Course detail

Psychology and Art

FaVU-2PSUAcad. year: 2024/2025

The course will introduce psychological perspectives on the process of creating, perceiving and interpreting a work of art. Subjective principles of perception and imagination, personality assumptions and links to social positions, communication, role play, and conditions of social interaction. The course will also provide a more detailed insight into the basic theories of 20th century depth psychology, including their influences on the development of avant-garde art, and will offer a foundation of theories underlying original and current strategies of equal opportunity and the fight against inequalities and stereotypes in society. Complemented by a lecture on the phenomenon of play as the basis of human action.

 

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

2

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

doc. Mgr. Richard Fajnor

Department

Department of Art History and Theory (KTDU)

Entry knowledge

A recommended prerequisite for further work with the content of the course is the completion of the course Basics of Psychology 1 and 2.

 

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

For creditation is necessary 50% active participation in classes.

 


Lecturing takes place in the classrooms of the FFA BUT in the hours determined by the schedule. Attendance is compulsory in 50 %.

 

Aims

The aim is to provide students with specific knowledge to understand the process of creation and reception of a work of art. To promote the conscious development of skills and the use of personal potentials for one's own artistic activity, including self-reflection and awareness of the ethical dimension of artistic exploration of the world.

 


Knowledge and understanding of the process of creation and reception of an artwork. Support for development of abilities and use of personal potentials for one's own artistic activity, including self-reflection. Orientation in the basic psychological theories of the 20th century and their influence on artistic trends and strategies.

 

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Hal, Foster; Krauss, Rosalind; Bois, Yve-Alain; Buchloh, Benjamin H.D.; Joselid, David. Umění po roce 1900 - modernismus, antimodernismus, postmodernismus. Praha: Slovart, 2015. ISBN 978-80-7391-975-7 (CS)
Kulka J.: Psychologie umění. Praha, Grada 2008 (CS)
Whitten, Shannon. Psychology, Art and Creativity. Routledge, 2022. ISBN 978-0367856878 (CS)

Recommended reading

Gombrich E. H.: Umění a iluze. Praha, Odeon 1985 (CS)
Gombrich, Ernst Hans. Smysl pro řád. Praha: Argo, 2021. ISBN 978-80-257-3695-1
Hlaváčková Jitka; Vojtěchovský, Miloš. Zvuky kódy obrazy, Sounds Codes Images. Praha: ArtMap, 2020. ISBN 978-80-907873-4-6
Mather, George. Psychology of Visual Art. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2013. ISBN 978-0521184797
Simner, Julia; Hubbard Edward M. The Oxford Handbook of Synesthesia. Oxford: Oxford Library of Psychology, Oxford University Press, 2018. ISBN: 9780198836278

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme VUM_M Master's 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Mgr. Richard Fajnor

Syllabus

  1. Psychology and perception of the work. Introduction to the subject; summary of the basic principles of psychological processes from the perspective of general psychology. 
  2. Subjectivity of human perception and illusion. Perception of a work of art and the conception of the work with regard to the referential possibilities of the audience; the concept of the interpretation of the effects of colour in diagnosis; iconography and historical conventions. Principles of association and composition. Meaning parameters of spatial and temporal relationships.
  3. Art forms and choice of means of expression. The language of visual, musical, dance, literary, dramatic works; means of expression, subject matter, content, form.
  4. Methods of creation. Art as an unmistakable way of knowing the world; talent as a subjective disposition of observational skills and the choice of a code to describe reality. Important concepts: personal dramaturgy, personal mythology, observation, evaluation, experimentation, authorship and interpretation.
  5. Thought models and creativity. Providing, training and supporting divergent production. Important concepts: Guilford's morphological model of intellect, conventions and creativity.
  6. Psychological theories and trends. Characteristics and basic elements. Important concepts: shape psychology, gestaltism, depth psychology and psychoanalysis, behaviourism, humanistic psychology, transpersonal psychology, etc.
  7. Influences of psychological theories of the first half of the 20th century. Art and psychoanalysis. Sigmund Freud.
  8. Influences of psychological theories of the 1st half of the 20th century. Art and analytical psychology. Carl Gustav Jung
  9. Influences of psychological theories of the 1st half of the 20th century. Art and individual psychology. Alfred Adler
  10. Structuralism and Psychoanalysis 2nd half of the 20th century. Jacques Marie Émile Lacan. Roland Barthes.
  11. Feminist critique of psychoanalysis. Juliet Mitchell. Judith Butler. Julia Kristeva. 
  12. The play. Play as the basis of human activities, play as a creative principle, play as imitation/model, play as presentation.
  13.