For this weeks comment or question, I will be discussing the video presentation by Denis Dutton. Dutton’s TED talk was on the subject of A Darwinian theory of beauty. A topic that really struck me was the fact that when some of these objects were made the species making them didn’t use language. Dutton mentions this in his talk, “The people that made the objects in that day didn’t use language. Objects were made between 50,000 and 100,000 years before language was created.“ My question for the week stems from this thought. My question is I would like to pose to the class is: How were ideas conveyed between the species without the use of language? Dutton states, “It’s hard to grasp, but it’s an incredible fact.” Given the world we live in now, with all the technological and communication advances, this notion of communicating without using language seems impossible.
Although the ways in which we convey ideas have changed, there are still some ways of thinking that haven’t. Similarly to so many things in the world that change, the ways and forms of communication have changed such as storytelling and dancing turning into cell phone and social media use. However, Dutton goes on in his talk to explain some ways of thinking that haven’t changed over time. For example, “One fundamental trait of the ancestral personality persists in our aesthetic cravings, which is the beauty we find in skilled performances.” Dutton uses some examples, “From the Lascaux, the Louvre, and Carnegie hall,” to illustrate objects that have been admired for many of years. Applying this way of thinking to modern day is interesting because our society definitely still thinks in this way. Talking about sports for example, fans love to watch their favorite team or player put on a skilled performance. Dutton mentions in the talk that, “We find beauty in something done well.” The admiration of a job well done is still present and rings true to this day. Our ancestors might have used pictures or some other way to communicate, but the messages they were conveying are still prevalent in our society today.
Source- Video Presentation: Denis Dutton, A Darwinian theory of beauty.
Interesting question. I would assume that people traded ideas and “talked” or communicated with each other by gestures and facial expressions, and maybe offering gifts. Before we had language, we were probably more like other animals, where we’d use body language and behaviors to indicate how we felt or what we wanted. It’s obvious when a dog is mad, and when it’s begging for food. I think it would be similar if we never developed language.
Conveying ideas with language is just so much more intricate. It’s irreplaceable. But this isn’t the only way we express ideas, even now. We still express ourselves through art, dance, instrumental music, and much more. Language, as important as it is, isn’t the only way we can “talk” to each other. I think that communication is so important because it lets us express what we think is beautiful or attractive, and more importantly, why it is. Instead of just showing each other axe heads (or other art pieces) and expecting applause, we can show it and talk about it and explain why it is “done well.” A lot of what you said is really great.
You bring up a good point of body language being a mode of communication. Even in today’s society body language is prevalent, but less so given our ability to communicate via word of mouth. Gift offerings, as an expression of feeling also seems realistic and possible. It’s interesting to think of how communication has progressed from body language, to speaking, to now social media and advanced technology.
You also discuss a good point of how language isn’t the only way we “talk” to each other. As you mentioned, there are so many other forms of expression. Wouldn’t you agree that these forms often work together to create something that is expression a multitude of thoughts of feelings? The beauty in art is that there are many different reasons why a piece is “well done.” It is all in the eye of the beholder, which is why language is essential because it gives us a way to express what we think. The video discussed this when Dutton explained how humans find beauty in something done well.
I would like to consider the question that was brought up about how even though there was not a language, there was still a need for ideas to be expressed. I think that this is where and why art came about. Even though the earliest humans could not express their thoughts or ideas through words, they were able to show others by by creating objects that expressed ideas through understood shapes. It is a way to connect how art is still used in the same manner. Artist try to convey meaning or messages through they art and as viewers, we value that type of expression and try to understand it.