The journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry·2011
Interacting with art, like Degas
Area of Science:
Psychology
Art History
Aesthetics
Background:
The psychological self develops through organizing experiences, incorporating cultural expressions like art.
Edgar Degas's sculptures represent a unique intersection of personal artistic expression and the formal principles of his era.
Discussion:
Degas's sculptures exhibit distinct formal elements: unique surface treatments, dynamic mass articulation, and innovative collage techniques.
These sculptures are considered proto-cinematic, capturing fleeting moments rather than extended narratives.
Key Insights:
Unconscious identification with Degas's sculptural forms influences viewers' self-organization.
This identification shapes fundamental aspects of the self, including responses to life's challenges, relationships, mortality, and the development of agency.
Outlook:
Further research can explore the specific neurological and psychological mechanisms of empathic identification with artistic forms.
Investigating the broader impact of proto-cinematic art on self-perception and agency in contemporary society.