Explore Ellen Dissanayake’s artification hypothesis and why art is a biological necessity for human flourishing. Learn how we evolved as Homo Aestheticus.
Art is a biological necessity, like eating or sleeping, and the core of it is 'making special'—taking something ordinary and intentionally marking, shaping, or embellishing it until it becomes extraordinary.
What is most compelling about Ellen Dissanayake's views about creativity and human well-being in her writing 'Art for Life's Sake'. Focus on her ethological perspective and how art serves an evolutionary purpose for human flourishing.
The artification hypothesis, developed by ethologist Ellen Dissanayake, suggests that art is not just a luxury or an object to be purchased, but a fundamental biological behavior. According to Dissanayake, art is an evolutionary tool that humans have used for millions of years to stay alive and thrive. It represents a shift from viewing art as 'Fine Art' in museums to seeing it as a necessary action that contributes to human flourishing and emotional well-being.
In the field of ethology, or the biology of behavior, art is viewed as a biological necessity similar to eating or sleeping. Ellen Dissanayake argues that humans evolved as 'Homo Aestheticus,' meaning we are biologically wired to engage in aesthetic behaviors. This evolutionary perspective suggests that making things is a natural human requirement, which explains why creating art often feels more fulfilling than passive consumption like scrolling through digital media.
According to the principles discussed in 'Art for Life's Sake,' the evolutionary roots of art began in a very fundamental place: the bond between a mother and her baby. This 'wholesome' origin point served as the foundation for what would become complex human aesthetic behaviors. Over millions of years, these interactions evolved into the artification process, proving that our drive to create is deeply embedded in our history and social development rather than being a recent Western invention.
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