A cognitive approach to museum audience

Sorić, Katarina. (2018). A cognitive approach to museum audience. Diploma Thesis. Filozofski fakultet u Zagrebu, Department of Art History. [mentor Lulić, Josipa].

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Abstract

The empirical viewer of art is a rare subject in art history. Disciplines concerned with contemporary empirical viewers are empirical aesthetics and visitor studies. Based on these studies, an exploratory research design is formed, including cognitive approaches- personal meaning mapping, semi-structured and cognitive interview, to explore the phenomenon of contemporary art experience in real circumstances of an exhibition visit. Through the analysis of personal meaning maps, cognitive and semi-structured interviews of five participants, general expectations and habits concerning aesthetic experiences are explored, as well as the influence of an exhibition on personal meaning of a concept and elements of an aesthetic experience of art which include visual analysis, interpretation, usage of labels, associations, reflection and emotions. The results are explained in view of theories and research in empirical aesthetics and visitor studies. The complex and layered character of an aesthetic experience is showed which provides insight into the relevance of such experiences and proposes questions to think about regarding the position of the viewer in art history, aesthetics, museological and exhibitionary practices.

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