Lecture 4: Visual Art Part I Flashcards
Performing art vs Visual art
Performing: dynamic and synchronous
Visual: static and asynchronous
The visual arts are characterized by their static nature as fixed objects.
Staticism in both 2D (painting) and 3D (sculpture).
The visual arts are the static components of the performing arts.
- Sets, lighting, costumes, makeup
Trade-off in performing/visual art
Visual arts is not good for interpersonal coordination.
However, visual art is enduring, whereas performance is not
Core Features of the Visual Arts (4)
1) The perception of objects and spaces
- In both 2D and 3D
2) Object creation, production, and use
- Conceiving of objects (graphics design)
- Tool creation; tool use to make objects
3) Ornamentation (aesthetic sense)
- Artification of objects and spaces
4) Narrative content (communication)
- Visual symbols (does not need to resemble) and icons (resembles something)
EX:
Cat =symbolic (does not describe a cat)
Drinking motion with finger and thumb =icon
Two ways of displaying
Performing Arts: Performance as display (dynamic)
Visual Arts: Exhibition as display (static)
Some functions of static displays
Artify a person (individual display): make-up
Self-promotion (individual display): selfie
Artify of object/space: home of king/queen (display of wealth/power)
Function as a deity/religious symbol: pray to statues, wearing a cross
Capture a dynamic expression/action: wearing masks (facial expression very fixed)
Signify social functions within a culture: uniforms (police/doctors) –signifies diff social roles
Signify group identity: textile patterns can signify which tribe you are from, diff sports team wear diff colours
Signify nation identity: Canada flag
Signify intuitional identity: logos (golden M=McDonalds)
Commemorate event/person: statue of famous individuals, tombstones, photographs
Classification of visual art (body/non-body)
BODY
2D: images on skin/body surface (tattoos, henna)
3D: objects attached to body (clothing, shoes, jewelry)
NON-BODY
2D: images on non-body surfaces (paintings, photographs)
3D: functional, decorative, artistic objects
2D/3D duality example
Purse in the shape of a guitar
As a 3D object, it is a purse (holds belongings, shaped like a purse); however for 2D, it is a guitar (guitar design on bag)
Graphical Cognition
Our graphic design sense
1) Conceive: idea formation
2) Produce: tool creation
3) Ornament
4) Display
First 2 =functional creativity
Last 2 =display creativity
The Globular Brain Theory
Expansion and rounding of parietal bone of skull
Parietal bone globularity is associated w/ parietal lobe expansion in the brain
The parietal lobe mediates visuomotor integration
Tool use has been proposed as a selection pressure that expanded the parietal lobe
Objects vs Spaces
Objects (ornamentation): shape (pattern ON objects)
Spaces (display): layout (patterns OF objects)
Visual rhythms
Spatial patterns of repetition
- Rhythm in space
Architecture as frozen music
Geometric Cognition vs Numerical Cognition Definition
perceiving object shapes and locations in space
counting objects
2 modules of core geometry
OBJECTS
Shape
Length => size
Angle => shape (rectilinear—sharp corners, curvilinear—curved)
- People like curvilinear more (curved corners, arches, etc.)
SPACES
Layout
Distance (distance from myself or b/w 2 objects)
Sense (right/left)
2 core numerical systems
Approximate Number system:
Relative: more vs less
Ratios
Large or small numbers
Specific Number system:
Absolute: specific counts
Absolute numbers
Small numbers only
The reciprocal challenges of vision and drawing
The challenge of vision: construct a 3D percept from a 2D retinal image
The challenge of drawing: create 2D representation from a 3D percept
2D Retinal surface=>[Depth perception]=>3D visual percept=>[Drawing]=>2D drawing surface
