Clockwork MuseBasic Books, 1990 M11 6 - 411 pages What determines the evolution of styles in poetry, painting, music, and architecture? Are there universal laws of art history to which even Shakespeare, Beethoven, and Picasso were subject? In this highly original and provocative book, cognitive psychologist Colin Martindale challenges conventional theories that seek to explain changes in the arts as the result of political, religious, or social forces. "Social forces do not cause change in art; they distort it," he writes. Martindale argues that it is the pressure for novelty that shapes individual artistic careers and trends, whether in literature, music, or the visual arts....Through the use of computer models and experimental simulations, Martindale explores the psychological factors involved in producing novel responses and he traces the stylistic changes that derive from this need for novelty.--Book jacket. |
Contents
A Scientific Approach to Art and Literature | 1 |
A Psychological Theory of Aesthetic Evolution | 34 |
xiii | 42 |
Copyright | |
18 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
accounts aesthetic American amount analysis argued arousal potential artists average become born British called cause century cognition complex composers Composite computed concerned concrete consistent correlations course critics decline decrease dimensions early emotion English equation evolution example expect explain fact factors figure French give idea increase Index indices influence interest Italy John late later laws least less literary look Martindale meaning measure novelty originality oscillations painting percent period poetic poetry poets possible predicted present primordial content prior probably produce question random reason references romantic sample scales scores seems selected sense shown significant similar social sort statistically stories style stylistic change subjects tell tend texts themes theoretical theory things thought tion trend types values variables variation versus write