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by Robin Sharma
How We Evolved to Desire Beauty and Enjoy Art
The Aesthetic Brain by Anjan Chatterjee explores the relationship between the brain and art, proposing that aesthetics is intricately tied to our evolution and biology. It merges science with philosophy, making it an engaging read for lovers of both.
What do Winona Ryder’s face and the African savannah have in common? They’re both beautiful! But what is it exactly that makes them so?
Well, the human brain is wired to respond automatically to beautiful faces and bodies, sometimes without us even being aware of it. In fact, studies have found that it’s nearly impossible to look at a face without considering its attractiveness.
In one experiment, people compared two computer-generated faces. They were asked to judge how similar they were to one another. Even though participants were not asked to judge the beauty of either face, their visual cortices showed increased activity when presented with an attractive person; in other words, their brains were unconsciously and automatically reacting to pretty faces.
This instant appraisal also leads us to have higher opinions of good-looking people, including those we hardly know. Studies have even shown that attractive people receive higher grades, land better jobs and have better salaries.
But the question still remains as to why exactly we find certain people beautiful. To answer this fundamental question, scientists have devised three basic parameters that constitute an attractive face: averageness, symmetry and sexual dimorphism, that is, physical features that distinguish one gender from another.
The first characteristic refers to the tendency for humans to find statistically average facial features more appealing than atypical ones. This means that we usually prefer medium-sized noses to big or very small ones, and eyes that are neither too close together nor too far apart.
The second aspect, symmetry, has been found to be essential to our appraisal of beauty, since facial symmetry is considered an indicator of good health and a robust immune system. As we’ll see in the next blink, both of these features are also aesthetically appealing.
Finally, the importance of sexual dimorphism means that people who have typically male or female features are considered more attractive. For example, a large chin is often considered a typically manly feature; just think of Brad Pitt’s chiseled chin and try to say he’s not an attractive man!
It’s thus clear that our brains seek out and admire beauty – but what exactly is beauty, and how can it be defined? Let’s take a closer look in the next blink.
The Aesthetic Brain (2014) explains how and why the human brain responds to beauty and art. These blinks break down the reasons why we instinctively prefer some faces to others, what art does to our brains and how we started making art in the first place.
The Aesthetic Brain (2013) by Anjan Chatterjee explores the relationship between art, beauty, and the brain. Here's why this book is worth reading:
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Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trialBlink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
What is the main message of The Aesthetic Brain?
The main message of The Aesthetic Brain is to understand and appreciate the science behind our aesthetic experiences.
How long does it take to read The Aesthetic Brain?
The reading time for The Aesthetic Brain may vary, but it usually takes a few hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is The Aesthetic Brain a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Aesthetic Brain is a thought-provoking read, offering insights into the beauty of the mind. It's definitely worth exploring.
Who is the author of The Aesthetic Brain?
The author of The Aesthetic Brain is Anjan Chatterjee.