예술에 있어서 상상력의 근원

Abstract

This research's primary goal is to explore origin and meaning of imagination in arts. The debate regarding arts has been ongoing for quite some time. Imagination is one of the core components of arts. It is needless to say that finding a clear-cut solution to the debate regarding imagination is a daunting, if not impossible, task. Arts can and should be considered as an ability to create a distinct and unique world using an artist's imagination. Thus, role of imagination in arts and artistic expressions can only be perceived and interpreted by trained perspectives. Generally, imagination refers to humans' capability of conjuring up things in our minds, whether it is based on real experience or not. However, such desire-driven "fantasy" only serves humans' own egos and should be considered separate from "imagination." Imagination mimics, re-interprets, and re-creates images into symbols. Imagination is an outburst of humans' mental capability, as well as our desire to forsee and plan our future. Therefore, imagination does not have solid theoretical foundation nor physical perception; imagination is based on amorphic foundation that defies categorization and only accepts senses and emotions as its guidelines. The problem can be summed up in the following 4 areas. 1. Origin of imagination in arts comes from language, capability and state of human minds. 2. Imagination in arts frees from the concept of rationality and logic of everyday world; it grants us unique and distinct worlds in where we are allowed roam freely 3. Imagination is not based on whims that change depending on our daily experience. It is a accumulative emotion that is derived from commonly accepted concepts and harmony among such concepts. 4. Imagination can better be understood, not as theoretical concept, but as free-form sense and emotion. Role of imagination in arts is that of a core component as well as motivation. Human mind can be categorized into 3 distinct realms: Sense, Reason, Imagination. What drives human imagination still largely remains as a mystery. Mythically speaking, the engine behind human imagination can be defined as action of certain deities or reflections of human souls. Psychologically speaking, it is sometimes defined as manifestation of status of human brain including mental illness. Thus, a more comprehensive approach should be taken for the research.