Evaluating the Emotional Impact of Environmental Artworks Using Q Methodology

Abstract

By engaging audience emotions, the creative arts can prompt people to consider societal issues in different ways and hence influence views and behaviours. While audience members bring their unique personal characteristics to the art experience, their emotional responses to art may be shared somewhat. To contribute to understanding audience emotional engagement, this empirical study investigates the emotional responses of viewers to an exhibition of environmental artworks. Q methodology is used with images to evaluate emotional responses to artworks, after the participants have experienced the exhibition. The 25 participants sorted 54 images from their strongest positive to strongest negative emotional responses to the artworks depicted, then described their emotional responses in a semi-structured interview. A wide range of emotions were reported by participants, including multiple and mixed positive and negative emotions to single artworks. Statistical analysis of participants’ Q sorts revealed five groups of participants who shared emotional responses to the artworks. Differences between the groups can be accounted for by the level of participants’ prior experience of contemporary art and by the different ways in which participants perceive negative emotions. Variance within the groups is explained by personal influences contributing to differences in participants’ emotional responses to the artworks.

The Aesthetic Responsiveness Assessment (AReA) in Farsi language: A scale validation and cultural adaptation study.

“…However, there are also interindividual differences in individuals’ responsiveness to different types of aesthetic stimuli, regardless of culture (Afhami & Mohammadi-Zarghan, 2018; Belfi et al, 2018; Carlson et al, 2016; Chamorro-Premuzic et al, 2009; Fayn et al, 2015; Jacobsen, 2004; McManus & Furnham, 2006; Rentfrow et al, 2011). There is evidence to suggest that some people are simply more or less responsive to aesthetic stimuli in general (Brook, 2022; Diessner et al, 2020; Nelson, 1985; Saarikallio et al, 2013). Given the strong cultural impacts on what people like, it is reasonable to ask whether culture also impacts aesthetic responsiveness.…”

Staging and Evaluating the ‘Finding Home’ Exhibition

“…It also seems reasonable to suspect that had the touring exhibition not taking place during a pandemic situation, the attendance would have been higher. There are better ways of evaluating visitors' emotional responses to exhibitions than a written survey, including drawing/walking methods (Boyd & Hughes, 2020), focus groups and semi-structured interviews (Tischler, Carone, & Mistry, 2016), and Q-methodology (Brook, 2022). Methods like these give participants a greater chance of connecting with, exploring and communicating the cognitive and the visceral (bodily) dimensions of their emotional responses (Düringer, 2014).…”

Insects in Art during an Age of Environmental Turmoil

“…When people fail to perceive risk, they do not take action. The very nature of environmental destruction, especially climate change, is often abstract and time-delayed, which leads to a decreased perception of risk [ 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ]. Even if we are successful at increasing concern about climate change, we may find that tactic to be ineffective.…”

“…A growing number of individuals are turning to art to help raise public awareness of topics related to environmental destruction [ 40 , 41 , 47 , 48 ]. Art’s ability to evoke emotions while encouraging dialogue may serve as a powerful tool in communicating the importance of the environment.…”

“…Art’s ability to evoke emotions while encouraging dialogue may serve as a powerful tool in communicating the importance of the environment. Art has been found to facilitate discussion among stakeholders and to increase group discussions [ 40 , 47 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 ]. Using a survey of 874 spectators of art that accompanied the 21st UN climate summit in Paris, Sommer and Klöckner found that climate change-related art may serve as an effective way of triggering emotional responses [ 51 ].…”