Tutor profile: Mattias S.

What is aesthetic emotion?

Aesthetic emotion can be described as the emotion from beauty. These are the emotions we experience in response to an aesthetic stimulus. For example, when we see a beautiful piece of art, a feeling washes over us that we refer to as "being moved." Being moved by something is basically the definition of aesthetic emotion. Sunlight has a positive effect on our emotions as well as when we regard ourselves as looking put together and dressed up that day. The emotion we experience is hard to pinpoint in those situations, but it can be studied through the idea of aesthetic emotion.

Who is regarded as the father of psychology?

Although the popular belief is that Sigmund Freud is the father of psychology, the answer is actually William Wundt. Wundt was the first figure to separate psychology from philosophy and make it its own area of study. He also opened the first experimental psychology lab in 1879 in Germany. This lab created more awareness surrounding the difference between psychology and philosophy and led the movement to regarding it as its own concept.

What is the meaning behind A Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh?

A starry night is a piece by artist Vincent Van Gogh that features a dark blue night sky with yellow swirl-like figures. It has been mentioned that it is believed by some that Van Gogh created this piece while hospitalized for a manic episode caused by Bipolar Disorder. The piece does reflect mania-like characteristics, as it gives off a sense of creativity and abstract thinking. The piece is said to have been a representation of what Van Gosh either saw or imagined while he looked out of his window. I believe the yellow in the piece is a sign of mania and signifies the "up" and euphoric feeling you experience in that state. It also represents the detachment from reality one may experience as the painting is not realistic-based and more of a euphoria influenced representation of the outside world. Almost like a playground. Van Gogh was known to swing from extreme highs to extreme lows in mood which had a great but brilliant effect on most of his work. The painting was created in June of 1889 and is regarded today as a well-known and genuis piece of art.