Evolution of Fine Arts Alex Cherubin, Sarah Norris, and Amanda Schieler

Evolution of Dance

History of Dance No written record before 1440 No written record before 1440 Cave drawings Cave drawings Egyptian tomb paintings Egyptian tomb paintings Greek and Roman dancing Greek and Roman dancing Tomb painting from Shaykh 'Abd al-Qurnah, Egypt, c BC.

History of Dance - continued Dance prohibited by church throughout Middle Ages Dance prohibited by church throughout Middle Ages As church’s power declined, social dances performed by nobility As church’s power declined, social dances performed by nobility Rise of classical ballet – Louis XIV of France Rise of classical ballet – Louis XIV of France Louis XIV

History of Dance - continued Refinement of classical ballet throughout 18 th and 19 th centuries Refinement of classical ballet throughout 18 th and 19 th centuries Advent of modern dance in 20 th century Advent of modern dance in 20 th century

Evolutionary Theories Sexual selection hypothesis Sexual selection hypothesis Coalition signaling hypothesis Coalition signaling hypothesis

Sexual Selection Hypothesis Dance indicates good health and good genes Dance indicates good health and good genes Dance reveals symmetry Dance reveals symmetry Theory does not account for dance performed in groups Theory does not account for dance performed in groups

Coalition Signaling Theory Communication of coalition quality Communication of coalition quality Significant practice required Significant practice required Central to many cultures’ formations of alliances Central to many cultures’ formations of alliances

Evolution of Music

Origins of music Early hominids had reduced jaw and teeth Early hominids had reduced jaw and teeth Better use of lips, tongue, and soft palate Better use of lips, tongue, and soft palate More upright stance changed structure of vocal tract More upright stance changed structure of vocal tract Evolution of Broca’s area Evolution of Broca’s area Change in diet place them in open savannah, exposed to preditors Change in diet place them in open savannah, exposed to preditors

Origins and Selection Control of volume Control of volume Alarm call Alarm call Calls for food Calls for food Communicating about surroundings Communicating about surroundings Vocal grooming hypothesis Vocal grooming hypothesis Larger vocal range=better able to please others and express emotions Larger vocal range=better able to please others and express emotions “Hmmmm”- holistic, multi-modal, manipulative, and musical “Hmmmm”- holistic, multi-modal, manipulative, and musical

Sexual Selection Sexual dimorphism Sexual dimorphism Male-male competition Male-male competition Female choice Female choice Homo ergaster-loss of sexual dimorphism Homo ergaster-loss of sexual dimorphism Female choice Female choice Female cooperation Female cooperation Indicator and aesthetic traits Indicator and aesthetic traits

Hmmmm Had become holistic, multi-modal, manipulative, and musical Had become holistic, multi-modal, manipulative, and musical Began to convey complete thoughts through different pitched/emphasized grunts or calls Began to convey complete thoughts through different pitched/emphasized grunts or calls Yodel-means of communicating in large areas Yodel-means of communicating in large areas Became more varied and could carry information Became more varied and could carry information Garmisch Yodeler- &feature=related Garmisch Yodeler- &feature=related

Why music? Sexual selection! Sexual selection! If one can perceive quality, creativity, virtuosity, emotional, and spiritual depth then so can sexual selection If one can perceive quality, creativity, virtuosity, emotional, and spiritual depth then so can sexual selection Behavioral trait that is heritable Behavioral trait that is heritable Courtship Courtship Rock stars? Rock stars? Allowed for runaway selection Allowed for runaway selection

Evolution of Art

History of Art Ancient art Ancient art Cave paintings Cave paintings Chauvet cave (30,000 B.C.) Chauvet cave (30,000 B.C.) Animal subjects Animal subjects Egyptian art Egyptian art Subjects are often of gods Subjects are often of gods Wide use of gold Wide use of gold

Progression of Art

Modern Art Abstract art Abstract art Photography Photography Graphic Design Graphic Design Glass Glass Unconventional art Unconventional art Sidewalk chalk Sidewalk chalk Trash art Trash art

Art in Modern Culture Advertising Advertising What catches the eye? What catches the eye? Movies Movies Growing artistic qualities in film Growing artistic qualities in film YouTube YouTube

Art in Evolutionary Psychology Artistic ability correlated with intelligence Artistic ability correlated with intelligence Creativity Creativity Art/Aesthetics relating to sexual selection Art/Aesthetics relating to sexual selection Visual advertisements of fitness Visual advertisements of fitness Difficult to make, high cost, therefore higher quality Difficult to make, high cost, therefore higher quality