tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425732352511468694.post7180176004809676776..comments2023-08-20T04:55:39.436-07:00Comments on Ars Psychiatrica: Pleistocene PleasuresNovalishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10501890494890617030noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425732352511468694.post-35324723387649130922009-02-18T19:39:00.000-08:002009-02-18T19:39:00.000-08:00It's true arts of colour and sound are what we...It's true arts of colour and sound are what we consider to be the exemplars of aesthetics. I would venture to add that perfumery--with all its variform chemical complexity (natural & synthetic) subtly/not so subtly nuanced for maximum wooing power (consciously/unconsiously)--can be considered as the art of smell.<BR/><BR/>And of course, food is the sensual art of taste. I mean.. how could you not fall in love with someone who comes bearing exquisite wine or a dessert of extreme chocolatey wickedness worthy of death?<BR/><BR/>Art, in whatever infinitely creative guise, is a mate magnet, ergo gene preserver. Great passtime too, and money generator!...But not everyone's shit is worth canning, so to speak. It is only a select genius few that can point their finger and make people see art where no art is...<BR/><BR/>Symmetry, recurring patterns/themes interspersed with unexpected bursts of maddening dissonance, non-contextual placement of objects/features/people/events etc...all very artfully pleasing to the human animal. <BR/><BR/>I'll have to read the book now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425732352511468694.post-40486640653836066972009-02-18T15:22:00.000-08:002009-02-18T15:22:00.000-08:00It sounds great! Will order it. Thanks for the t...It sounds great! Will order it. Thanks for the thoughtful review. <BR/><BR/>Serendipitous, as I had been watching my Sunday school kids lately thinking that art is innate, tho I couldn't come up with such far-reaching conclusions about it. People make things and paint them because it's fun. You don't have to tell a kid to sculpt. Try getting them away from the modelling clay. <BR/><BR/>As I saw also with my own kids (until the rigid school art teachers force everyone to do the same thing and it is right or wrong) they will work and work and work at something until it is the leopard or gun or God or whatever else they are representing. Mostly, art "education" takes away the play factor, but I wonder now(after reading your review and what you describe Dutton saying) if it doesn't also sever it from a lot else. <BR/><BR/>Like other forms of "play" that are serious. When you are watching a little boy fence with a wooden sword, hour after hour, alone on a hillside. Why? Is it a perseverative autistic behavior? A young knight to be in training? A rage-filled and dangerous menace? A future fencer? A kid fighting the monsters of conflict that wrack his small home? Someone imagining symphonies, battles, and ballets in their head and sweeping them into existence?Retrieverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09036341287285545932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425732352511468694.post-63488408693985025782009-02-18T12:34:00.000-08:002009-02-18T12:34:00.000-08:00Denis Dutton:Well, I'll be...you're welcom...Denis Dutton:<BR/><BR/>Well, I'll be...you're welcome, it's the least I could do in return for the oft-resorted to Arts & Letters Daily site.Novalishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10501890494890617030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425732352511468694.post-64690495139910667992009-02-18T12:01:00.000-08:002009-02-18T12:01:00.000-08:00This is fascinating. I am particularly struck by ...This is fascinating. I am particularly struck by Dutton's insight into music as plumage. This seems most plausible when we consider that so many animals use songs and calls to signal, attract and communicate with potential mates.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425732352511468694.post-24572524935317333502009-02-18T11:22:00.000-08:002009-02-18T11:22:00.000-08:00Anyone who'd put as many years as I have in develo...Anyone who'd put as many years as I have in developing the ideas in <I>The Art Instinct</I> would have to be very gratified by such an informed, sophisticated reading. Thank you very much.<BR/><BR/>-- Denis DuttonDenis Duttonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02123065737754138152noreply@blogger.com