Sight and Sensibility: Evaluating Pictures

by Dominic McIver Lopes

Images have power--for good or ill. They may challenge us to see things anew and, in widening our experience, profoundly change who we are. The change can be ugly, as with propaganda, or enriching, as with many works of art. Sight and Sensibility explores the impact of images on what we know, how we see, and the moral assessments we make. Dominic Lopes shows how these are part of, not separate from, the aesthetic appeal of images. His book will be essential reading for anyone working in aesthetics and art theory, and for all those intrigued by the power of images to affect our lives.

222 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Icey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is divided into eight chapters, each of which examines a different aspect of visual perception and evaluation. Lopes begins by defining what he means by "picture" and distinguishing between different types of visual art, including photographs, paintings, and sculptures. He then goes on to discuss the various ways in which we perceive and interpret pictures, including the role of context, background knowledge, and culture.

One of the key insights of the book is Lopes' argument that pictures are not just passive representations of the world, but are active participants in the process of perception. He argues that pictures have their own aesthetic properties, including shape, color, and composition, which contribute to the overall aesthetic experience of the viewer.

Lopes also discusses the various ways in which we evaluate pictures, including both objective and subjective criteria. He argues that our evaluation of pictures is shaped by a complex interplay of cognitive and emotional factors, and that our aesthetic judgments are often influenced by cultural and historical context.