UNIT 3 – What Is Art For? Essay Assignment

The term called “paleoanthropsychobiological” was coined by Ellen Dissanayake. She tried to present her own view of art for life’s sake. This view is very different and from special perspective. She tried to put several things together to be this term. These things are important to this term. So let me introduce some of them. First, One of these things is the idea of the whole art human history. Second, human societies from different times are necessary for this term. Third, art is a emotional need and have emotional effects on people no matter when it occurs.

Dissanayake used the phrase “making special” for view about art. Most people have common ideas about art that include three things mentioned before. She wanted to make it different. With her experience in the West, Dissanayake got a lot of new ideas. Making special is that art must be viewed human’s original peculiarity and also contain with human history, human culture and psychology. Everything has its special place, as well as normal things and common things. Just like different people has its own ideas about the value of art. Some people do not care about it and some people do the opposite thing. Dissanayake wanted to make special for her view about art.

First theory is common point in different times. “In medieval times, the arts in the service of religion, as they have always been, but were not regarded “aesthetically”.”(16) Dissanayake said that even though artists work for god and their religion, they still represent and use standards of beauty, harmony and excellence. Art has common point in different times.

Second theory is  public is more and more important for art. “To artists, as to everyone, the new order…As in 19th century advanced…” (17) People want to learn and find art in everywhere. They became hungry and thirsty for art.

Third theory is great changes weaken people’s attitude and views about art. “What we now call “the Romantic Rebellion” was…” (17) More and more people get changed because of five changes mentioned in  Dissanayake’s essay. New ideas and thoughts towards art and life let people stay away from original life and art.



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