Hidden Order of Art: A Study in the Psychology of Artistic Imagination

Rating:
Summary: an unusual look at perception and creativity
Review: The author of this book, who died in 1966, was an art studentin Vienna and later lectured in art in England. He wrote the book inthe sixties, when the Gestalt theory of perception was very much in vogue. His view of truly creative perception, however, is very different from the Gestalt view (which he argues against). He maintains that Gestalt perception is analytic in nature, and only begins to be used by children around the age of eight. However, younger children and artists use what he terms "undifferentiated perception" in perceiving the world--this form of perception is holistic and non-hierarchical. It makes no distinction between figure and ground, or between main subject and minor subject. He believes that on an unconscious level, we are all continuously scanning the environment in this way. However, only small children and some adults are open to the information thus gained. His arguments are compelling, and after trying undifferentiated perception myself, and raising young children who did seem to use it quite naturally, I was convinced that he was on to something. I've had this book over 12 years now and still refer to it when I'm thinking or writing about issues in perception, creativity, or consciousness. It has changed the way that I experience and think about my own mind.

Rating:
Summary: an unusual look at perception and creativity
Review: The author of this book, who died in 1966, was an art studentin Vienna and later lectured in art in England. He wrote the book inthe sixties, when the Gestalt theory of perception was very much in vogue. His view of truly creative perception, however, is very different from the Gestalt view (which he argues against). He maintains that Gestalt perception is analytic in nature, and only begins to be used by children around the age of eight. However, younger children and artists use what he terms "undifferentiated perception" in perceiving the world--this form of perception is holistic and non-hierarchical. It makes no distinction between figure and ground, or between main subject and minor subject. He believes that on an unconscious level, we are all continuously scanning the environment in this way. However, only small children and some adults are open to the information thus gained. His arguments are compelling, and after trying undifferentiated perception myself, and raising young children who did seem to use it quite naturally, I was convinced that he was on to something. I've had this book over 12 years now and still refer to it when I'm thinking or writing about issues in perception, creativity, or consciousness. It has changed the way that I experience and think about my own mind.