Girl with Pearl Earring by-passes our ‘virtual machine’
Reading and listening to stories is a serial experience, whereas looking at certain paintings is a parallel one. Vermeer was capable of putting all the facets of his daughter in one single image. When an artist does this it is known as ‘simultaneous vision’ or ‘ambiguity’. When we look at the painting all these messages are received simultaneously by the brain and stored.
Our response is emotional. When asked to express what the painting communicates to us requires the transformation of this data into a serial form of language. What we consider ambiguous art, it appears to be a form of communication that appeals directly to the parallel processor nature of our brain. That is it transcends the virtual machine and goes straight to our CPU. When this occurs we receive aesthetic pleasure. We could say that it has the same affect as Nature has on the brain; it overwhelms us with information and signals.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Computer analogy - Answers
Serial and Parallel Processors and the Virtual Machine (after Dawkins, 1987)
Another interpretation can be derived from the work of philosopher Daniel Dennett and his work on human consciousness. Dennett developed a means to explain consciousness from an analogy of the way a modern computer works. The computer can be divided into two basic components: the Central Processor Unit (CPU) and the User Interface. The CPU is the complex inner workings of a computer. Most computers have serial processors, that is they work on tasks one after the other at high speed. It operates so quickly that we have the impression that it is working on these jobs simultaneously. That is it gives us the illusion that it is parallel processor. Parallel processors are effectively several serial computers connected together in order to complete a single task. The task is broken down into smaller parts and each one is dealt with at the same time. The parallel processor is clearly much faster than its serial counter part.
The User Interface is what we see on the screen. It is composed icons and buttons, which we could call the “virtual machine”. When these virtual keys on the screen are pushed or moved with the curser through the mouse, they activate many complex operations with in the CPU. Without the virtual machine the computer would be only accessible to the specialist. The Virtual Machine renders the computer “user friendly”.
The mind operates on two different levels. The first is the simultaneous reception and analysis of information in its surroundings. For example we all possess at least five senses: sight, smell, touch, taste and hearing. Our sense organs receive and process data constantly and simultaneously: that is, it works in a parallel fashion.
The second is best described as our thoughts or inner voice, and it is analogous to the virtual machine. Our inner voice puts into words what we are feeling and the analyses of these sensations. Our thoughts occur in a serial way, occurring one after the other, and giving us a commentary on what is happening around us. It can also enter into an internal dialogue and make decisions thus giving the body instructions on what to do and how to act in response to a certain situation. The inner voice is aware of itself and its surroundings, in other words, it is our consciousness. It seems that the key to this question is language. Information passed through language is serial.
The fact that we can serialize thought and transform them into words means we can pass on interpretations and descriptions of our environment, give instructions and generally share hard earned knowledge. This leads to the group gaining greater control over the environment. Additionally, there is considerable advantage in sharing knowledge with kin. This would boost the chances of continuation of parental genes, which is thought to be the essential goal of evolution. Furthermore, Pinker (1997) argues that coherence and eloquence may be interpreted as a sign of intelligence and thus a factor that determines mate selection.
Another interpretation can be derived from the work of philosopher Daniel Dennett and his work on human consciousness. Dennett developed a means to explain consciousness from an analogy of the way a modern computer works. The computer can be divided into two basic components: the Central Processor Unit (CPU) and the User Interface. The CPU is the complex inner workings of a computer. Most computers have serial processors, that is they work on tasks one after the other at high speed. It operates so quickly that we have the impression that it is working on these jobs simultaneously. That is it gives us the illusion that it is parallel processor. Parallel processors are effectively several serial computers connected together in order to complete a single task. The task is broken down into smaller parts and each one is dealt with at the same time. The parallel processor is clearly much faster than its serial counter part.
The User Interface is what we see on the screen. It is composed icons and buttons, which we could call the “virtual machine”. When these virtual keys on the screen are pushed or moved with the curser through the mouse, they activate many complex operations with in the CPU. Without the virtual machine the computer would be only accessible to the specialist. The Virtual Machine renders the computer “user friendly”.
The mind operates on two different levels. The first is the simultaneous reception and analysis of information in its surroundings. For example we all possess at least five senses: sight, smell, touch, taste and hearing. Our sense organs receive and process data constantly and simultaneously: that is, it works in a parallel fashion.
The second is best described as our thoughts or inner voice, and it is analogous to the virtual machine. Our inner voice puts into words what we are feeling and the analyses of these sensations. Our thoughts occur in a serial way, occurring one after the other, and giving us a commentary on what is happening around us. It can also enter into an internal dialogue and make decisions thus giving the body instructions on what to do and how to act in response to a certain situation. The inner voice is aware of itself and its surroundings, in other words, it is our consciousness. It seems that the key to this question is language. Information passed through language is serial.
