a question...
If you were able to explain on a scientific level (cells/molecules) why a painting was beautiful (how your brain processes/interprets why it's beautiful), would it decrease your enjoyment of it?
Please elaborate.
Please elaborate.
I don't think knowing the combination of neutrons or cells that have lead a viewer to like or dislike a work makes a difference. It's involuntarily. It's like saying "What if you were able to explain on a scientific why you like pizza, would you still like pizza?" Chances are, those who like pizza will say yes. This question assumes that somehow the cells work against enjoyment? And that knowing the scientific aspect of a reaction may decrease enjoyment? Your mind reacts to everything based on molecules and whatnot, It's how our brains function. If our brains did not react on a scientific level at all to receive data, then we would never see the picture in the first place. I suppose this question may stem from people seeing the demystification of art? I am not religious at all, so I don't think there's magic behind a painting. Perhaps people who have a spiritual reaction to art works may find the scientific level of explanation ...saddening?
Plenty of 20th cen. artists produced things for optical pleasure, knowing how to use the senses. Actually, you can say that of many good pieces. The Renaissance painters knew about perspective and how the eye functioned to some extent, and therefore created works that would agree with real world measurements.
Everything is data, what else would it be? Your mind works that way whether you wish to see it or not. I still enjoy art, hell I study it day in and day out! I still have an experience. And, knowing that an experience happens according to scientistic terms is irrelevant to some extent. I mean, how else would it biologically happen? You ask a biological question, you will most probably receive a biological answer...I don't see the downside to that.
You ask me about the experience of viewing a Rubens or a Titian firsthand, and I will not say anything about my cellular operations, I will relish in the painting itself. I hate to say it, but NEWS FLASH! You're an organism...you have these reactions, and I don't think they matter to someone who truly enjoys art. So what if they tell me "you have 8574893 cells and they reacted in such and such a way." First off, I won't know what that means, I don't think people who aren't scientists would know, and what the hell does it matter? It's like being pissed off when I tell you that a painting is made up a canvas that is painted with these materials, and this is how the colors react to each other and how they react to the canvas. It will be scientific and there I'd be speaking about the actual piece!
Lastly, because you biologically experience beauty, does mean beauty is less. You experience everything as a orgasm, what makes art different?
------------------------------------
Whose question was this??? And the "you" is an invisible other member of the conversation, it's not really you, Melody. hahah
[Also, I am open to debate :] I live for them. And, what's more, I enjoy being proven wrong.]
Reply
Leave a comment