Summary:
From Gombrich's perspective, this paper explores the psychological role of the sense of order in the decorative arts. By explaining the concept and characteristics of the sense of order, combined with the research of visual function and perceptual psychology, the influence mechanism of the sense of order on visual cognition and aesthetic experience is analyzed. This paper puts forward the important role of the sense of order in the aspects of integration and organization, clarity and conciseness, harmony and unity, and discusses the development direction and challenges of future art research, as well as the application prospects and significance of the sense of order.
I. Introduction
In the field of art psychology, E.H. Gombrich Gombrich's contribution is undoubtedly not negligible. As a well-known art historian and art theorist, Gombrich not only conducted in-depth research on art history, but also introduced a psychological perspective into the interpretation of works of art.
In his book The Sense of Order: A Psychological Study of the Decorative Arts, Gombrich explores the relationship between perception and order from the perspective of biological evolution. He believes that the sense of order is not only a psychological characteristic acquired by human beings in the process of long-term evolution, but also the basis of human cognition and understanding of the world. Unlike traditional Gestalt psychology, which emphasizes the simple form of perception, Gombrich emphasizes the important role of the sense of order in perceptual activity.
Gombrich believes that the sense of order is gradually formed by the organism in the long-term existence, and it is a kind of perception of the order and regularity of the world. The sense of order is not only a framework for perceptual activity, but also helps people to distinguish between things and maintain perceptual continuity under the principles of anticipation and extrapolation. In the field of decorative arts, the sense of order plays an important guiding role in the creation and understanding of works of art, which provides a psychological basis for the formation of art forms, and also affects people's perception of beauty and the discussion of visual functions.
II. A Biological Evolutionary Discourse of the Sense of Order
A. The Concept and Connotation of the Sense of Order
The sense of order is a kind of human perception of the order and regularity of the world, and it plays an important role in human cognitive activities. Gombrich defines the sense of order as the ability to perceive the orderly structures and patterns that exist in the environment, which enables humans to extract regularity and continuity from complex perceptual inputs, and build a cognitive framework for the world based on them. The sense of order is not only reflected in human perception and understanding of external things, but also runs through all aspects of human behavior and culture, and has become an indispensable part of human life.
The connotation of the sense of order includes the ability to perceive structures, patterns, and laws, as well as the ability to think and act on this basis. A sense of order allows humans to identify important information from their environment, distinguish differences between things, and think and make decisions based on that. In the field of art, the sense of order is reflected in people's ability to understand and appreciate the structure and form in a work of art, which is one of the important parts of aesthetic experience.
B. The evolution of the sense of order in biological evolution
Simple Perception Mechanism of Early Organisms: In the early stages of biological evolution, the perception mechanism of organisms was relatively simple, mainly through the direct response of sensory organs to external stimuli. This simple perceptual mechanism allows organisms to respond to some basic features of their environment, but lacks the ability to perceive complex structures and regularities.
A sense of order in complex organisms gradually develops: With the continuous development of biological evolution, some complex organisms gradually have more complex perception capabilities, including the ability to perceive structures and patterns in the environment. This sense of order is gradually formed, so that organisms can obtain richer and deeper information from the environment, which in turn improves their ability to survive and reproduce.
Peculiarities of the human sense of order: In the course of human evolution, the development of the sense of order has reached a new height. Human beings have more complex and advanced perceptual abilities, and can extract more complex and abstract structures and laws from the environment, which provides an important foundation for the development of human culture and artistic creation.
The Influence of Culture and the Evolution of the Sense of Order: The development of human culture has further promoted the formation and development of the sense of order. Elements such as language, symbols, and works of art in culture not only reflect human understanding and cognition of the world, but also shape human sense of order to a certain extent. The structure and form in a work of art are not only the artist's personal creations, but also the embodiment of cultural traditions and social cognitions, which further deepen the awareness and understanding of human beings about the sense of order.
III. The interaction between the sense of order and perception
A. Similarities and differences between Gestalt psychology and Gombrich's views
Gestalt Psychology: Gestalt psychology is a psychological theory proposed by German psychologist Gestave Gestalt, which advocates that human perception is influenced by mental presuppositions and experience accumulation, rather than the reality of the objective external world. Gestalt argues that human perception is not passively received, but actively constructed, and that people's perception is the result of an active construction based on prior knowledge and experience.
