Document Type
Thesis
Degree
Master of Arts (MA)
Major/Program
Religious Studies
First Advisor's Name
Nathan Katz
First Advisor's Committee Title
Major Professor
Keywords
Hinduism, neuroscience, aesthetics, Kashmir Shaivism, rasa, Abhinavagupta, Bharata Muni, Natya Shastra, Indian religion, art
Date of Defense
2014
Abstract
Neuroaesthetics is the study of the brain’s response to artistic stimuli. The neuroscientist V.S. Ramachandran contends that art is primarily “caricature” or “exaggeration.” Exaggerated forms hyperactivate neurons in viewers’ brains, which in turn produce specific, “universal” responses. Ramachandran identifies a precursor for his theory in the concept of rasa (literally “juice”) from classical Hindu aesthetics, which he associates with “exaggeration.” The canonical Sanskrit texts of Bharata Muni’s Natya Shastra and Abhinavagupta’s Abhinavabharati, however, do not support Ramachandran’s conclusions. They present audiences as dynamic co-creators, not passive recipients. I believe we could more accurately model the neurology of Hindu aesthetic experiences if we took indigenous rasa theory more seriously as qualitative data that could inform future research.
Identifier
FI14040894
Recommended Citation
Beitmen, Logan R., "Neuroscience and Hindu Aesthetics: A Critical Analysis of V.S. Ramachandran’s “Science of Art”" (2014). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1198.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/1198
Included in
Acting Commons, Ancient Philosophy Commons, Art Practice Commons, Asian Art and Architecture Commons, Asian Studies Commons, Cognition and Perception Commons, History of Religions of Eastern Origins Commons, Other Languages, Societies, and Cultures Commons, Performance Studies Commons, Philosophy of Mind Commons, Philosophy of Science Commons, Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons, Theory and Criticism Commons
Rights Statement
In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).