Category: Unit 03

1. Describe the term paleoanthropsychobiological. Who coined this term?

The term paleoanthropsychobiological is coined by Ellen Dissanayake to suggest several things of his point of view about the history of Western art. There are three main parts in this adjective word. “First is that the idea of art encompasses all of human history; second is that it include all human societies; third is that it accounts for the fact that art is a psychological or emotional need and has psychological or emotional effects” (Dissanayake, 15). She use this word as view to describe that art must be viewed as a inherent universal trait of the human beings.

2. What does Dissanayake mean by the phrase “making special”? How does it relate to art and to human survival?

Dissanayake use the term “making special” to illustrate the behavior or propensity to ‘make special’, particularly things that one cares deeply about or activities whose outcomes has strong personal significance” (Dissanayake, 22). Also, she point out that the special is not mundane, and it can take something ordinary into extraordinary. Moreover, a behavior of art is not only stands for recognizing the special, but also to make something special with your ability. By the way, “artmaking and experiencing as a human behavior” (Dissanayake, 22) and “art as a kind of behavior that developed as they evolved to help them survived” (Dissanayake, 16) is also states the relationship between making special, art and human survival. In order to prove this point, she use the example how an animal’s behavior to survival to tell people how to make ordinary behavior become special with unusual behavior of art. This special ability could take on a significance in terms of human beings’ behaviors like thinking, making a plan, and using intelligent minds etc, which not only simply presents people know how to make ordinary behavior become an art and survival, but also stands for they have this artmaking ability to make their life complete and meaningful. For instance, human beings made of ritual ceremonies which make these normal behaviors as a form of art with special meaning.

3. Dissanayake identifies many different theories/movement/periods of art throughout western european history. Name three different theories of art that Dissanayake mentions in her essay. Identify the time period when each theory developed and was prominent. Provide a brief description of the philosophies and ideas that define each theory/movement/period of art. Support your answer with quotes from the reading.

Medieval times–the arts are not regarded “aesthetically”, and it serves for the religion and God. In the Renaissance period, artistes use man-centered concerns replace the God-centered (Dissanayake, 16). Although there are something changes with art, these artistes still focus on a recognized world and the normal standards of beauty, harmony and excellence still exist to stands for that period’s art.

Modernism–during the 18^th century, art as ideology and began to be called “aesthetics”-“a concern with elucidating principles such as taste and beauty that govern all the art and indeed make them simply not paintings or statues” (Dissanayake, 17). However, there is special frame of mind to appreciate works of art like according to people’s preference, and it’s utility, social and religious etc. Moreover, art had become an ideology, which needs some educated people to acquire them, and not everyone can get the meaning of this.

Postmodernism—during the mid-twentieth century, art as Interpretation, The artists in this period believe art is not reflect some kinds of knowledge, and art can be interpreted by anyone according their unique thoughts and cultural sensibilities (Dissanayake, 19). Also, artistes encourage individuals to ignore the standards of appreciating art and mold themselves with their own ones without restriction of religion and knowledge, each individual can interpret works as they like.

After reading this article, the author- Ellen Dissanayake stated that the meaning of the terminology “art” through her experience and an understanding of the different time’s perspectives on art. From her article, I learned that “art (is) as a kind of behavior that developed as they evolved” (Dissanayake, 2). Also, foe modern people, art includes many principles like taste and beauty from the authors’ point, which reminds me whether an artist’s work can be evaluated objectively if each modern people has his own frame of appreciating works like personal preference, interests, and styles. Furthermore, Dissanayake mentioned that “there is no appreciation of art without interpretation” (Dissanayake, 5), does it mean art is an imitation or an interpretation of nature? Or it means you cannot truly appreciate the meaning of the art without other’s interpretation. Moreover, how can we value works of art objectively without personal preference? As we all know, nowadays, many arts of works are being sold with high prices by auction. And the author pointed that 18^th century thinkers pay their attention on the term of  “aesthetics” ,which can be interpret as taste and beauty (Dissanayake,3). I have a question that according today’s situation about the value of art works, is the monetary value of a work of art important in determining the aesthetic value of the work?

From my perspective of art, I feel many things can be seen as arts according their situation. That is also means “art must be viewed as an inherent universal trait of human species” (Dissanayake, 1). Also, art is not only represent the artists’ creativity, innovation and imagination, and it can stands for one’s belief and understanding of this special or specific things. Arts do not have boundaries; everyone can appreciate them in their different views because each human being has different experience or backgrounds, so we cannot deny others’ understanding of the arts. We should respect each art and use a subjective way to appreciate arts with interpretation.