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March 22, 2006

Science grapples with art

Professor Vilayanur S. Ramachandran tries to get to grips with a Grand Unified Theory of Art. He is a neuroscientist and as such knows more than is comfortable about what goes on in that few pounds of grey stuff between our ears.

He’s worked out 10 Universal Laws of Art:

1: Peakshift - emotional motif saturation
2: Grouping
3: Contrast – the glimpse
4: Isolation
5: Perception Problem Solving
6: Symmetry
7: Abhorrence of Coincidence
8: Repetition, Rhythm and Orderliness
9: Balance
10: Metaphor

I realise these don’t mean a lot without a whole pile of explanation, but as well as discussing some of these in the 2003 Reith Lectures, he’s written a book about it all. I can understand some of what he’s identified, it makes sense.

Posted by john at March 22, 2006 10:33 PM

Comments

What does Abhorrence of Coincidence mean?

Posted by: Daphne at March 27, 2006 09:33 PM