Though there were many positions represented in this chapter, Aristotle’s ideas stood out for me as a stance I most agreed with. The act of imitation is something humans, and in fact most creatures, engage in naturally. Watching and then attempting to reproduce actions like stalking prey, preparing a den, or using eating utensils are how young animals learn. Even as adults, when watching physical actions like a sports game our brain activates the areas of our brains that would engage if we ourselves were participating in it. For example, when we watch a dancer raise her leg parallel to the floor and spin, those areas of our brain that would allow us to do the same are activated. In this way we are able to “practice” those actions in case we would ever need to employ them.
I feel that the same concept applies to many forms of art. In this chapter Aristotle’s thoughts regarding tragedies are discussed, but I will focus on dramas because of their temporal significance. For humans television and movies often give an intimate look into circumstances unfamiliar to us personally. From these stories feelings like sadness, despair, joy, laughter, and anger can be incited in us and provide an outlet for emotion to be dispelled and learning to occur. For example, dramas will commonly increase compassion for characters and allow for a greater understanding of complex situations. Just as Aristotle believed, “cleansing or katharsis through emotions of fear and pity” (Freeland, 32) are incited in us when viewing a character facing hardship.
However, I then began to contemplate how these ideas could carry over into other forms of art. Music has similar effects on the human psyche. For many people music is an outlet for feelings of frustration or sadness, or it is a form of enjoyment that causes pleasure. In fact, it is often the compositions of songs that imitate nature that cause the most intense feelings of emotion. An example of this would be songs utilizing only a single instrument and consisting of long notes in a minor key. These sounds are close to sounds of sighs and wails, not only in humans but for other creatures. It is only natural that sounds we recognize as sadness in nature would elicit the same reaction when performed using an instrument. Art compositions induce emotions through color, contrast, and images. Each one of these tools draw upon nature to cause such reactions. Bright greens, yellows, and blues remind us of a sunny day, while deep and dark scenes remind us of gloom.
Imitation is an innate characteristic of almost every living creature. In my mind, it is because of this that art began in the first place. It has served as a way to convey tactics, events, and emotions since the beginning of man; it would be far less important if its purpose was only to entertain.
I feel that the same concept applies to many forms of art. In this chapter Aristotle’s thoughts regarding tragedies are discussed, but I will focus on dramas because of their temporal significance. For humans television and movies often give an intimate look into circumstances unfamiliar to us personally. From these stories feelings like sadness, despair, joy, laughter, and anger can be incited in us and provide an outlet for emotion to be dispelled and learning to occur. For example, dramas will commonly increase compassion for characters and allow for a greater understanding of complex situations. Just as Aristotle believed, “cleansing or katharsis through emotions of fear and pity” (Freeland, 32) are incited in us when viewing a character facing hardship.
However, I then began to contemplate how these ideas could carry over into other forms of art. Music has similar effects on the human psyche. For many people music is an outlet for feelings of frustration or sadness, or it is a form of enjoyment that causes pleasure. In fact, it is often the compositions of songs that imitate nature that cause the most intense feelings of emotion. An example of this would be songs utilizing only a single instrument and consisting of long notes in a minor key. These sounds are close to sounds of sighs and wails, not only in humans but for other creatures. It is only natural that sounds we recognize as sadness in nature would elicit the same reaction when performed using an instrument. Art compositions induce emotions through color, contrast, and images. Each one of these tools draw upon nature to cause such reactions. Bright greens, yellows, and blues remind us of a sunny day, while deep and dark scenes remind us of gloom.
Imitation is an innate characteristic of almost every living creature. In my mind, it is because of this that art began in the first place. It has served as a way to convey tactics, events, and emotions since the beginning of man; it would be far less important if its purpose was only to entertain.
I also thought Aristotle's ideas were the most feasible. I went with his ideas on Katharsis, but I wholly agree with your thoughts on imitation and its part in humans and animals alike. Leave it to the neuro major to know what parts of our brains are activated while watching a ballet! : )
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