Vision: the creative apprehension of reality
Wilhelm Worringer author of Abstraction and Empathy informs me that “Aesthetic enjoyment is objectified self-enjoymentâ€. Aesthetics is that which is pleasing in appearance, i.e. that which we find to be attractive.
What do we do when we objectify self-enjoyment? A quick answer might be that we make self-enjoyment into an object.
When we speak of “object†we generally must speak also of “subjectâ€. We might say that the subject is the “knower†and the object is that which is “knownâ€.
“The study of art is an indispensable part of the study of man.â€
“Our experiences and ideas tend to be common but not deep, or deep but not common. We have neglected the gift of comprehending things through our senses.â€
Our penchant for the facts (what can be counted or measured for distance, speed, time, or weight) has left us with a paucity of ideas for dealing with images and the meaning of those images; “we seek refuge in the more familiar medium of words…The inborn capacity to understand through the eyes has been put to sleep and must be reawakened…This limitation, however, applies not only to art, but to any object of experienceâ€
Words can and must wait until our minds distill the categories of living that are revealed to us through our body in the process of experience. “Language cannot do the job directly it has no direct avenue for sensory contact with reality; it serves only to name what we have seen or heard or thought.â€
“Unchecked self-analysis can be harmful, but so can the artificial primitiveness of the person who refuses to understand how and why he works. Modern man can, and therefore must, live with unprecedented self-awareness.†Many decades ago I asked a professor philosophy ‘what is philosophy about’; he replied that it is about radically critical self-consciousness.
Gestalt psychology has a kinship with art. Gestalt is a common German noun for shape or form derived mainly from experiments in sensory perception. “Artistic vision of reality was needed to remind scientists that most natural phenomena are not described adequately if they are analyzed piece by piece. That a whole cannot be attained by the accretion of isolated parts was not something the artist had to be told.â€
“Far from being a mechanical recording of sensory elements, vision proved to be a truly creative apprehension of reality—imaginative, inventive, shrewd, and beautiful…The mind always functions as a whole…all perceiving is also thinking, all reasoning is also intuition, all observation is also invention.â€
Gestalt experiments made it clear that an examination of reality requires interplay between the object and the nature of the observing subject. The objective element in experience justifies the distinguishing between what is an adequate and an inadequate conception of reality. Adequate conceptions must contain a common core of truth that will permit the art to be potentially relevant to all individuals.
Quotes from Art and Visual Perception by Rudolf Arnheim, Professor Emeritus of Psychological of Art at Harvard University. His books include Film as Art 1957, Visual Thinking 1969, The Dynamics of Architectural Form 1977, and The Split and the Structure: Twenty Eight Essays†1996.
- Board index General Forums Philosophy
- Search
-
- It is currently Thu Apr 18, 2024 8:57 pm
- All times are UTC-07:00
Vision: the creative apprehension of reality
-
- Posts: 5115
- Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2008 5:11 pm
Vision: the creative apprehension of reality
Post by Clodhopper »
This sounds very much like what I mentioned yesterday about viewing the world in a child-like way.
I mean, I don't step outside and go, "Ooooh! Tarmac!" (perhaps I should?) but I did spend some time a few days ago trying to look, really look, at a garden spider. Very handsome beasties.
And it's amazing where the mind goes. It occurred to me that what I was doing was a form of meditation, though that hadn't been the intention.
So yes, I think I agree that looking is a creative process.
I mean, I don't step outside and go, "Ooooh! Tarmac!" (perhaps I should?) but I did spend some time a few days ago trying to look, really look, at a garden spider. Very handsome beasties.
And it's amazing where the mind goes. It occurred to me that what I was doing was a form of meditation, though that hadn't been the intention.
So yes, I think I agree that looking is a creative process.
The crowd: "Yes! We are all individuals!"
Lone voice: "I'm not."
Lone voice: "I'm not."
Jump to
- Official Forumgarden Area
- ↳ News and Announcements
- ↳ Request A New Forum Here
- ↳ Problems, Solutions Feedback
- ↳ Threads containing hotlinks
- ↳ Test Forum
- Relaxing in the Garden
- ↳ Introductions
- ↳ Member Map Link
- ↳ Photos
- ↳ Member Map Discussion
- ↳ Members' News
- ↳ ForumGarden Hotel
- ↳ General Chit Chat
- ↳ Friends, Relationships, Advice
- ↳ Mental Health
- ↳ Travel Vacation
- ↳ FG Game Shows
- ↳ The Dating Game
- ↳ Commentary
- ↳ FG's Got Talent!
- ↳ Mystery Gardener!
- ↳ Weather Station
- ↳ Welcome To My Day!
- ↳ Pub Nutters Inn
- ↳ The Coffee Shop
- ↳ Holidays
- ↳ Just For The Fun Of It
- ↳ Arcade Discussions
- ↳ Word Games
- ↳ This Deserves A Caption
- ↳ Links to the Fascinating
- ↳ Explain Your Avatar!
- ↳ Did You Know?