The fact that we can serialize thought and transform them into words means we can pass on interpretations and descriptions of our environment, give instructions and generally share hard earned knowledge. This leads to the group gaining greater control over the environment. Additionally, there is considerable advantage in sharing knowledge with kin. This would boost the chances of continuation of parental genes, which is thought to be the essential goal of evolution. Furthermore, Pinker (1997) argues that coherence and eloquence may be interpreted as a sign of intelligence and thus a factor that determines mate selection.
The Law of Constancy, Abstraction & The Toll on the Individual
1) The Law of Constancy
According to neurologist Semir Zeki of London University, the brain searches for constancy in an environment that is ever changing. It does this so that it is able to recognize objects irrespective of variations in light, perspective, distance. this is also true for situatins and people. The brain can recognize an individual regardless of their emotion and a situation irrespective of its mood or ambiance.
In other words, the brain seeks what is the essence of things. For example, the essence of an object should enable you to identify that object under any circumstances. In order to do this the essence of an object or person or situation should somehow contain all variations possible, and yet still be recognizable. It is this recognizable state that the brain seeks. The question that now interests us is, what would these essences created by the brain look like?
Zeki gives the example of the early cubist painters such as Picasso and Braque. Picasso's Démoiselles d'Avignon (1907) is the first example of 'simultaneous vision'. The face of the figure on the far right is distorted. Here the artist has attempted to portray several angles of the face on the same plane. A very dramatic example of this is in Picasso's later work, Frauenbildnis. This technique was used extensively and is exemplified in the painting Man with Violin.
Both Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso produced paintings using similar colors and techniques. It is as though the subjects had been broken up and the pieces then scattered onto the canvass. It was the hope, according to Zeki, that the spectator would be able to reconstruct the image.
This technique has very limited success and most observers of the painting would not know what the subject was without the title. So, for Zeki the cubists failed to extract and represent the essences, although others may well have succeeded both prior to and after their period.
Vermeer’s Girl with Pearl Earring is the essence of the artist’s daughter. That is, it contains all the emotions she is capable of displaying in a single two dimensional representation.
When this painting is shown to a class of students asked to describe what the girl is feeling and thinking, there is rarely any agreement. Answers are usually extremely variable. They range from happiness, boredom, surprise, fear, love, to sadness and on the verge of tears. How is this possible?
When students were asked to explain their answers, their classmates were able to see what they meant. The most frequent explanation given by students is that the girl reflects the emotion expressed or felt by the spectator. This means that the way we interpret the painting is ever changing.
However, Zeki’s explanation is that we are able to see a certain number of expressions in the painting and agree with other people, but not entirely. It is the lack of complete agreement that reveals genetic variability from individual to individual. He comments that according to Charles Darwin any organ that shows such a high degree of variation is one that is evolving very quickly.
In regard to Vermeer's famous painting Zeki's explanation is unlikely given the fact that people can usually see what others see. If interpretation was genetically determined I cannot imagine that this would be possible.
The Law of Abstraction
Abstraction is the process of generalization; that is, it is the reduction of a complex forms to their most basic elements. It differs from the search for constancy described in the previous unit, in that it is concerned with global reality whereas constancy is concerned with the particular.
In a sense abstraction is the search for the “essence of global reality”. With this we could explain everything. Physicists are in search of the formula that will explain everything, the silver bullet or Holy Grail of science. Such a formula will take into account the elements that conform to the general models but notably those that do not, the outlying points.
The easiest way to understand this is the abstract paintings of landscapes. Landscapes are extremely complex. Each one is replete with millions of particular elements. These include its geology, physical geography, its natural history which is comprised of all its biological components including plants and animals and so on. If it is an urban landscape or “cityscape” it includes architectural and urban planning features. It may also comprise elements relating to social phenomenon, such as the living conditions of different social groups. It is impossible for the brain to focus on all these 'particulars', simply because it has a limited capacity. Instead what it does is it tries to get a general impression of the assembly or the totality of all the objects and life forms present. It is this that painters from Cezanne to Mondrian attempted to do.
The abstract artists focused on either/or the line, the edge and the circle believing that these were the most basic of forms. Malevich believed that his paintings could be understood and appreciated by all people irrespective of culture. This was because the basic forms that were contained in his paintings were innate. What did he mean by this?
In order to understand this it is necessary to go into to some philosophy. We will firstly look at Plato’s world of perfect ideas followed by Aristotle’s perfect reason. this will be the subject of the next lesson.
