Week 1: Spatial, Somatic, and Sensory Dimensions

Question 1

Somaesthetics

Answer 1

The body as a site of perception performance, and creative self expression; a subject in the world

Question 2

Soma

Answer 2

The body that both experiences and perceives the world; body as object and subject

Question 3

Embodied cognition in art

Answer 3

The mind needs a physical experience to process; allows for direct contact to the external world without need for reflective thought

Question 4

Point of View

Answer 4

Internal and external views of ourselves. Can be limited.

Question 5

Plato’s rejection of the body

Answer 5

The somatic senses are insufficient as tools of knowledge

Question 6

Solution to Plato’s judgements

Answer 6

Cultivate mind-body harmony to improve somatic awareness (yoga, meditation, etc.)

Question 7

Greek philosophical belief about the body

Answer 7

A healthy body is key to a functioning mind

Question 8

Baumgarten Aesthetics

Answer 8

Aesthetics is the science of sensory cognition, with a goal of systematically perfecting sensory perception. Complement of logic, emphasizing cognitive value of sensory perception

Question 9

Relation between somaesthetics and Baumgarten’s aesthetics

Answer 9

Somaesthetics applies embodiment ideas to Baumgarten’s aesthetic ideals

Question 10

Kant’s Aesthetics

Answer 10

Built off of Baumgarten’s theories, but emphasizes the role of pleasure or satisfaction in perceiving aesthetic things. Claims pleasure has an innate connection with the somatic

Question 11

Hegel’s Aesthetics

Answer 11

Disconnected art and pleasure; claimed art was best when it reached philosophical levels and brought deep aspects of humanity to consciousness. Insisted aesthetics was the science of art. Assumes that meaning/truth and pleasure oppose each other.

Question 12

Hegel’s Hierarchy of art

Answer 12

The lowest tier was symbolic art (material form outweighs the idea), the middle tier was classical art (material and idea are in balance), top tier was romantic art (idea cannot be captured by material).

Architecture -> sculpture -> painting -> music -> poetry (bottom to top)

Question 13

The role of pleasure

Answer 13

Pleasure works alongside truth to determine sacredness and value. Pleasure is inseparable from activity and completes the experience (classic view of pleasure); understanding and enjoyment rely on each other

Question 14

Analytic somaesthetics

Answer 14

Theoretical research of function of somatic senses in cognition (bio/physiological interplay included)

Question 15

Pragmatic somaesthetics

Answer 15

Critical and comparative study of somatic methods; holistic (movements to develop energy and harmony in the body) and atomistic (individual focus on physical attributes of beauty); three subtypes, representational, experiential, and performative

Question 16

Representational somaesthetics

Answer 16

Focus on the surface level of the body (cosmetics)

Question 17

Experiential somaesthetics

Answer 17

Focus on making somatic experience more pleasurable and more perceptive (yoga)

Question 18

Performative somaesthetics

Answer 18

Build health, strength, or skill primarily

Question 19

Practical somaesthetics

Answer 19

Engaging in practice for somatic self-improvement

Question 20

The role of the body in art

Answer 20

The body can act as both a mean and an end for art; creating and admiring it