PN4084
Psychology of Visual Art
2024-2025
15
7
SCQF level 10
1
Academic year(s): 2024-2025
SCOTCAT credits : 15
ECTS credits : 7
Level : SCQF level 10
Semester: 1
Availability restrictions: Available only to students in the second year of the Honours Programme.
Planned timetable:
This module examines the psychology of artistic activity and aesthetic appreciation, both from the standpoint of the artistic object (e.g., painting), as well as the individual who creates or appreciates art. What psychological processes are involved in experiencing art? Why are some things more aesthetically pleasing than others? Why do some people have a greater capacity to create aesthetic things? What defines something as art from a psychological standpoint? The module will explore the links between aesthetic creation and appreciation on the one hand and perceptual and cognitive processes on the other. These links will be examined from theoretical, behavioural, and neurological viewpoints. We also consider the neurological factors that might heighten individual differences in the capacity to create and appreciate aesthetic objects, including mental disorders (e.g., frontotemporal dementia, autism) and atypical cognitive development (e.g., dyslexia). This will be a critical seminar style module with readings and discussions.
Pre-requisite(s): Before taking this module you must pass PN2002/PS2002.
Weekly contact: 2-hour seminars plus office hour.
As used by St Andrews: Coursework = 100%
Re-assessment: "Coursework=100%, Re-assessment applies to failed components only"
Module coordinator: Dr D Vishwanath
Module teaching staff: Dr D Vishwanath
Module coordinator email dv10@st-andrews.ac.uk