Gombrich's view: Gombrich also emphasized the initiative and construction of perception, but he focused more on the influence of cultural and social factors on perception. He believes that human perception is shaped in a socio-cultural environment, and that people in different cultural backgrounds may have different perceptions of the same thing. In addition, Gombrich also introduced the concept of "genetic psychology", emphasizing the influence of heredity on perception.
Summary of similarities and differences: Although both Gestalt psychology and Gombrich's views emphasize the subjectivity and constructiveness of perception, they have slightly different emphasis. Gestalt places more emphasis on the influence of individual psychological presuppositions and experiences on perception, while Gombrich pays more attention to the shaping of perception by sociocultural factors and heredity. What both have in common is that they both deny the objectivity of perception and emphasize the relativity and subjectivity of perception.
B. The regulation mechanism of the sense of order on perceptual activity
Channeling attention: A sense of order can direct people's attention to pay more attention to the orderly structures and patterns in the environment. Gombrich argues that when faced with complex perceptual inputs, people tend to look for regularity and continuity in them, thus forming a perception of order. This sense of order can direct people's attention to information that aligns with their cultural and social context.
Regulation of emotions and emotions: A sense of order also regulates people's emotions and emotional responses. Studies have shown that people tend to have positive emotional experiences with an orderly and tidy environment, and discomfort with a chaotic and cluttered environment. Gombrich believes that order and structure in a work of art evoke emotional resonance and create a sense of pleasure and satisfaction.
Regulation of cognitive processing: A sense of order can also modulate people's cognitive processing, allowing them to process information more efficiently. Research has shown that a sense of order can facilitate people's thinking and decision-making processes, making them more systematic and organized. Gombrich believes that the sense of order plays an important role in human cognitive activities, which not only affects people's perception and understanding of external things, but also affects people's thinking and behavior.
IV. The influence of the sense of order on the decorative arts
A. Gombrich's Psychological Interpretation of Art Deco
In Gombrich's psychological view, decorative art plays an important role, because it not only reflects people's pursuit of beauty and aesthetic needs, but also reflects the sense of order and psychological state in the social and cultural context. As a form of visual expression, decorative art presents a sense of order and beauty through its specific structure and organization, thus influencing people's emotional experience and cognitive processing process.
First of all, Gombrich considered the decorative arts to be a reflection of the socio-cultural order. In different cultural contexts, people's aesthetic standards and preferences for decorative arts will vary. For example, in Eastern cultures, simplicity and connotation are often emphasized, while in Western cultures, more emphasis is placed on ornate and expressive. This cultural difference has led to the diversity and richness of the decorative arts, reflecting a sense of order and aesthetic notions in different social cultures.
Secondly, the decorative arts play an important role in shaping the psychological state and emotional experience of individuals. Gombrich points out that people tend to have emotional resonance and aesthetic experiences when confronted with works of decorative art. For example, a beautiful mural or a fine piece of ceramics may evoke admiration and appreciation, making it feel the enjoyment of beauty and emotional pleasure. This aesthetic experience is not only derived from the aesthetic qualities of the decorative works themselves, but also influenced by individual cultural backgrounds and psychological presuppositions.
B. The expression and role of the sense of order in the decorative arts form
Structure and Organisation: Art Deco exhibits a sense of order through its unique structure and organisation. For example, in traditional Chinese decorative arts, the principles of symmetry and proportion are often employed, emphasizing the balance and harmony of the whole. This structure and organization reflects the quest for order and balance in Eastern culture.
Patterns and symbols: Patterns and symbols in the decorative arts are also important elements in expressing a sense of order. Different patterns and symbols represent different cultural meanings and symbolism, and play a role in conveying information and expressing emotions in the decorative arts. For example, the pyramids and the sun god bird, which often appear in the decorative arts of ancient Egypt, represent religious beliefs and symbols of power in ancient Egyptian culture.
Colors and materials: Colors and materials in decorative arts also affect people's emotional and aesthetic feelings. Different colors and materials represent different cultural meanings and emotional expressions, and play a role in enhancing the aesthetic and emotional resonance of decorative arts. For example, in the decorative arts of ancient Greece, materials such as marble and bronze were often used, reflecting the elegance and solemnity of ancient Greek culture.
