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Motivation in Art

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Alternative Traditionen

Part of the book series: Konzeption Empirische Literaturwissenschaft ((KEL,volume 10))

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Abstract

Owing to the influence of psychoanalytic concepts upon the psychology of art motivation, previous studies of the roots of artistic activity have stressed the role of unconscious drives and conflicts in precipitating the creation of art. Without questioning the existence of unconscious motives, I have attempted to study motivational forces which are more directly related to conscious behavior. In pursuing this research I interviewed 100 people (50 adults and 50 children) to determine their motives for making art. The adult group included both professional and nonprofessional artist. I chose to define art in the broad sense and interviewed actors, dancers, musicians, poets, visual artists, and writers. Although there are motives which are unique to a particular medium, this study will be more concerned with motivational principles which apply to all of the arts.

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Authors
  1. Shaun A. McNiff
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Reinhold Viehoff

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© 1991 Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden

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McNiff, S.A. (1991). Motivation in Art. In: Viehoff, R. (eds) Alternative Traditionen. Konzeption Empirische Literaturwissenschaft, vol 10. Vieweg+Teubner Verlag, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-663-14243-0_23

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-663-14243-0_23

  • Publisher Name: Vieweg+Teubner Verlag, Wiesbaden

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-528-07330-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-663-14243-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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