what are the influences of modern psychology on art?

-- laura hartzke (starryabyss_2000@yahoo.com), May 26, 2001

Answers

Hi Laura, of course a good answer to your question would be a very thick book, and you would surely want to nail down your definition of art, but you might be interested in following up on a few suggestions here: look into Gertrude Stein's relationship with William James and relate what she studied under him to the works of that Paris crowd she hung with & influenced, include the poets with the painters. Also, the artist who drew the right hand drawing the left hand while the left hand was drawing the right hand, look for the British Gestalt influences on him. Rent and watch Butterfield 8, for Freud. For mythical art influences, read Jung. Hope this helps. It is a great topic. Best, David

-- david clark (doclark@yorku.ca), May 26, 2001.

Hello Laura, Much of what "surrealism" (of the early twentieth century) exemplified, was a committment to expressing or representing the unconscious. As a relatively new thing at the time, "psychoanalysis" caught on like wild fire in the art world (primarily in Europe). Famous figures such as Salvador Dali and Andre Breton (offcially part of the surrealist movement, under a manifesto at that)held strong convictons concerning some variation of psychoanalysis or another. The "dream-like" quality of most surrealist painting is very much a testament to this situation. (See, for writers and painters e.g.: Andre Breton, Man Ray, Max Ernst, Joan Miro, Hans Arp, Andre Masson, Giorgio De Chirico, Rene Magritte, Salvador Dali, Yves Tanguy, and Pablo Picasso, to name but a few potential references here). In fact, Dali was interviewed by Freud, and later (apparently) became somewhat obsessed by his (Freud's) image, which he rendered many times in sketch, and also painted. You might find Andre Breton's novella "Nadja" of special interest, as it involves an artists encounter with an emotionally instable woman. Much of the works themes surround the surreal, unconscious, and ultimately, reality, from a surrealist aesthetic perspective. Also, perhaps read the "surrealist manifesto". Last point: film; you might want to see if you could find somethig by Jean Cocteau, he is also around this genre. Best of luck and enjoy! Stefan.

-- Stefan Majumdar (cyclone@pathcom.com), May 28, 2001.

One of the most interesting crossovers between psychology and art is, in my opinion, to be found in what is known as "OP-art", a style of art that works heavily with visual illusions and actually uses insights from the psychology and psychofysiology of perception. I don't know whether the artists working there actually 'know' what they are doing in terms of the mechanisms of optical illusions or merely go for the obvious visual effects. I do not have references at hand, but in many introductory books on visual perception you will find examples of op-art, so that could get you started...

-- Denny Borsboom (ml_borsboom.d@macmail.psy.uva.nl), July 24, 2001.

The influence of psychology on the art of music, rock music specifically, is pretty amazing. Think of Jim Morrison (The Doors) - "Father, I want to kill you.....Mother, I want to.....!!" (Freud)

Or Bob Dylan's "If my thought-dreams could be seen....they'd probably put my head in a guillotine....but it's all right Ma, if I can't please them." ( Carl Rogers)

Or John Lennon's "Working-class Hero" which gives a pretty accurate account of how kids are turned into neurotics at home and in school, a subject on which Pink Floyd's "The Wall" is probably an all-time masterpiece.

Interesting question, Laura! I think I could go on for hours, yet I never before examined music in that context.

-- visualize me (visualizeme@webtv.net), November 15, 2001.

In some cases our perception of modern art is confused. By observing 'Brut Art' the viewer gains an insight into the 'soul' of the Outsider Artist. These Artists work from an inner strength or emotions and in some cases their works of art are driven by anger. It is intense and rich in detail.Modern Art reflects the chaotic world in which we live.

-- Damien Aylward (aylwardd@esatclear.ie), June 01, 2002.

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-- andre (dreamscapes@lantic.net), March 12, 2005.