University of Jyväskylä | JYX Digital Repository

  • English  | Give feedback |
    • suomi
    • English
 
  • Login
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
View Item 
  • JYX
  • Opinnäytteet
  • Väitöskirjat
  • View Item
JYX > Opinnäytteet > Väitöskirjat > View Item

Symbol, Munch and creativity : metabolism of visual symbols

Thumbnail
View/Open
2.5 Mb

Downloads:  
Show download detailsHide download details  
Published in
Jyväskylä studies in humanities
Authors
Kuuva, Sari
Date
2010
Discipline
Taidehistoria

 
In this dissertation the relationship between visual symbols and creative thinking is studied through visual, textual and conceptual analysis. The first part of the work focuses on the concept of symbol, the second part on the imagery of Edvard Munch (1863–1944), and the third part on creative thinking. The problematics of visual symbols is approached through the concept of metabolism by assuming that both perceivable and non-perceivable properties of symbols can transform when symbols are used. Because visual symbols are frequently understood as conventional signs with fixed meanings, their perceivable properties are easily ignored. However, symbols can also be unconventionally used, for example, by replacing some of the symbol's traditional perceivable properties by new ones, by bringing some new or exceptional symbol into otherwise conventional context, or by setting some traditional symbol into a new context. In this case there can be metaphorical tensions either between the old and new perceivable properties of some symbol, or between the symbol and its context. Through these tensions the total meaning of the symbol can expand. In the second part of the study, metabolic aspects of symbols are further discussed through the pictures and writings of Munch, especially by analysing the development of his moon symbolism. Through comparisons between different motifs of Munch it can be shown that his extraordinary pillar of the moon has been developed step by step, and that there are rich formal and thematic connections between different symbols utilised by Munch. It can also be observed that the artist tended to modify perceivable properties of the symbols between different versions of his works. Therefore, the symbols of Munch appear to be dynamic nodes in his artworks. In the third part of this study, Munchian symbolism is further studied from the perspective of creativity. In this section, Munch's imagery is approached through psychological concepts, such as perception, attention, memory, imagination, and emotions. In addition, artistic thinking of Munch is compared with problem solving activities and analysed through the concepts of apperception, restructuring, reflection and construction. In this context, Munchian symbols seem to function as tools in his creative thinking, and his pictures and texts illuminate different aspects in these symbols. ...
Publisher
University of Jyväskylä
ISBN
978-951-39-3865-9
ISSN Search the Publication Forum
1459-4331
Keywords
Munch, Edvard Käsiteanalyysi Kuva-analyysi Tekstianalyysi kuvataide taiteentutkimus taidehistoria kognitiivinen psykologia ongelmanratkaisu symbolit luovuus representaatio ilmaisu
URI

http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-39-3865-9

Metadata
Show full item record
Collections
  • Väitöskirjat [3295]

Related items

Showing items with similar title or keywords.

  • Käsitettävä taidehistoria : kuvalähtöinen malli taidehistorian opetukseen kuvallisen ilmaisun ammatillisessa perustutkinnossa 

    Martikainen, Jari (Jyväskylän yliopisto, 2011)
  • Rethinking visual art practice in relation to well-being : a conceptual analysis 

    Jaatinen, Päivi-Maria (University of Jyväskylä, 2015)
    This study examines how the concepts related to visual art practice and well-being have been used in the arts and academic sectors. Furthermore, it studies whether it is possible to create a new theoretical and ...
  • Munch ja Madonnan evoluutio 

    Kuuva, Sari (Taidehistorian seura, 2016)
  • The rebirth of an image : transformation in the construction of meaning in painting : a case study of Diego Velázquez' and Francis Bacon's papal portraits of Innocent X 

    Jaatinen, Päivi-Maria (2006)
  • Yritysten taidekokoelmat Suomessa : keräilypolitiikat, taiteen esittämisen käytännöt ja merkitykset elinkeinoelämässä 

    Luukkanen-Hirvikoski, Teija (Jyväskylän yliopisto, 2015)
  • Browse materials
  • Browse materials
  • Articles
  • Conferences and seminars
  • Electronic books
  • Historical maps
  • Journals
  • Tunes and musical notes
  • Photographs
  • Presentations and posters
  • Publication series
  • Research reports
  • Research data
  • Study materials
  • Theses

Browse

All of JYXCollection listBy Issue DateAuthorsSubjectsPublished inDepartmentDiscipline

My Account

Login

Statistics

View Usage Statistics
  • How to publish in JYX?
  • Self-archiving
  • Publish Your Thesis Online
  • Publishing Your Dissertation
  • Publication services

Open Science at the JYU
 
Data Protection Description

Accessibility Statement

Unless otherwise specified, publicly available JYX metadata (excluding abstracts) may be freely reused under the CC0 waiver.
Open Science Centre