Art enthusiasts gathered in the General Classroom Building today to attend an eye-opening lecture on how humans interact with one of the most interesting things that link them to one another: art.
James Elkins, a member of the department of Art History, Theory, and Criticism at the the Art Institute of Chicago, talked about his research on the intricate connection between people and artwork.
One aspect he touched on, presence, is something some can relate to: immersed in art so much that you are unaware of the real world.
In this case, video games also count. The anxiety and adrenaline rush experienced while playing video games is a form of being immersed in art. Try remembering this when you are feeling bored in another arts class.
For those of you who want to feel a better connection with the art around you, Elkins had a few suggestions:
- Don’t read the wall labels in museums. This takes you out of the painting and keeps you in ‘reality’
- Spend as much time as you can in front of one piece. Observe it, obsess over it.
- Dimly-lit, quiet galleries are the best of this kind of connection
