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What is visual literacy and why is it important
What is visual literacy and why is it important
What is visual literacy and why is it important
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“A Deeper Look into the Unseen:
The Psychological Effect of Art”
Paintings, like many forms of art, are very subjective—what one may find intriguing another may completely disagree. “Art is physical material that affects a physical eye and conscious brain” (Solso, 13). To glance at art, we must go through a process of interpretation in order to understand what it is we are looking at. Solso describes the neurological, perceptual, and cognitive sequence that occurs when we view art, and the often inexpressible effect that a work of art has on us. He shows that there are two aspects to viewing art: nativistic perception—the synchronicity of eye and brain that transforms electromagnetic energy into neuro-chemical codes—which is "hard-wired" into the sensory-cognitive system; and directed perception, which incorporates personal history—the entire set of our expectations and past experiences—and knowledge (Solso, preface)
When looking at an art piece such as a landscape oil painting by Albert Bierstadt—American artist who created Yosemite Valley. “In 1859, he traveled westward in the company of a land surveyor of the U.S. government, returning with sketches that would result in numerous finished paintings” (wikipedia). The artist shows incredible attention to detail throughout the landscape. The use of reflections is extremely effective and visually accurate; the reflections in the water—clarity of trees, shrubs, pebbles, and rocks—might be one of the most noticeable features in this piece. The relative brightness creates the warmth felt in this painting. The interposition as well as the allusion of three dimensions provides a high level of depth. Aerial perspective is correctly used, furnishing the effect of distortion—the...
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... time passes and the observer looks deeper into the piece, several feelings or emotions may arouse. Some feelings such as warmth, comfort, anger, hostility, calmness, sadness, and indifference can spring from just seeing certain colors in an image. The overall effect created by the artist could vary from person to person; however, it can be seen how a painting can psychologically affect people.
Works Cited
"Albert Bierstadt." Wikipedia. 15 Sept. 2006. 26 Sept. 2006 .
"Color Psychology." About. The New York Times. 26 Sept. 2006 .
Gladwell, Malcom. Blink. New York: Lttle, Brown and Company, 2001. 11.
Solso, Robert L. The Psychology of Art and the Evolution of the Concious Brain. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT P. 13-21.
many other emotions that the artist is trying to display in his painting. Although we can try and
Though most works of art have some underlying, deeper meaning attached to them, our first impression of their significance comes through our initial visual interpretation. When we first view a painting or a statue or other piece of art, we notice first the visual details – its size, its medium, its color, and its condition, for example – before we begin to ponder its greater significance. Indeed, these visual clues are just as important as any other interpretation or meaning of a work, for they allow us to understand just what that deeper meaning is. The expression on a statue’s face tells us the emotion and message that the artist is trying to convey. Its color, too, can provide clues: darker or lighter colors can play a role in how we judge a piece of art. The type of lines used in a piece can send different messages. A sculpture, for example, may have been carved with hard, rough lines or it may have been carved with smoother, more flowing lines that portray a kind of gentleness.
So, this painting creates a visual depiction of what people think and feel. The next two pieces create a different kind of impression, they are not showing us how it look directly, it is not something we can see with our eyes.
The development of “artificial perspective” creates a vast palette for the artist traditionally trained, or more importantly those non-familiars with the traditional methods. Once we as the beholders of art or the historians look past Berkeley’s theory of vision and thus look past the fixation with space in perspective, we may allow ourselves the opportunity to examine the relevance of light and texture, even the physiognomic expression. The author recalls the Chinese formula; “Ideas present, brush may be spared performance.” (pg331) This is evident in the ideal, the less there is in the complexity or ambiguousness to confuse our visual recognition the greater the reception by the beholder.
My day started kind of rough, because I and my wife couldn’t agree to manage our diverse schedule. I was scheduled to meet with members of my class in downtown San Diego, and she was scheduled for her event at work. Ultimately, after a brief argument, we utilized two different vehicles heading the same direction. A conflict in timing was the cause of our disagreement. As a result, the day for me started chaotic resulting in no inner peace of mind. I didn’t sense no normal pattern of tranquility in my thoughts. I felt mentally exhausted, anguish and pain at the knowledge I that couldn’t be trusted to go to a museum on my own. I started my day with an attitude of frustration and anger. To make matters worse, I thought I was going to a place where historically I found peace and tranquility in my mind. I was always very fond of art, and believe artist today have the freedom to express themselves with whatever style and methodology they have in life. Contemporary artist have greater freedom and influence than artist in the past, because they can use their artistic works to persuade individuals and help them realize or understand they have psychological or emotional personal problems. I believe art can help identify and expose underlying emotional and personal issues that some would normally be reluctant to share openly. This is my own profound personal self-realization.