The toll on the individual
Creation of synthetic ideals generates malaise. This is because the individual is surrounded by particulars, and not elegant generalities or abstractions of reality that our minds create. These ideals give us a discontentment with reality and lead to the pursuit of perfection and betterment, but also theymay engender consumerism.
Zeki believes that art exists to provide relief. In reproducing these ideal forms we can a last see them in the real world.
According to neurologist Semir Zeki of London University, the brain searches for constancy in an environment that is ever changing. It does this so that it is able to recognize objects irrespective of variations in light, perspective, distance. this is also true for situatins and people. The brain can recognize an individual regardless of their emotion and a situation irrespective of its mood or ambiance.
In other words, the brain seeks what is the essence of things. For example, the essence of an object should enable you to identify that object under any circumstances. In order to do this the essence of an object or person or situation should somehow contain all variations possible, and yet still be recognizable. It is this recognizable state that the brain seeks. The question that now interests us is, what would these essences created by the brain look like?
Zeki gives the example of the early cubist painters such as Picasso and Braque. Picasso's Démoiselles d'Avignon (1907) is the first example of 'simultaneous vision'. The face of the figure on the far right is distorted. Here the artist has attempted to portray several angles of the face on the same plane. A very dramatic example of this is in Picasso's later work, Frauenbildnis. This technique was used extensively and is exemplified in the painting Man with Violin.
Both Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso produced paintings using similar colors and techniques. It is as though the subjects had been broken up and the pieces then scattered onto the canvass. It was the hope, according to Zeki, that the spectator would be able to reconstruct the image.
This technique has very limited success and most observers of the painting would not know what the subject was without the title. So, for Zeki the cubists failed to extract and represent the essences, although others may well have succeeded both prior to and after their period.
Vermeer’s Girl with Pearl Earring is the essence of the artist’s daughter. That is, it contains all the emotions she is capable of displaying in a single two dimensional representation.
When this painting is shown to a class of students asked to describe what the girl is feeling and thinking, there is rarely any agreement. Answers are usually extremely variable. They range from happiness, boredom, surprise, fear, love, to sadness and on the verge of tears. How is this possible?
When students were asked to explain their answers, their classmates were able to see what they meant. The most frequent explanation given by students is that the girl reflects the emotion expressed or felt by the spectator. This means that the way we interpret the painting is ever changing.
However, Zeki’s explanation is that we are able to see a certain number of expressions in the painting and agree with other people, but not entirely. It is the lack of complete agreement that reveals genetic variability from individual to individual. He comments that according to Charles Darwin any organ that shows such a high degree of variation is one that is evolving very quickly.
In regard to Vermeer's famous painting Zeki's explanation is unlikely given the fact that people can usually see what others see. If interpretation was genetically determined I cannot imagine that this would be possible.
The Law of Abstraction
Abstraction is the process of generalization; that is, it is the reduction of a complex forms to their most basic elements. It differs from the search for constancy described in the previous unit, in that it is concerned with global reality whereas constancy is concerned with the particular.
In a sense abstraction is the search for the “essence of global reality”. With this we could explain everything. Physicists are in search of the formula that will explain everything, the silver bullet or Holy Grail of science. Such a formula will take into account the elements that conform to the general models but notably those that do not, the outlying points.
The easiest way to understand this is the abstract paintings of landscapes. Landscapes are extremely complex. Each one is replete with millions of particular elements. These include its geology, physical geography, its natural history which is comprised of all its biological components including plants and animals and so on. If it is an urban landscape or “cityscape” it includes architectural and urban planning features. It may also comprise elements relating to social phenomenon, such as the living conditions of different social groups. It is impossible for the brain to focus on all these 'particulars', simply because it has a limited capacity. Instead what it does is it tries to get a general impression of the assembly or the totality of all the objects and life forms present. It is this that painters from Cezanne to Mondrian attempted to do.
The abstract artists focused on either/or the line, the edge and the circle believing that these were the most basic of forms. Malevich believed that his paintings could be understood and appreciated by all people irrespective of culture. This was because the basic forms that were contained in his paintings were innate. What did he mean by this?
In order to understand this it is necessary to go into to some philosophy. We will firstly look at Plato’s world of perfect ideas followed by Aristotle’s perfect reason. this will be the subject of the next lesson.
The toll on the individual
Creation of synthetic ideals generates malaise. This is because the individual is surrounded by particulars, and not elegant generalities or abstractions of reality that our minds create. These ideals give us a discontentment with reality and lead to the pursuit of perfection and betterment, but also theymay engender consumerism.
Zeki believes that art exists to provide relief. In reproducing these ideal forms we can a last see them in the real world.
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