Blog 2 Video responses

Questions and Topics for Your Blog Posting:
1. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.
2. Which philosopher's theroy on aesthetics do you feel is most important? Be sure to mention the philosphers name, era (time in history), and contribtion to the aesthetic theory in your response.
3. What do you think about Changeux and Ramachandran scientific view of aesthetics and art? What was the most interesting fact you discovered from each speakers lecture? 
4. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
5. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the topics in your reading?

1. Changeux was pretty hard to understand, making the french accent language barrier a priority in watching this video over actually understanding everything he was saying. I learned a lot about brain processes, emotions, and how the brain reacts while certain emotions are being expressed, aesthetic judgement for example. Ramachandran also speaks of the brain and emotions, but was much easier to understand, and made it much more easier to listen to with his sense of humor. Relating science and humanities, and how they meet in the human brain.  I found it interesting when he was speaking of the Indian sculpture, and the western people said her breasts and hips were too big, and her waist was too small. He made it clear that emphasizing what makes a woman beautiful is the purpose, it should not look realistic.

2. Immanuel Kant (1700's) says that what causes satisfaction, in the judgement of the beautiful, is pure form experienced in selfless contemplation. He published 'The critique of judgement' (1790).  Kant was one of the first philosophers to develop and integrate aesthetic theory into a unified and comprehensive philosophical system, utilizing ideas that played an integral role throughout his philosophy. 

3. I learned from Ramachandran, the eight laws of art. Grouping or "binding", Peak shift principal, Contrast, Isolating a single cue to optimally excite cortical visual areas ("attention"), Perceptual 'problem solving', Symmetry, Abhorrence of unique vantage points and suspicious coincidences, and Art as metaphor. He does not like using the term 'Art' because of the cultural connotations, he prefers the word visual aesthetics.

Changeux spoke of the brain, and evolution of the brain from our ancestors. When people think of 'Art', they do not think about how certain parts of your brain function more because of whatever emotion you're feeling while looking at a piece of art, or how our ancestors, people who painted in caves actually felt while creating such pieces.

4. The videos relate to the readings because they basically expand on what the book said. They give much more information on philosophers relating to aesthetics, and where their information and mind-set comes from. They all seem to have very different views on aesthetics, and the videos make it easier to compare them.

5. Again, Changeux was very hard to understand. I wish the videos were shorter, it is hard to sit at a desk and watch two hour long videos at a time. I think as students, we would benefit more by having shorter lecture based videos if they are available. I understand that most classes are around 50 minutes of lecturing, but these were a little dull, especially the first one. They do add depth to the readings, especially Ramachandran. His sense of humor, and high energy levels made me realize things that I may have read, but not grasped. I could listen to him lecture everyday for a class.