From the creation of art to its modern understanding, artists have strived to perform and perfect a photo realistic painting with the use of complex lines, blend of colors, and captivating subjects. This is not the case anymore due to the invention of the camera in 1827, since it will always be the ultimate form of realism. Due to this, artists had the opportunities to branch away from the classical formation of realism, and venture into new forms such as what is known today as modern art. In the examination of two well known artists, Pablo Picasso and Jackson Pollock, we can see that the artist doesn’t only intend for the painting to be just a painting, but more of a form of telling a scene through challenging thoughts, and expressing of the artists emotion in their creation.
In Confronting Images, Didi-Huberman considers disadvantages he sees in the academic approach of art history, and offers an alternative method for engaging art. His approach concentrates on that which is ‘visual’ long before coming to conclusive knowledge. Drawing support from the field of psycho analytics (Lacan, Freud, and Kant and Panofsky), Didi-Huberman argues that viewers connect with art through what he might describe as an instance of receptivity, as opposed to a linear, step-by-step analytical process. He underscores the perceptive mode of engaging the imagery of a painting or other work of art, which he argues comes before any rational ‘knowing’, thinking, or discerning. In other words, Didi-Huberman believes one’s mind ‘sees’ well before realizing and processing the object being looked at, let alone before understanding it. Well before the observer can gain any useful insights by scrutinizing and decoding what she sees, she is absorbed by the work of art in an irrational and unpredictable way. What Didi-Huberman is s...
The immediate perception of the two paintings is very spiritual, but a closer probe finds the cause and effect decision-making
21.The disposition of some bodies toward the exercise of artistic talent and others toward talent in
Hume believes that what makes a piece of artwork appealing to the viewer, is the sense of approbation it gives them. Furthermore, approbation can be defined as a pleasant feeling of admiration and correctness that is a spontaneous reaction that happens to you when ...
Emotions are inborn feelings that derive from one’s temper and relationships with other people. Anger, love, sadness, happiness, and fear are all emotions that everyone feels. In the past, many people experienced difficulty expressing their emotions physically and so they developed their own ways to do so. Art was one of the ways that people sought after to express their emotions. Numerous artists found art to be an easy gateway for them to convey their emotions through it rather than conveying them physically. These artists would either show their own emotions and ideas through their works or they would try to spark specific emotions in the viewer’s mind. Some of the famous artists who were known for communicating emotions through art were
Conversely, upon investigating the artwork’s factual information such as the painting’s context, the artist’s background, the genre and the school or movement associated with the painting, it is possible to obtain knowledge that combines objective information and subjective opinion, confirming that some degree of objectivity, albeit with our ‘cultural imprint’, is possible as an art observer.
The mind creates the emotions and ideals responsible for art. The brain is capable of imagining glorious things, and art is the physical manifestation of these ideals. These ideals are usually intense emotions with aesthetic power (Wilson, 220). Art organizes these emotions in a matter that can easily express the ideals to...
Throughout the ages art has played a crucial role in life. Art is universal and because art is everywhere, we experience it on a daily basis. From the houses we live in (architecture) to the movies we see (theatre) to the books that we read (literature). Even in ancient culture art has played a crucial role. In prehistoric times cave dwellers drew on the wall of caves to record history. In biblical times paintings recorded the life and death of Christ. Throughout time art has recorded history. Most art is created for a specific reason or purpose, it has a way of expressing ideas and beliefs, and it can record the experiences of all people.
The arts have influenced my life in amazing ways. Throughout my life, art has been the place I run to and my escape from the world. As I’ve grown older, art has become so much more than that. Every piece of art I create is a journey into my soul. It’s a priceless way to deal with my emotions and my struggles. I create art not only because I enjoy it and because I want to, but because I have to. Somewhere deep inside there is a driving force, urging me to put my heart down on paper. I become emotionally attached to each of my pieces because they are like dashes on the wall marking my growth. Each one is the solution to a problem I have dealt with and overcome.