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Magic and the aesthetic illusion.

Leon Balter1

  • 1New York Psychoanalytic Institute, USA. Lbaltermd@aol.com

Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association
|February 13, 2003
PubMed
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The aesthetic illusion, a key aspect of art appreciation, involves believing art

Area of Science:

  • Psychoanalytic theory
  • Aesthetics
  • Psychology of art

Background:

  • The aesthetic illusion is the subjective experience of art's content as reality.
  • It is intrinsically linked to magic, an intrapsychic process influencing external reality.
  • Magic, rooted in primary narcissism and primary process logic, is archaic yet integral to ego functioning.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the psychoanalytic underpinnings of the aesthetic illusion.
  • To define the components and mechanisms of aesthetic illusion.
  • To elucidate the relationship between aesthetic illusion, magic, and enthusiasm.

Main Methods:

  • Psychoanalytic interpretation of art and reader-response.
  • Analysis of ego functioning and primary process logic.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Examination of subjective experience in art appreciation.

    • Main Results:

    • The aesthetic illusion comprises two key illusions: merging with the artwork's daydream and perceiving the protagonist as real.
    • These illusions are manifestations of magic, enabling emotional-instinctual gratification and proxy identification.
    • The aesthetic illusion is consistently accompanied by excitement and euphoria.

    Conclusions:

    • The aesthetic illusion is a magical phenomenon rooted in archaic psychological processes.
    • It involves a complex interplay of self-gratification and identification with the artistic representation.
    • The experience of art, characterized by excitement and euphoria, is deeply connected to these magical illusions.