'The Art Instinct': In the DNA of the beholder?
In today's Arts & Books section, Michael S. Roth reviews the new book "The Art Instinct: Beauty, Pleasure, and Human Evolution" by Denis Dutton, editor of the website Arts & Letters Daily. In the book, Dutton argues that art in all its various forms arises out of universal biological impulses, and that all cultures have developed artistic practices.
So, art is grounded in biological impulses? What does that mean? Roth explains Dutton's position:
... Viewed from a distance, all human practices are ultimately grounded in biology. (Where else would they be grounded?) You like Britney Spears, and Dutton loves Beethoven. It turns out that both musical choices stem from the preferences that evolved in the Pleistocene environment. Dutton would say the same thing if you preferred Lil Wayne, Wagner, Javanese gamelan or Scottish bagpipe music. Biology really makes no difference to our judgments about music, except in the sense that we can always appeal to it as the ultimate ground of our pleasures and dislikes.
Although Roth points out shortcomings in Dutton's theories, he says the author makes some powerful arguments about philosophy and anthropology surrounding the arts -- and does so with a fair amount of wit to boot.
-- Scott Sandell
Above: Britney Spears, photo by Matt Sayles/Associated Press; Ludwig van Beethoven, Times file art.
Poor Ludwig there, fighting biology and trying hard not to sneak a peek at Britney's bust.
Posted by: YoEleven | February 08, 2009 at 11:15 PM
More nonsense. I like musics and art fom far more cultures and backgrounds than most, but also far more critical, If a form has nothing at a certain level, that can compete withother forms, that moves, inspires, is about defining Mankind, Exploring Nature, or Searching for God, I dont give a damn.
I cant stand most Folk music, but Dylan and Joni Mitchel, who is more eclectic adn jazzish anyway, stand out, same with Marley in Reggae, most is boring nonsense. Even Rock had a few, Hendrix, Allman Bros, a few had the musicianship and artistry and passion to elevete beyond the norm. To the level of Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and good ole Ludwig.
Same with visual arts, love great Japanese, pre columbian, Tribal, ancient Mediterraneans, early Renaissance, Modern, (no Contempt worth a damn though, the best were really Moderns like Anselm Keifer) Great art is in many places of many kinds, of many forms. Biology has not say so, excetp in the kinds of passions released, the desire to understand Truth, to love a beautiful woman. Well, I do that, dont know abou the rest of you.
Academic theories are not of life, but autopsies doen of dead things, after they are no longer vital. Sily books are just marketing tools, great artists far and few between, and certain times call out for them, now is such a one, in a dearth of art after decades of neglect and decadence. Lets stop whining, and get to work.
art collegia delenda est
Posted by: Donald Frazell | February 10, 2009 at 07:21 PM