V. The Psychological Foundations of Aesthetics
A. The formation of aesthetic sense and psychological mechanisms
As a subjective experience, beauty involves complex mental processes and cognitive mechanisms. In Gombrich's psychological point of view, the formation of beauty and its psychological mechanism can be interpreted from the following aspects:
Perception and cognition: The formation of aesthetics depends first and foremost on the process of perception and cognition. Perception refers to the sensory reception and processing of external stimuli, while cognition refers to the process of understanding and interpreting perceived information by individuals. In the process of perception, individuals obtain information through sensory channels such as vision, hearing, and touch, and in the process of cognition, individuals process and analyze this information to form a subjective evaluation of beauty.
Emotional experience: The formation of aesthetic sense is also closely related to emotional experience. Emotion is an important part of beauty, which expresses an individual's emotional experience and emotional response to beauty. When faced with the stimulus of beauty, individuals often have positive emotional experiences such as pleasure, surprise, and admiration, thus forming a sense of beauty.
Cultural Background and Social Experience: Individuals' aesthetic perceptions and preferences are influenced by cultural background and social experience. Different cultural backgrounds and social experiences shape individuals' understanding and evaluation criteria for beauty, and to a certain extent, determine the formation process of beauty. For example, in Eastern cultures, there is often an emphasis on connotation and emotional expression, while in Western cultures, more attention is paid to form and visual effects.
B. The role of a sense of order in shaping beauty
From Gombrich's perspective, a sense of order plays an important role in shaping beauty. The sense of order reflects the individual's cognition and pursuit of order and wholeness, which affects the formation and expression of beauty. Specifically, the sense of order affects aesthetics in the following ways:
Structure and organization: The sense of order requires things to have a certain structure and organization, and this structure and organization can enhance the expression of beauty. For example, in a work of art, an orderly and symmetrical structure often gives a sense of beauty and harmony, thus enhancing the artistic value of the work.
Clarity and conciseness: A sense of order requires things to be characterized by clarity and conciseness, which can enhance the feeling of beauty. For example, in the field of design, simple and clear design often gives a sense of beauty and comfort, which attracts people's attention and affection.
Harmony and unity: A sense of order requires things to be characterized by harmony and unity, and this harmony and unity can enhance the experience of beauty. For example, in musical compositions, harmonious melodies and unified rhythms often give a sense of beauty and pleasure, which triggers emotional resonance and emotional experience.
VI. Conclusion
The sense of order has profound implications for visual function. Through Gombrich's perspective, we can gain a deeper understanding of the impact of a sense of order on visual perception and aesthetic experience:
Integration and organization of visual cognition: The sense of order requires things to have structure and organization, which plays an important role in the integration and organization of visual cognition. In visual perception, individuals obtain information through sensory channels, and the sense of order guides individuals to integrate and organize this information, so as to form cognition and understanding of the visual world. For example, in a work of art, the order of structure and organization can help individuals understand the theme and meaning of the work, thereby enhancing the artistic value of the work.
Clarity and conciseness of visual aesthetics: A sense of order requires things to be clear and concise, which plays an important role in visual aesthetics. In visual aesthetics, individuals produce aesthetic experiences through the process of perception and cognition, while the sense of order guides individuals to evaluate the clarity and conciseness of visual information, thus forming a subjective feeling of beauty. For example, in the field of design, clear and concise designs often give people a sense of beauty and comfort, which attracts people's attention and affection.
Harmony and unity in the visual arts: The sense of order requires that things have the characteristics of harmony and unity, which plays an important role in the visual arts. In the visual arts, the individual produces the aesthetic experience through perception and emotional experience, and the sense of order guides the individual to evaluate the harmony and unity of the work of art, so as to form a subjective feeling of beauty. For example, in paintings, harmonious colors and unified compositions often give a sense of beauty and pleasure, which triggers emotional resonance and emotional experience.
Author: Lu Xilin
Bibliography:
Bela Julesz. (1971). Foundations of Cyclopean Perception. University of Chicago Press.
Chatterjee, A. (2014). The aesthetic brain: How we evolved to desire beauty and enjoy art. Oxford University Press.
Disclaimer: All articles (including graphics, papers, audio and video, etc.) under my account can be reprinted or quoted at will after 72 hours from the date of publication, without informing me. If you need to request a manuscript, please contact [email protected]