Quote Originally Posted by Brian Ellis View Post
"Simple visual appreciation" can be a misnomer. There isn't necessarily anything "simple" about visual appreciation. To me visual appreciation comes from a little knowledge and learning. That's how I learn to appreciate. It doesn't mean I intellectualize every painting or photograph I see but if I appreciate it it's usually because I know something about it. If I know nothing there's only two reactions, "I like it" or "I don't like it." There's no room for "it's not immediately appealing but if I knew more about what the artist was doing and what's going on in the image I might like it."

Which doesn't mean I end up liking everything I learn about. But at least I'm not automatically dismissing everything that doesn't have instant appeal.
Hi Brian ...

It's true. People naturally —consciously or sub-consciously— associate a given sensorial experience with some corresponding previous experience ("Hey, this photo of a pepper looks like a couple, hugging"). However, I would add a third possibility to your two human reactions of "like" or "dislike": simple wonder or awe. To repeat my own experience when I first saw "Pepper No. 30" as a 8 or 9 year old kid ... I just stared in awe. I simply had no reference in my head (yet) to which the image could correspond!

But I think you know, when I say, "simple visual appreciation", I mean just looking and enjoying. Right?

Best,

Chris