"Untitled (First Abstract Watercolor)" (1910) by Wassily Kandinsky
134. Eckhard Hess's research shows that people's pupils shrink when they taste something unpleasant, see a shark, or see abstract art. Presumably, lemon juice produces disgust and a shark produces fear. But which of these feelings might abstract art produce? And why might someone go to an art museum or buy a work of art that produces such a feeling?
Abstract art is interpretive. For example, in the picture above, I see a crying face and a dead body. Another student might see something else. This art can create disgust, fear, anger, sadness, and even happiness. People buy art when they feel a connection to it. I have friends who buy "ugly" pictures to hang on their walls because they think its funny. Scary movies obviously produce fear, yet people still watch them for fun. Some emotions can trigger other emotions. -Libby Revel
Considering the fact that not all thought or emotion is experienced consciously, abstract art could produce a subconscious feeling of disgust. The human brain tends to enjoy patterns; something it can use to predict something else. The lack of specific placement might cause an unpleasant reaction like disgust in the brain. As for why someone would purchase such a piece, I would say it has to do either the conscious emotions experienced or what they imagine was going through the mind of the artist at the time of painting. Gracie T.
This question quite intrigued me and your answer was an excellent analysis of a potential reasoning for the dilation of pupils. Furthermore, perhaps our inability to immediately grasp what the picture conveys could lead one to be disgusted in our lack of perceptive vision or frustration at the artist's lack of clear communication in their artwork. I could definitely see this topic as a springboard for further research into the effects of abstract art on the human mind.
I’m more inclined to think that pupils contract in response to feelings like anger and frustration, if they respond at all that is. I haven’t looked into it very much, but art is more often than not based on reality and most of the time when people draw or paint people angry or frustrated they use very distinctive characteristics. A furrowed brow, hunched shoulders, and small pupils being a few. It isn’t as scientific as I like to be when discussing such things, but I think it is something to be mentioned nonetheless.
Abstract Art I believe can sometimes leave a state of confusion when being viewed. This confusion can leave people guessing as to what they are looking at, turning abstract shapes and colors into memories and further thinking. When a painting brings about pleasant memories it will likely lead to them purchasing it.
Perhaps the word “unpleasant” should be replaced with something like shocking or alarming. When you bite into a lemmon, even though you know its going to be sour, I think there is still an initial shock of how sour it is. Same thing with seeing a shark. People don’t just see sharks on the daily so seeing this apex predator is probably going to be fairly alarming. The one thing abstract art has in common with these two things is that it is not a daily occurrence for most human beings. I’m also pretty sure when you focus really hard on something your pupils shrink, so it makes sense that when looking at an unconventional piece of art and trying to decipher it’s meaning you’re eyes would shrink due to focus. I don’t know if there is truly this deep underlying reason your pupils shrink when you look at abstract art other than it takes more focus to interpret what it means to you.
Abstract art, like any art is relative to the person viewing it. Everyone experience different emotions with different things. Abstract art has the ability to both mean anything or nothing at all. So for some this form of art may produce feelings of fear, for others it may be wonder, and event still for some it may not produce any feelings at all. It all really depends on the person and the art itself. Art is a reflection of the mind. When art gives you the ability to give it meaning then the meaning can be wherever your mind is in the moment. This can help us understand ourselves. Perhaps people buy abstract art because they feel on some level that it speaks to them personally. Others might view it to get a sense of what it is they need to know. For some maybe it is just art. Whatever it is Abstract art has a power all its own, because it has the ability to makes us stop, think, and try to understand it, even if there is nothing to understand.
Abstract art can produce both or neither of these feelings. Such is the way of interpretation. It is considered abstract so that each individual can see something that another may not. People may attend an art museum featuring such an exhibit strictly for the novelty of it, while others may be hoping to view something they may have otherwise never encountered in concrete reality. -Darian Shaw
Abstract art is interpretive. For example, in the picture above, I see a crying face and a dead body. Another student might see something else. This art can create disgust, fear, anger, sadness, and even happiness. People buy art when they feel a connection to it. I have friends who buy "ugly" pictures to hang on their walls because they think its funny. Scary movies obviously produce fear, yet people still watch them for fun. Some emotions can trigger other emotions.
ReplyDelete-Libby Revel
Considering the fact that not all thought or emotion is experienced consciously, abstract art could produce a subconscious feeling of disgust. The human brain tends to enjoy patterns; something it can use to predict something else. The lack of specific placement might cause an unpleasant reaction like disgust in the brain. As for why someone would purchase such a piece, I would say it has to do either the conscious emotions experienced or what they imagine was going through the mind of the artist at the time of painting.
ReplyDeleteGracie T.
This question quite intrigued me and your answer was an excellent analysis of a potential reasoning for the dilation of pupils. Furthermore, perhaps our inability to immediately grasp what the picture conveys could lead one to be disgusted in our lack of perceptive vision or frustration at the artist's lack of clear communication in their artwork. I could definitely see this topic as a springboard for further research into the effects of abstract art on the human mind.
DeleteI’m more inclined to think that pupils contract in response to feelings like anger and frustration, if they respond at all that is. I haven’t looked into it very much, but art is more often than not based on reality and most of the time when people draw or paint people angry or frustrated they use very distinctive characteristics. A furrowed brow, hunched shoulders, and small pupils being a few. It isn’t as scientific as I like to be when discussing such things, but I think it is something to be mentioned nonetheless.
DeleteGracie T.
Abstract Art I believe can sometimes leave a state of confusion when being viewed. This confusion can leave people guessing as to what they are looking at, turning abstract shapes and colors into memories and further thinking. When a painting brings about pleasant memories it will likely lead to them purchasing it.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the word “unpleasant” should be replaced with something like shocking or alarming. When you bite into a lemmon, even though you know its going to be sour, I think there is still an initial shock of how sour it is. Same thing with seeing a shark. People don’t just see sharks on the daily so seeing this apex predator is probably going to be fairly alarming. The one thing abstract art has in common with these two things is that it is not a daily occurrence for most human beings. I’m also pretty sure when you focus really hard on something your pupils shrink, so it makes sense that when looking at an unconventional piece of art and trying to decipher it’s meaning you’re eyes would shrink due to focus. I don’t know if there is truly this deep underlying reason your pupils shrink when you look at abstract art other than it takes more focus to interpret what it means to you.
ReplyDeleteAbstract art, like any art is relative to the person viewing it. Everyone experience different emotions with different things. Abstract art has the ability to both mean anything or nothing at all. So for some this form of art may produce feelings of fear, for others it may be wonder, and event still for some it may not produce any feelings at all. It all really depends on the person and the art itself. Art is a reflection of the mind. When art gives you the ability to give it meaning then the meaning can be wherever your mind is in the moment. This can help us understand ourselves. Perhaps people buy abstract art because they feel on some level that it speaks to them personally. Others might view it to get a sense of what it is they need to know. For some maybe it is just art. Whatever it is Abstract art has a power all its own, because it has the ability to makes us stop, think, and try to understand it, even if there is nothing to understand.
ReplyDeleteAbstract art can produce both or neither of these feelings. Such is the way of interpretation. It is considered abstract so that each individual can see something that another may not. People may attend an art museum featuring such an exhibit strictly for the novelty of it, while others may be hoping to view something they may have otherwise never encountered in concrete reality.
ReplyDelete-Darian Shaw