Module Two - Blog: Video and CNN Article Review

1.       Key concepts:

a.        Aesthetics: Philosophy of the Arts:  http://digital.films.com/play/M27YLB

This video detailed the philosophers and history of art and the aesthetics. It showed main concepts that each philosopher agreed with and the evolution of the theories and practices of aesthetics.

b.        CARTA: Neurobiology Neurology and Art and Aesthetics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0TKYxAYGGA

This video specifically featured philosophers and scientists Changeux and Ramachandran whom dealt with the ideas of art and aesthetics. While Changeux dealt with areas of the brain that were affected by certain art and aesthetics, Ramachandran made up a set of “rules” that are engrained in us as humans when it comes to art and aesthetics and how we deal with that.

 

c.        http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/15/health/art-brain-mind/index.html?hpt=hp_c3:

The article dealt also with the brain, art, and aesthetics and how and why the brain reacts to pleasingly aesthetic art.

2. While watching the video I felt that the philosopher Immanuel Kant, of the 18^th century, who added on to and also refuted some of the ideas of Baumgarten, had the most contributions on aesthetics. He believed that aesthetics was completely subjective and didn’t follow rules, yet people can have the same likes and dislikes when it comes to beauty and aesthetics. He also said that the only thing that was ugly that couldn’t be beautified were things that were disgusting.

3. Changeux: I liked the fact that he believed that art and aesthetic pleasure derived from the beginning of time, and even the earliest cave men liked and paid attention to certain aesthetic features. He also showed parts of the brain that were excited by aesthetic pleasure. Ramachandran: Actually set up a loose set of “rules” dealing with art and aesthetics and why humans liked certain art features.

4.  Both the videos and the article had a lot to do with what and why the brain perceives when it comes to art. And with those perceptions some of the scientists are at a loss for why the brain does the things that it does when it comes to art?!

5. I thing the article and the video just opened up my mind to the fact that art is more than just a superficial at the surface idea and practice and that the brain is a really strange yet fascinating organ that does a lot more than I could even imagine.