Week 7 - Neurosci & Art

This week we discussed the development of neuroscience and its affects on art as well as arts effects on neuroscience. Neuroscience is concerned predominantly with the nervous system and how neurons are responsible for communication between cells. From filmmaker, Noah Hutton, we learn that neurosci and art both mutually affect one another. Art is often used to inform us about our brains physical structure and inner workings. Similarly, our brains allow us to interpret and benefit from works of art. An example of this can be seen in Greg Dunn's "sumi-e" art that infuses minimalist style art with neurons as a motif. Neuroscience allows us to draw the neuron properly while art allows us to all see what it looks like.

"Two Pyramidals" by Greg Dunn

Johns Hopkins University set up a study called "Beauty and the Brain: A Neural Approach to Aesthetics," that considered the question of what exactly attracts the brain to artwork. This brought in the concept of aesthetic emotion -- emotions that are felt during aesthetic activity or appreciation. Aesthetic emotion is felt in a number of ways, but the two I found most interesting is in its application to amateur magic tricks, and coloring books.

Child Reacting to a "Magic" Trick

I had a bit of a magic phase during high school and many of my tricks relied upon artfully setting up and executing the specific trick. Unknown at the time, my small performances utilized aesthetic emotion in order to derive pleasure for both parties. The guest experienced pleasurable aesthetic emotion by witnessing something that tugged the curiosity of their mind, begging the question: "How did he do that?" For me however, the pleasure I experienced was from the many perplexed and amazed looks that would often follow                                                                                                 the performance.


My other example, coloring books, demonstrates the mutual affects of neuroscience and art. My mother recently started coloring in coloring books as a method of de-stressing at the end of her day. Here we see the effects of art on the brain rather than the effects of neuroscience on art. As testified by my mom, the act of engaging in a simple, yet creative task served as an effective way to relax. Coloring books is just one of the many forms of art that can help calm our nerves and relax.

One of my favorite magic tricks

Image/Video Links:

- https://i.ytimg.com/vi/svxirYEOxvA/maxresdefault.jpg
- http://i.huffpost.com/gen/616019/thumbs/o-10_TWO-PYRAMIDALS-570.jpg?4
- http://static6.techinsider.io/image/55ad40042acae700448b5a33-1440-1080/adult%20coloring%202.jpg
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mu4HCZyQXdQ

Sources:

- Alba, Deane. "The Mental Health Benefits of Art Are for Everyone." Be Brain Fit. Be Brain Fit & Blue Sage, LLC, 21 Oct. 2015. Web. 10 May 2016.
- Dunn, Gregory. Greg A. Dunn Design. Web. 10 May 2016.
- Hutton, Noah. "Art and the Limits of Neuroscience." Opinionator. New York Times, 4 Dec. 2011. Web. 10 May 2016.
- John Hopkins University. "Beauty and the Brain: A Neural Approach to Aesthetics." The Walters Art Museum, 23 Jan. 2010. Web. 10 May 2016.
- Kemp, Gary. "Collingwood's Aesthetics." Stanford University. Stanford University, 21 Aug. 2007. Web. 10 May 2016.
- Vesna, Victoria. "Conscious / Memory (Part 1)." UCLA. Lecture. 10 May 2016.
- Vesna, Victoria. "Conscious / Memory (Part 2)." UCLA. Lecture. 10 May 2016.
- Vesna, Victoria. "Conscious / Memory (Part 3)." UCLA. Lecture. 10 May 2016.