Perspective of the Audiovisual Arts: On Ways and Tools of Studying Emotions in the Current Visuals

Abstract

Emotions in visual arts can be subject to an analysis on the level of the act of creation, the work itself, categories of technique and reception, as well as on the degree of division into form and content. Studies show a dichotomy between an intellectual (cognitive) sphere and an emotional (aesthetic) sphere, pointing to the role of recipients’ competence, allowing them to properly read the cultural and artistic code behind emotions presented in visual works.
 The article is a theoretical review of methods, trends and tools for researching emotions in audiovisual arts. It presents ways of studying emotions in visual arts: film/video, photograph/graphics, all available through the media. They should be discussed on three levels: emotional objectives of the sender, emotions inherent in the artistic work, and emotional reception. Works of visual arts combine virtual and actual realities, hence the way a visual work is created is important. Therefore, the article also presents tools for the study of emotions in audiovisual art on three levels: a) in relation to means of expression, b) aesthetic, and c) presenting content. The summary clearly shows the transdisciplinary nature and methodological syncretism of research on emotions in audiovisual art.