the painting has a certain mood. Like the article later states, "It is one thing to see a thing and another to see its depiction." What I got from this article was that neuroscientists are having a hard time describing how the brain sometimes changes not what it sees but how it sees things; art is a questionable subject in modern neuroscience studies.
The article from the Huffington Post defends the idea that the humanities help students pursue their goals and make them a better citizen in a democracy. The author of this article mentioned several humanities, only a few of which we have discussed in class such as literature and performing arts. The author lists philosophy, religious and cultural studies, history, anthropology, and linguistics as humanities, although some can also be classified as social sciences. I think that what we have been discussing in class has been more "art" like art you can see and develop meaning from and not necessarily all 'humanities" even though our textbook is the beginners guide to the humanities. I do not agree that philosophy and history are art. I am more open to accept linguistics as art. I love listening to people speak different languages. I can speak french almost fluently now, I've been taking it since 6th grade and will have finished my minor by the end of this year. Anthropology and cultural studies seem to me more like a science than an art.
The first article discusses the science behind how your brain works- specifically when thinking about art. It is discussed that everyone’s mind works differently and by having a one track mind, you can only perceive things in one way. When discussing art with people who are more into picking out little details of art work, you are able to go from having a one track mind to perceiving things in a completely different perspective. You will begin to see the beauty of art through its bounty of details and the story it tells. Before taking this class, I always thought of art as stupid and boring, after taking this class I have discovered that art is something more than what I was ever able to comprehend. Halfway through the semester, I visited the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) with a friend who is very into the arts. After that visit, my idea of art changed and I soon became interested in visiting again. Just like the article described, when I first visited, I saw the art work as dull and flat but after my friend explained the background of the pieces, I was intrigued in the beauty that surrounded us.
ReplyDeleteThe second article focuses on the humanities. I agree that it is important that everyone should know about the humanities and as a result, become well-rounded. The article argues that "by awakening our imagination art intensifies and complements our own experiences.” I agree with this statement because if you think outside your one track mind, you will be able to experience things you would never had before. This article correlates with the first article because they both discuss having an open mind about things, thus being able to think and see outside the box.