This is the title of a workshop/symposijm that will take place at the University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy, at the 23rd Scientific Conference of the Society for Gestalt Theory and its Applications, September 25-27 (link: https://www.gtaconference2024.com/). Confirmed speakers are: Liliana Albertazzi, Thiago Costa, Stefano Mastandrea, Alessandro Soranzo and Ian Verstegen. Below is the abstract of the conference.
What is needed for a proper ’science of art’?
In his book L’Osteria dei dadi truccati (Loaded Dice Tavern), Massironi (2000) claims that all psychologist interested in art tend to study it from the theoretical perspective that characterizes their work and beliefs. This, of course, is quite normal. The question, however, is whether such a pulverised approach is fruitful in addressing the complexity of Art as a phenomenon.
From another perspective, Zeki, the father of neuroaesthetics, attempted to address relevant questions, such as the very nature of art and why it is so significant to us. According to Zeki, the only way to properly address those important issues is through a neuroscientific approach. However, considering what we know and still don’t know about how the brain processes art, are we sure to be on the path to find the answers we are seeking?
There is of course a third path, experimental aesthetics, the goal of which is to study the aesthetic experience. The question one might want to ask is whether all aesthetic experiences are related to art, or even whether the enjoyment of an artwork is always reducible to an aesthetic experience (could there be more than mere preferences and the appraisal of beauty, harmony, etc.?). Finally, would it make sense to combine all possible approaches? Would this allow to achieve a proper science of art? Is this even feasible from an epistemological perspective?
The goal of this workshop is to shine a little light upon these topics and to prepare the basis for future meetings, the topics of which would revolve around the feasibility of a science of art and, eventually, its goals, perspectives and methods.
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