
How do we appreciate a work of art? Why do we like some artworks but not others? Is there no accounting for taste? Awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship to explore connections between art, mind, and brain, Shimamura considers how we experience art. In a thoughtful and entertaining manner, the book explores how the brain interprets art by engaging our sensations, thoughts, and emotions. It describes interesting findings from psychological and brain sciences as a way to understand our aesthetic response to art.Beauty, disgust, surprise, anger, sadness, horror, and a myriad of other emotions can occur as we experience art. Some artworks may generate such feelings rather quickly, while others depend on thought and knowledge. Our response to art depends largely on what we know--from everyday knowledge about the world, from our cultural backgrounds, and from personal experience. Filled with artworks from many traditions and time points, "Experiencing Art" offers insightful ways of broadening one's approach and appreciation of art.
How does the human brain process aesthetic experiences and determine individual preferences for works of art? Arthur P. Shimamura, a psychologist and Guggenheim Fellow, synthesizes findings from psychological and brain sciences to explain the mechanisms behind our aesthetic responses. The book presents a framework that connects sensory perception, cognitive processing, and emotional reaction to explain why individuals respond differently to various artistic traditions and styles.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Readers frequently note the accessible integration of complex neurological concepts with art theory. Experts highlight this as a useful interdisciplinary text for those interested in the intersection of cognitive science and human aesthetic experience.
Page Count:
298
Publication Date:
2015-04-15
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0190239077
ISBN-13:
9780190239077
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