Post on 21-May-2015
description
Do visual artists transfer private mentalimages to the public space?
Foundations of an alternative view based onphilosophy of language and mind.
Visual Mental Images, Content,and Narrative Schemata
PPhilosophical Overview: Problems for mentalimages
PObservations on aesthetic perception andmental images
PThe Imagosphere
PExamples from comics
Visual Mental Images, Content,and Narrative Schemata
PPrivate Language Argument
PThe Pure Presentation problem
PHigher-order Thought problem
I. Problems for mental images
PCould a “Robinson Crusoe” develop alanguage?
PAnswer: No. Doubts about:< The possibility of self-defined concepts< Understanding nature of interior perceptions< Reliability of memory/uniformity of association
Private Language Argument
Private Language Argument
“I am going to the bank by the river.”
Pure Presentation Problem
PNo images for logical concepts
PNo images tied to abstactions
PNo images present in complex thoughts
Higher-order Thought Problem
PPrivate Language Argument: an invented,private personal language is impossible
PThe pure presentation problem: not evenGod could tell the meaning of an image
PHigher thought (meaning) requires logicaland linguistic coding – or narrative socialcontext
Problems for mental images
PProblem: A private language is impossible< Solution: Language meaning generation is a
social phenomenon
PProblem: A private imagery symbology isimpossible - images have no inherentmeaning< Solution: Imagery meaning generation is a social
phenomenon
Problems for mental images
A solution by analogy to language
PLook at how images are used in context
PPursue analogy to social construction oflanguage
PMap natural imagery types to artistic activity
II. Observations on aestheticperception and mental images
Balance
Repetition
Proximity & Unity
Public Aesthetic Principles
Public Aesthetic Principles
Alignment - Contrast - Golden Mean - Symmetry Viewer Perspective - Light/Dark - Perspective
Symbols - Sharp/Blurred - Color Association
Gesture - Optical Illusion - Depth Perception
Types of Mental Images
After-images
Memory
Imagination
Thought
Physical, hardwired responses and mechanisms -----> “Free” mechanisms
Automatic Mechanisms - Poons
Memory - Seurat
Imagination - Chagall
Thought - Michelangelo
PArtist conceives “private meaning” – animage/narration complex rooted in theimagosphere
PComplex is produced, enters imagosphere
PArt Appreciator supplies narrative context toconstructively create meanings
PNew memes released into imagosphere
III. The Imagosphere
A model of the public space of imagery creation,interpretaion, and exchange
Public Imagosphere mimics structure of mind
Physical images can be mixed with narrative content in multitude of ways
Raw Stimulus ----------> Memory -------------> Imagination --------------> Thought ---------->
Minimal narrativecontent: Imageallows appreciator tocreate manymeanings that do notcoincide with artist’s“private” meaning
Image comes “preloaded”with public narrativecontent: Appreciator’smeaning more closelyapproximates artist’s
New interpretations,new meanings
New elements in theimagosphere
Imagosphere simultaneously feeds on and builds itself
PUse of automatic psychological responsemechanisms - good/bad characters
PUse of lack of detail - subjective identificaton
PUse of visual language “rules”
PUse of political/metaphysical interpretivenarratives
IV. Examples from Comics
Shared cognitive and narrative structures
Artist in Thought Art Appreciator
Meaning