Sight and Sensibility: Evaluating Pictures

by Dominic McIver Lopes

Looking at pictures, we see in them the scenes they depict, and any value they have springs from these experiences of seeing-in. Sight and Sensibility presents the first detailed and comprehensive theory of evaluating pictures. Dominic Lopes confronts the puzzle of how the value of seeing anything in a picture can exceed that of seeing it face to face--his solution pinpoints how seeing-in is like and unlike ordinary seeing. Moreover, since part of what we see in pictures is emotional expressions, his book also develops a theory of expression especially tailored to pictures. Not all evaluations of pictures as opportunities for seeing-in are aesthetic--others are cognitive or moral. Lopes argues that these evaluations interact, for some imply others. His argument entails novel conceptions of aesthetic and cognitive evaluation, such that aesthetic evaluation is distinguished from art evaluation as essentially tied to experience, and that cognitive evaluations assess cognitive capacities, including perceptual ones. Ultimately, Lopes defends images against the widespread criticism that they thwart serious thought, especially moral thought, because they merely replicate ordinary experience. He concludes by presenting detailed case studies of the contribution pictures can make to moral reflection. Sight and Sensibility 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.

223 pages, Kindle Edition

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.