Experiencing Art: In the Brain of the Beholder
One of the "Best Science Books of 2013" New ScientistThis is an important topic to address because art is a major interest to all cultured people and how it works is not at all obvious . . . Arthur Shimamura is obviously knowledgeable, well read and intelligent with an interesting background . . . Clearly this book would emphasise and be concerned with psychological insights and how the brain works rather than the history or indeed the philosophy of art. This may be no bad thing and could produce an interesting and important book from his interests and knowledge.--Richard Gregory CBE FRS, Emeritus Professor & Senior Research Fellow, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of BristolThis proposal is for another contribution of the recent stream of books on the relation of brain and mind sciences to the widespread activity of the appreciation of visual arts . . . What is clear is that, in contrast to most prior published works Shimamura is planning to go beyond considerations of perception (seeing) to the role of higher cognition (knowing and feeling) in the appreciation of the visual arts.--Lora Likova, Associate Scientist, Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research InstituteThe importance of Shimamura's proposal is self-evident, in terms of the enormous importance of art for people in general, and for the recent significant advances in technical tools and knowledge for understanding art . . . the proposed book by Shimamura is not only different from the other books he and I have cited, but also in many ways better--not only for being up-to-date, but also for treating art not merely through the lens of visual perception processes, but folding in cognitive and affective aspects in a serious way as well.--Aaron Kozbelt, Associate Professor, Psychology Department, Brooklyn College[All quotes are from pre-proposal reviews]"Shimamura has written the ideal introduction to what science can say about artworks, from prehistoric carvings to the latest video projections. It's readable, smart and informed. Better yet, it's a scientist's take that doesn't neglect the humanities: Shimamura cares about which neurons fire, but also about what Plato thought."-- Blake Gopnik, art critic,NewsweekandThe Daily Beast"Shimamura's engaging bookExperiencing Artbridges the perceptual gap between aesthetics and neuroscience by illuminating how we actually see and, ultimately, how we come to understand works of art. The book rewards even the most art-savvy reader."-- Douglas Dreishpoon, Chief Curator, and Leslie Zemsky, President of Board of Directors, Albright-Knox Art Gallery