Holistic Versus Analytic Expressions in Artworks

Abstract

Previous research has documented systematic cultural variations in adults’ cognitive processes. In particular, research on culture and aesthetics suggests that East Asian adults’ aesthetic expression tends to be holistic and context-oriented, whereas North American adults’ aesthetic expression tends to be analytic and object-oriented (Masuda, Gonzalez, Kwan, & Nisbett, 2008). However, research focusing specifically on the developmental processes of such cultural differences in children’s artworks is lacking, with the notable exception of an empirical study conducted by Rübeling et al. (2011). Our current research examined whether school-age children in Grades 1 through 6 exhibit these culturally unique patterns of expression, and if so, when. Children were asked to produce either landscape drawings (Study 1, n = 495) or landscape collages using ready-made items (Study 2, n = 376). The results indicated that children in both cultures gradually develop expressions unique to each culture. Although Grade 1 children’s artworks were still similar across cultures, artworks in Grade 2 and higher showed substantial cultural variations. Japanese children were more likely than their Canadian counterparts to place the horizon higher in the visual space and to include more pieces of information. The higher placement of the horizon is linked to the context-oriented visual attention style seen in adults’ drawings and historical paintings in East Asian cultures, as opposed to object-focused drawing styles commonly seen in North American cultures. We also report culturally similar patterns in the developmental trajectory and discuss the internalization process of culturally dominant patterns of perception.

Examining cultural drifts in artworks through history and development: cultural comparisons between Japanese and western landscape paintings and drawings

“…Research on culture and aesthetics in a developmental context has also demonstrated that aesthetic expressions are systematically different across cultures (Rübeling et al, 2011; Gernhardt et al, 2013; Ishii et al, 2014). In line with these findings, Senzaki et al (2014b) examined cultural variations in landscape artworks produced by primary school children in Japan and Canada, and demonstrated that once children understood the concept of a horizon (age 8 for both cultures), Japanese children drew the horizon higher in both studies and integrated more objects in their collages than did Canadian, the pattern of which is consistent with that of young adult data (Masuda et al, 2008c). …”

“…Their studies have demonstrated that East Asian cultural products such as landscape drawings (Masuda et al, 2008c; Senzaki et al, 2014b), the amount of information in conference posters and websites (Wang et al, 2012), and the physical environment of cities and towns (Miyamoto et al, 2006) contain more information that represents interdependence and a holistic way of understanding the world, whereas Western cultural products contain information that represents independence and an analytic way of understanding the world.…”

“…Second, in Senzaki et al's (2014b) ontogenetic analyses, the target populations were elementary school children and undergraduate students, missing the data of adolescents. Adolescence is a transitional stage from childhood to adulthood and individual identity development becomes the central developmental task, which involves experimentation and establishing the self as independent from caregivers (Erikson, 1968; Kroger, 2007).…”

“…Similar to methods used by Masuda et al (2008c) and Senzaki et al (2014b), we had adolescent and University students in Japan and Canada create landscape drawings 3 . Furthermore, we merged these data with that of Senzaki et al's (2014b) work with elementary school children in order to comprehensively interpret the developmental trends of psychological tendencies in cultural products.…”

“…Research on cultural products suggest that there are substantial cultural variations between East Asian and European landscape masterpieces and contemporary members' landscape artwork (Masuda et al, 2008c), and that these cultural differences in drawing styles emerge around the age of 8 (Senzaki et al, 2014b). However, culture is not static.…”