PS4084 Psychology of Visual Art

Academic year

2023 to 2024 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

15

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Available only to students in the second year of the Honours Programme.

Planned timetable

11.00 am - 1.00 pm Wed

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr D Vishwanath

Dr D Vishwanath
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr D Vishwanath

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module examines the psychology of artistic activity and aesthetic appreciation, both from the standpoint of the artistic object (e.g., painting), as well as the individual who creates or appreciates art. What psychological processes are involved in experiencing art? Why are some things more aesthetically pleasing than others? Why do some people have a greater capacity to create aesthetic things? What defines something as art from a psychological standpoint? The module will explore the links between aesthetic creation and appreciation on the one hand and perceptual and cognitive processes on the other. These links will be examined from theoretical, behavioural, and neurological viewpoints. We also consider the neurological factors that might heighten individual differences in the capacity to create and appreciate aesthetic objects, including mental disorders (e.g., frontotemporal dementia, autism) and atypical cognitive development (e.g., dyslexia). This will be a critical seminar style module with readings and discussions.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS PS2002

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework=100%, Re-assessment applies to failed components only

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

2-hour seminars plus office hour.

Scheduled learning hours

20

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

130

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • understand psychological processes underlying the creation and appreciation of visual art, including aspects of psychological engagement inherent in the various movements and periods in Modern Art
  • understand the role of individual differences, including neurological disorders and atypical developmental, in the creation of art
  • engage critically with primary research material on existing theoretical and empirical approaches in the psychology of visual art
  • identify challenges posed by research aimed at understanding the psychology of visual art, including behavioural and neuroscientific
  • demonstrate creativity, independence of thought and reasoning in written critical evaluation of existing scientific ideas, theories and findings
  • demonstrate ability to apply theoretical ideas and prior empirical work toward the development of new experimental ideas