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In this provocative and original book on art therapy, Frances Kaplan outlines a scientific approach to art therapy. Kaplan examines the relationship between art and science, delineating the role of research and encouraging a spirit of enquiry in art therapy. She looks at the latest scientific developments, especially those in biology, evolution, and brain science, and relates them to theories about the creation and interpretation of art. By demonstrating the relationship between two disciplines which are traditionally thought of as opposing, Kaplan challenges our assumptions about art therapy and issues a call for further research and debate.
E-Book Content
Art, Science and Art Therapy
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Art, Science and Art Therapy Repainting the Picture Frances F. Kaplan
Jessica Kingsley Publishers London and Philadelphia
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form (including photocopying or storing it in any medium by electronic means and whether or not transiently or incidentally to some other use of this publication) without the written permission of the copyright owner except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 or under the terms of a licence issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, 90 Tottenham Court Road, London, England W1T 4LP. Applications for the copyright owner’s written permission to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to the publisher. Warning: The doing of an unauthorised act in relation to a copyright work may result in both a civil claim for damages and criminal prosecution. The right of Frances F. Kaplan to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. First published in the United Kingdom in 2000 by Jessica Kingsley Publishers 116 Pentonville Road London N1 9JB, UK and 400 Market Street, Suite 400 Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA. www.jkp.com Copyright © 2000 Frances F. Kaplan Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Kaplan, Frances. Art, science and art therapy : repainting the picture / Frances Kaplan. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 1-85302-698-0 (pb. : alk. paper) -- ISBN 1-85302-697-2 (hb. : alk. paper) 1. Art therapy--Philosophy. 2. Art and science. I. Title. RC489.A7 K36 2000 615.8’5156--dc21 99-039966 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Kaplan, Frances Art, science and art therapy 1. Art therapy I. Title 616.8’916’56 ISBN 1853026972 (hb) ISBN 1853026980 (pb) ISBN-13: 978 1 85302 697 3 (hb) ISBN-10: 1 85302 697 2 (hb) ISBN-13: 978 1 85302 698 0 (pb) ISBN-10: 1 85302 698 0 (pb) Printed and Bound in Great Britain by Athenaeum Press, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear
Contents
LIST OF FIGURES 6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 7
Introduction: Repainting the Art Therapy Picture 9 1 Art and Science 13 2 The Role of Research 21 3 Illuminating Basic Issues through Recent Findings 29 4 Traditional Psychotherapy Theories: Their Limitations and Failures 39 5 Benefits of Art Making: The Scientific Evidence 55 6 Interpretation of Artwork: A Reassessment 77 7 Toward a Scientific Art-Based Theory 93 Afterword: A Call for Dialogue 105 APPENDIX: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INTEGRATING SCIENCE IN ART THERAPY TRAINING AND PRACTICE 107 REFERENCES 111 SUBJECT INDEX 121 NAME I