Interpreting Visual Art

A Survey of Cognitive Research About Pictures

By: Catherine Weir, Evans Mandes

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Hardcover | 15 May 2017 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Hardcover
278 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.75

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Interpreting Visual Art explores the psychological and cognitive mechanisms that underlie one''s interpretation of art. After the brain encodes visual information, this encoding is then processed by perceptual mechanisms to identify objects and depth in pictures. The brain incorporates many factors in order for people to "see" the art. Cognitive processes have a major role in how people interpret artworks because attention, memory, and language are also linked to the aesthetic experience. Catherine Weir and Evans Mandes first examine major attributes of aesthetic judgement - balance, symmetry, color, line, and shape - from an empirical point of view as opposed to more philosophical and speculative approaches. Then, they explore the perceptual process, paying special attention to art history in the Western world and emphasizing techniques from cave paintings to modern art. The role beauty and emotions play in our interpretations of pictures have been investigated from many approaches: evolutionary psychology, neuroscience, and appraisal theory. Through the application of empirical research in cognitive science to master works from Botticelli to Pollock, readers are introduced to a research-oriented understanding of how art has been perceived, interpreted, and appreciated in the twenty-first century. This book will appeal to those interested in art as well as those teaching art history, psychology, and neuroscience.

Industry Reviews

-Pleasure and interest are two of the defining features of the arts. For those wanting to know what scientists have been thinking about how the visual arts work, this unusual, well researched and beautifully written book should result in both interest and pleasure.-

Chris McManus, University College London

-This exciting book is a much needed contribution to the emerging interdisciplinary understanding of how we interact with art. Sharing the empirical findings of psychological science in an easy-to-digest, well written style, Weir and Mandes take the reader on a fascinating journey through the various mind and brain based processes with which we encounter visual material like drawings and paintings. The authors use of a great variety of works of well and lesser known art to illustrate these principles, providing readers with an excellent -how to- guide for the next time they are in a museum or gallery. This volume will be most enlightening to any students or aficionados of art, art history, and psychology. And that includes most of us!-

Tomi-Ann Roberts, Colorado College

"Pleasure and interest are two of the defining features of the arts. For those wanting to know what scientists have been thinking about how the visual arts work, this unusual, well researched and beautifully written book should result in both interest and pleasure."

Chris McManus, University College London

"This exciting book is a much needed contribution to the emerging interdisciplinary understanding of how we interact with art. Sharing the empirical findings of psychological science in an easy-to-digest, well written style, Weir and Mandes take the reader on a fascinating journey through the various mind and brain based processes with which we encounter visual material like drawings and paintings. The authors use of a great variety of works of well and lesser known art to illustrate these principles, providing readers with an excellent "how to" guide for the next time they are in a museum or gallery. This volume will be most enlightening to any students or aficionados of art, art history, and psychology. And that includes most of us!"

Tomi-Ann Roberts, Colorado College

"Pleasure and interest are two of the defining features of the arts. For those wanting to know what scientists have been thinking about how the visual arts work, this unusual, well researched and beautifully written book should result in both interest and pleasure."

Chris McManus, University College London

"This exciting book is a much needed contribution to the emerging interdisciplinary understanding of how we interact with art. Sharing the empirical findings of psychological science in an easy-to-digest, well written style, Weir and Mandes take the reader on a fascinating journey through the various mind and brain based processes with which we encounter visual material like drawings and paintings. The authors use of a great variety of works of well and lesser known art to illustrate these principles, providing readers with an excellent "how to" guide for the next time they are in a museum or gallery. This volume will be most enlightening to any students or aficionados of art, art history, and psychology. And that includes most of us!"

Tomi-Ann Roberts, Colorado College

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