To such conclusion scientists who conducted experiments on students

you into confusion Picasso? confuse the work of Jackson Pollock? you feel that you are missing something important when your friends are discussing in full the deep impression made on them abstract art? Well, you can read the history of art, To better understand what you're looking at. And you can just visit the gallery to see in the dark, dark room, a good horror movie.

In a recent study argues that the viewer more touching and impressive abstract painting if before its a good scare. This suggests that the charm of art is "a byproduct of one's propensity to alarm on environmental factors such as novelty, ambiguity and unrealistic" - says study author Eskin Kendall (Kendall Eskine), a psychologist at the University Loyola in New Orleans.

«Artists may use this natural attribute of human nature, when their work is breathtaking" - the researchers report in the journal Emotion. In this study they inspired the philosopher XVIII century, Edmund Burke (Edmund Burke), who argued in his writings that between fear and our perception of the sublime there is a strong relationship. To test this idea, researchers conducted an experiment involving 85 students of Brooklyn College.

Participants were administered in random order in four states: fear (showing a little scary video) happiness (showing nice video), high physical activity (to 30 students performed exercises with jumping), low physical activity (15 exercises). In addition, a control group whose members are not subjected to any of these effects.

After all the students showed four abstract geometric paintings El Lissitzky . Each experiment participants saw a picture on the screen for 30 seconds during which time they had to evaluate on a scale of how "inspiring", "exciting" and "impressive "show them these works.

« We chose these criteria for evaluation, as Burke thought they were components of the perception of beauty, "- the researchers wrote. ratings of participants on the four pictures in each of the states were united into a single "index of perception of beauty».

Fear was the only factor that significantly influenced the lofty sentiments of the students. After watching the video rocking perception of beauty ratings were significantly higher than in other states, the indicators for which little differed from each other.

This is understandable from the standpoint of evolutionary processes. "Fear, in its essence, is an emotional mechanism that sharpens our survival instinct, he urges us to defend, or flee freeze [trying to hide] when released into a frightening situation. Fear seizes our attention, changing the current plans, increases alertness, "- write Eskin and his colleagues Katsinik Natalie (Natalie Kacinik) and Jesse Prince (Jesse Prinz).

This is consistent with the description of the dynamics of the perception of beauty in Burke: philosopher, called this process "in such a state of mind in which all temporarily suspended its movement».

«work of art can capture our interest and attention, pull us out of the everyday flow of life, because it may be able to awaken our innate instinct to struggle with danger, "- psychologists conclude.

The experimental results confirm this theory, but it should be clear that our reaction to art depends on a combination of factors. Scientists emphasize that particular cultural background and our personal preferences affect the way how we ultimately find a picture - or a boring breathtaking. But something more fundamental going on with us when we really impressive art. When a sinister figure in a dark alley to run through the body shivers, in certain circumstances, the same can happen at the sight of a picture or reading a poem. So probably best to approach the Rothko with his heart pounding.

Prepared by Mary Onuchina, AI

Sources: artinvestment.ru