How art can help you analyze - Amy E. Herman
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0:07 - 0:08There's a prevailing attitude
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0:08 - 0:11that art doesn't matter in the real world.
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0:11 - 0:14But the study of art can enhance our perception
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0:14 - 0:17and our ability to translate to others what we see.
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0:17 - 0:19Those skills are useful.
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0:19 - 0:21Those skills can save lives.
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0:21 - 0:23Doctors, nurses, and law enforcement agents
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0:23 - 0:26can use painting, sculpture, and photography
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0:26 - 0:28as tools to improve their visual acuity
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0:28 - 0:30and communication skills,
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0:30 - 0:30which are critical
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0:30 - 0:33during investigations and emergencies.
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0:33 - 0:34If you're treating an injury,
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0:34 - 0:36investigating a crime scene,
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0:36 - 0:38or trying to describe either of those things
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0:38 - 0:39to a colleague,
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0:39 - 0:41art can make you better at it.
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0:41 - 0:43Here, imagine you're a seasoned cop
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0:43 - 0:45or a dedicated doctor,
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0:45 - 0:47but also imagine you are at a museum
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0:47 - 0:49and let's look at a painting.
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0:49 - 0:52Rene Magritte's "Time Transfixed" of 1938
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0:52 - 0:56depicts a mysterious and complex interior
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0:56 - 0:57that invites analysis
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0:57 - 1:01not unlike that required of a patient's symptoms
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1:01 - 1:03or the scene of a crime.
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1:03 - 1:05A miniature train whose origin
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1:05 - 1:07and destination are unknown
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1:07 - 1:09is emerging from a fireplace,
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1:09 - 1:11and the smoke from the locomotive
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1:11 - 1:13appears to flow up the chimney
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1:13 - 1:15as if from the fire
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1:15 - 1:18that is conspicuously absent below.
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1:18 - 1:19The eeriness of the scene
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1:19 - 1:21is echoed in the empty living room,
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1:21 - 1:23enhanced by wood-grain floors
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1:23 - 1:25and decorative wall moldings
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1:25 - 1:27to the right of the fireplace.
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1:27 - 1:29Perched atop the mantelpiece
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1:29 - 1:31are two candlesticks and a clock.
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1:31 - 1:35Behind these objects is a large mirror
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1:35 - 1:36that reveals an empty interior
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1:36 - 1:38and only a partial reflection
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1:38 - 1:40of the objects before it.
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1:40 - 1:43The juxtaposition of the objects
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1:43 - 1:44surrounding the moving train
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1:44 - 1:46raises numerous questions
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1:46 - 1:50for which there seem to be no apparent answers.
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1:50 - 1:52Did I summarize the painting accurately
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1:52 - 1:53or leave any details out?
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1:53 - 1:54It's no big deal
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1:54 - 1:56if you see something else in a painting,
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1:56 - 1:58but what if we're both seasoned cops?
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1:58 - 2:00I call you for back-up.
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2:00 - 2:01You show up only to realize
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2:01 - 2:03the two bank robbing ninjas I'd mentioned
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2:03 - 2:07were actually six bank robbing ninjas with lasers.
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2:07 - 2:09Close study of art can train viewers
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2:09 - 2:11to study thoroughly,
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2:11 - 2:13analyze the elements observed,
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2:13 - 2:15articulate them succinctly,
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2:15 - 2:16and formulate questions
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2:16 - 2:19to address the seeming inconsistencies.
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2:19 - 2:20Scrutinizing the details
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2:20 - 2:22of an unfamiliar scene,
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2:22 - 2:24in this case the work of art,
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2:24 - 2:25and accurately conveying
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2:25 - 2:27any observable contradictions
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2:27 - 2:30is a critically important skill
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2:30 - 2:32for both people who look at x-rays
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2:32 - 2:34and those who interrogate suspects.
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2:34 - 2:37Let's interrogate this painting, shall we?
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2:37 - 2:40Okay, Magritte, that's quite a little picture you've painted.
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2:40 - 2:43But why aren't there any train tracks?
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2:43 - 2:45Why no fire?
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2:45 - 2:46What happened to the candles?
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2:46 - 2:48Why doesn't the fireplace
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2:48 - 2:50have a little tunnel for the train?
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2:50 - 2:52It just comes straight through the wall.
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2:52 - 2:53And the clock says
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2:53 - 2:55it's about quarter to one,
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2:55 - 2:56but I'm not sure the light
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2:56 - 2:58that comes through the window at an angle
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2:58 - 3:00says it's just past noontime.
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3:00 - 3:02What's this painting all about, anyway?
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3:02 - 3:05That's when you, my trusty partner,
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3:05 - 3:06hold me back,
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3:06 - 3:07then I leave.
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3:07 - 3:08You give Magritte a cup of coffee
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3:08 - 3:10and keep grilling him
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3:10 - 3:13to see if this painting would hold up in court.
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3:13 - 3:15Viewers can provide a more detailed
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3:15 - 3:17and accurate description of a situation
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3:17 - 3:19by articulating what is seen
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3:19 - 3:21and what is not seen.
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3:21 - 3:24This is particularly important in medicine.
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3:24 - 3:27If an illness is evidenced by three symptoms
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3:27 - 3:30and only two are present in a patient,
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3:30 - 3:33a medical professional must explicitly state
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3:33 - 3:35the absence of that third symptom,
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3:35 - 3:36signifying that the patient
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3:36 - 3:39may not have the condition suspected.
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3:39 - 3:43Articulating the absence of a specific detail or behavior
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3:43 - 3:45known as the pertinent negative
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3:45 - 3:47is as critical as stating
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3:47 - 3:50the details and behaviors that are present
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3:50 - 3:52in order to treat the patient.
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3:52 - 3:55And conspicuous absences are only conspicuous
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3:55 - 3:58to eyes trained to look for them.
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3:58 - 4:00Art teaches professionals
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4:00 - 4:02across a wide spectrum of fields
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4:02 - 4:05not only how to ask more effective questions
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4:05 - 4:07about what cannot be readily answered,
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4:07 - 4:09but also, and more importantly,
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4:09 - 4:12how to analyze complex, real world situations
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4:12 - 4:15from a new and different perspective,
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4:15 - 4:18ultimately solving difficult problems.
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4:18 - 4:19Intense attention to detail,
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4:19 - 4:21the ability to take a step back
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4:21 - 4:23and look differently,
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4:23 - 4:26we want first responders to have the analytical skills
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4:26 - 4:29of master art historians at least.
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4:29 - 4:31Art trains us to investigate,
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4:31 - 4:34and that's a real world skill if there ever was one.
- Title:
- How art can help you analyze - Amy E. Herman
- Description:
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View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-art-can-help-you-analyze-amy-e-herman
Can art save lives? Not exactly, but our most prized professionals (doctors, nurses, police officers) can learn real world skills through art analysis. Studying art like René Magritte's Time Transfixed can enhance communication and analytical skills, with an emphasis on both the seen and unseen. Amy E. Herman explains why art historical training can prepare you for real world investigation.
Lesson by Amy E. Herman, animation by Flaming Medusa Studios Inc.
- Video Language:
- English
- Team:
- closed TED
- Project:
- TED-Ed
- Duration:
- 04:50
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