Prototypicality as an Explanatory Concept in Aesthetics: A Reply to Boselie (1991)
- 1 July 1995
- journal article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Empirical Studies of the Arts
- Vol. 13 (2), 149-160
- https://doi.org/10.2190/kyra-r5ur-ara8-cxfn
Abstract
After more than a decade of research into the effect of prototypicality on aesthetic preference, Boselie strongly questioned the validity of this concept [1]. It is argued, however, that his arguments against prototypicality as an explanatory concept in aesthetics are not convincing. The observed effects of prototypicality on preference together with theoretical notions on the importance of classification for perception and appraisal make a strong case for examining the relations between aesthetic preference and (proto)typicality.Keywords
This publication has 24 references indexed in Scilit:
- Facial shape and judgements of female attractivenessNature, 1994
- Beauty and the beholderNature, 1994
- Article Commentary: Averaged Faces Are Attractive, but Very Attractive Faces Are Not AveragePsychological Science, 1991
- Complexity and prototypicality as determinants of the appraisal of cubist paintingsBritish Journal of Psychology, 1990
- Aesthetic Preference: Anomalous Findings for Berlyne's Psychobiological TheoryThe American Journal of Psychology, 1990
- Novice Strategies for Understanding PaintingsApplied Cognitive Psychology, 1989
- Priming, prototypicality, and preference.Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 1988
- Play it again, Sam: On Liking MusicCognition and Emotion, 1987
- Predicting preference for familiar, everyday objects: An experimental confrontation between two theories of aesthetic behaviourJournal of Environmental Psychology, 1983
- The effects of categorization and prototypicality on aesthetic choice in a furniture selection taskBritish Journal of Psychology, 1979