In Response to Brian's Question

It is not possible for a viewer to deny the content of art pieces granted that the brain automatically processes the content. Regardless of whether or not the viewer chooses to acknowledge the content of the art piece, the brain does have such a choice because simply by viewing the piece for a single moment the brain automatically goes through the process of giving it a title (i.e. seeing a picture of a tree and knowing that the picture fits in with other sights that have been labeled as trees) and categorizes it to be stored as information in the brain. Even when the content of the art piece is unclear, the brain will automatically attempt to go through this process. This same statement holds true to a viewer who looks at only part of an art piece. The brain will automatically attempt to fill in the missing pieces. Because of this process that the brain automatically undergoes when presented with a stimulus, it is not possible for a viewer to deny the content of the art piece. A viewer can attempt to divorce him- or herself from the content by means of not acknowledging the content, but the brain is still aware of the content on a subconscious level, making it difficult for the viewer to view the work apart from its content. Does the fact that human brains automatically categorize stimuli hinder our ability to judge art?

In Response to Katie's Question

Art serves a variety of functions. It helps people to communicate with one another, is a form of self-expression, and can help individuals learn more about themselves, others, or the topic at hand. Personally, I believe the primary function of art is self-expression. Although it is evidently clear that art can function as much more than being just a form of self-expression, self-expression tends to be a large component of all art even when other art functions are present. Art as a means of communication is seen mainly through the expressions of emotions. An artist who is feeling a certain emotion such as depression may paint a dark, sad, and lonely piece that when an onlooker views it, he or she is able to understand this emotion. Here the artist has successfully communicated his or her feelings. Not all art is created with intent to be shown though. Many individuals may select to create art such as writing a poem, never intending it to be read by another or published. Reading one’s own writings can aid in learning more about oneself. Art can also function as an educational material where an onlooker could look at a drawing or painting and gain a better understanding of the content of the piece than he or she had before. Although all of these functions of art are extremely common, self-expression via art is the greatest reason behind why we create art. What are some other functions of art?

In Response to Jacob's Question (Week 6)

From what I understand of Dewey’s artistic theory, I believe that he would say that non-human art is a possibility. In the essay, Dewey makes his idea abundantly clear that art is both viewed and created in the everyday processes of living. This is true in both human and animal environments. Animals have often showed a preference to aesthetically pleasing stimuli in certain situations (i.e. the peacock having bright and colorful feathers used to attract a mate) meaning that there is a possibility that this appeal to aesthetically appealing stimuli could extend beyond the spectrum of usefulness. Since the fact that animals take an interest in aesthetics for a variety of reasons is well known, I do not believe that Dewey would rule out the possibility of animal art altogether. At the same time, it seems unreasonable to say that one is certain that animal art exists since there is no definite proof of such thing occurring. Although non-human art is a definite possibility, verifying this hypothesis could never take place because there is no known way to discover whether or not the animal creating the work a person may perceive as art was creating it for its aesthetic appeal versus a more common explanation of the creation, such as to serve a specific purpose. It is unlikely that the discovery of whether a bird places a leaf in a certain part of its nest was conducted for an aesthetic use or as a constructive tool, but the possibility of animals creating art on some level is definite. Do you think that some animals are more likely to have an appeal to aesthetics than others?