1. A Cognitive Theory of Aesthetics Gary Doran

2. Aesthetics Major components: Aesthetic Experience (and Behavior) Aesthetic Properties (Visual Stimuli) This definition is artificial, and purposely limited

3. Cognitive Science Interdisciplinary Field Neurology Psychology Others… Fit to study aspects of aesthetics related to the human mind

4. Learning to See? A lot of complicated social/cultural and conscious processes are involved in aesthetics Let’s ignore them for now Focus on “universal” properties of aesthetics

5. Simplifying Things

9. Perception Grouping Process of turning individual components of stimulus into a whole object Important for recognizing animals, especially camouflaged ones

10. Perception: Grouping

11. “Low-Level” Processes Peak-Shift Effect Mice trained to respond to rectangles Respond more when more rectangular stimuli are presented Basis for caricature?

12. “High-Level” Processes Non-art college students and art experts both asked to rate a set of paintings There were correlations within each group, but negative correlations between groups Enculturation “Acquired Tastes”

13. “High-Level” Processes MetaphorImagination

14. Theory and Practice Concepts can be applied to art, architecture, or design in general Universals important given multiculturalism Theory informs creativity, but doesn’t limit it

15. Questions?