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The Evolution of Art

The Evolution of Art. Art as a Human Universal. Is human art an adaptation? Ubiquitous across cultures “Pleasurable” for both creator and viewer Great deal of effort involved The capacity to create art poses an evolutionary problem

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The Evolution of Art

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  1. The Evolution of Art

  2. Art as a Human Universal • Is human art an adaptation? • Ubiquitous across cultures • “Pleasurable” for both creator and viewer • Great deal of effort involved • The capacity to create art poses an evolutionary problem • If it is costly to produce, how did it evolve and what function does it serve?

  3. Zahavian Handicaps • In 1975, Amotz Zahavi published a fascinating theory • Noting the excesses of many traits, he argued that, if the cost of signaling is greater than other means of conveying information, it is a credible signal • The costs are thought of as “handicaps,” like in many sports • This theory has been treated similarly in the literature to Hamilton’s theory of kin selection

  4. Costly Signaling Theory • Signals between organisms should generally be costly • Typically, only costly signals are reliable (and hence, trustworthy) • Signals are also closely related to their messages • Ex.: courage in the face of danger does not give any credible information regarding wealth, while spending money does

  5. “The hand of the chimpanzee is quasi-human, the hand of Jackson Pollock is almost animal” - Dali

  6. Non-Human Analogies • The peacock’s tail • Chimpanzee art • Bowerbird bowers as extended phenotypes

  7. Theories of Art • “Functional” theories • Group cohesion • Abstract perspectives/multiple worldviews • Enabling a sense of harmony • Evolutionary theories • By-product of other adaptations (e.g., visual system) • Sexual choice via handicap principle

  8. Artistic Ability as a Costly Signal • Miller (2000) has proposed that the capacity to create art is a Zahavian handicap, in that it is costly and difficult to produce well • Prior to industrialization, quality was often measured in the accuracy of the detail • Since then, defects indicate quality! • “From the moment that art ceases to be food that feeds the best minds, the artist can use his talents to perform all the tricks of the intellectual charlatan.” – Picasso

  9. Music & Honest Signaling • Sluming & Manning (2000) • 2D:4D in male musicians (British symphony orchestra) • Lower than in controls • Associated with rank • Audience had a disproportionate number of women in front seats

  10. A Note on Sexual Functions • A considerable amount of “traditional” art entails sexual content • Details of sexual organs • Exaggerated sexual characteristics • It has often been proposed that artists were sublimating their sexual urges • A distinction must be made between the sexual content and sexual function of art

  11. The Wrap-Up • Art as a human universal • Zahavian handicaps and costly signaling theory • Art and aesthetics in non-human animals • Functional and evolutionary theories of art • Artistic ability as a costly signal • Sexual functions vs. content

  12. Things to Come • Course conclusion • Course review • Exam review

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