- ↳ Show Us Your Computer Station
- ↳ Skewed News Humor
- TV Movie Chatter
- ↳ General TV Shows
- ↳ Soap Operas
- ↳ Films Cinema Forum
- Music Forums
- ↳ General Music
- ↳ New Releases
- ↳ Song Lyrics
- ↳ Favorite Music Videos
- My Favorite Videos
- ↳ Arts Animation
- ↳ Autos Vehicles
- ↳ Comedy
- ↳ Music
- ↳ People
- ↳ Pets Animals
- ↳ Science Technology Videos
- ↳ Sports
- ↳ Travel Places
- ↳ Video Games
- Personal Forums
- ↳ Fitness Nutrition
- ↳ Wall Street to Main Street
- ↳ Health Wellness
- ↳ Diabetes
- ↳ Men's Health
- ↳ Women's Health
- ↳ Healthcare
- ↳ Work Employment
- ↳ Fashion Clothing
- ↳ Home Management
- ↳ Kids Family
- ↳ Physically Challenged
- Support and Counseling
- ↳ Recovery Forum
- ↳ Bereaved People
- ↳ Bereaved Parents
- General Forums
- ↳ Current Events
- ↳ History
- ↳ Bizarre News Stories
- ↳ Conspiracy Theories
- ↳ Conservation The Environment
- ↳ Polls, Polls, and more Polls
- ↳ Philosophy
- ↳ Wide World of Sports
- ↳ Societal Issues News
- Crimes, Trials, Justice
- ↳ Crimes Trials
- ↳ Missing Children
- ↳ Missing Adults
- ↳ Amber Alert Forum
- Shop 'Til You Drop
- ↳ Hot Deals Freebies
- Dogs, Cats, All Things Pet Related
- ↳ The Pets In Our Lives
- ↳ Pet Advice Support
- ↳ Choosing a Pet
- ↳ Training Your Pet
- ↳ Pet Behavior
- ↳ Your Pet's Diet
- Farming
- ↳ Pastoral
- ↳ Hydroponic
- ↳ Arable
- Autos, Motorcycles, Anything With Wheels
- ↳ Cycling and Cyclists
- ↳ Biker Forum
- ↳ General Chit Chat
- ↳ Auto Racing
- Radio Forums
- ↳ General Radio
- ↳ Amateur Radio
- ↳ Shortwave Listening
- ↳ Collecting and Refurbishing
- ↳ Radio Tech: HD Radio, Satellite, SDR, Packet
- Politics
- ↳ Current Political Events
- ↳ Immigration
- ↳ Abortion
- ↳ Gun Control
- ↳ Drugs, Alcohol Tobacco
- ↳ Health Care
- ↳ Warfare Military
- ↳ Presidential Elections Campaigns
- ↳ Social Human Rights
- ↳ International Politics
- ↳ Political Humor Satire
- Arts Entertainment
- ↳ The Time Capsule
- ↳ Time Capsule Photo Gallery
- ↳ The Nifty 1950's
- ↳ The Psychedelic 1960's
- ↳ The Super 70's
- ↳ The Awesome 80's
- ↳ The 1990's.
- ↳ Our Current Decade
- ↳ The Television Forum
- ↳ The Library
- ↳ Talk About Comedy
- ↳ The Gaming Zone - PC Console
- ↳ Flash Games
- ↳ Web Design Art Forum
- ↳ Poetry Writing Forum
- Religions Beliefs
- ↳ General Religious Discussions
- ↳ Christianity
- ↳ Modern Ancient Paths
- ↳ Body, Mind, Soul
- ↳ Magic Mystery
- ↳ Ancient Wisdom
- ↳ Islam
- ↳ Judaism
- ↳ Eastern Religions
- ↳ Godlessness
- ↳ Prophecies and Prophets
- Science Technology
- ↳ Science
- ↳ Paranormal Science
- ↳ Space and Astronomy
- ↳ Earth Changes
- ↳ The Internet
- ↳ Computers Internet
- ↳ Electronic Gadgets Galore
- ↳ Home and Car Audio
- Hobbies - Special Interest Forums
- ↳ The Outdoors
- ↳ Gardening Forum
- ↳ Garden Galleries
- ↳ Photography More
- ↳ Geo Photo Blogging
- ↳ Needlecrafts
- ↳ The Kitchen
- ↳ Arts Crafts
- Senior Forums
- ↳ Retirement Planning
- ↳ Retirement Activities
- ↳ Health and Drug Concerns
- ↳ Senior Share
- Regional
- ↳ United States
- ↳ New England / Mid Atlantic
- ↳ South East
- ↳ Mid West
- ↳ Mountain West
- ↳ South West
- ↳ Pacific West
- ↳ Australia
- ↳ Canada
- ↳ United Kingdom
- ↳ England
- ↳ Scotland
- ↳ Wales
- ↳ Northern Ireland
- ↳ Ireland
- ↳ Other Regions
- Westcliff Rules Debating Area
- ↳ Watch
- ↳ Discuss
- ↳ Propose
- ForumGarden Blogs
- ↳ Recent Blog Postings