Kick-off of the core research area "Perception"

Thursday, 6 June 2024

The kick-off lecture for the launch of the new GEWI core research area Perception: Episteme, Aesthetics, Politics was celebrated in a festive atmosphere. The event was hosted by the two speakers of the focus area, Prof. Dr Sonja Rinofner-Kreidl and Prof. Dr Susanne Kogler.

The well-attended keynote speech entitled Perception and mental imagery in our engagement with art was given by Bence Nanay, Professor at the Institute of Philosophy at the University of Antwerp.

Thanks to our imagination, each and every one of us experiences mental images. These are the same as visual images, even though they are far more omnipresent in our mental life than mere visualisation. Mental images take place in all sensory modalities and play a decisive role not only in perception, but also in memory, emotions, language, desires and actions. It is also impossible to imagine our engagement with works of art without them. This is precisely what makes them a key concept in aesthetics.

Bence Nanay developed his reflections on the relationship between perception and aesthetics using examples from film, television and art history. This catchy, vivid presentation stimulated a lively discussion with the audience afterwards.