This book is an aesthetic experience. An aesthetic experience arises in response to works of art or other aesthetic objects. Experiencing art has a transformative effect on our minds, emotions, and bodies. An aesthetic experience is a exceptional state of mind that is qualitatively different from the everyday experience. It is when attention is focused on an object while all other objects and everyday concerns are suppressed.
As we immerse ourselves in the aesthetic experience, our brain appraises it’s symbolic reality. A fundamental finding is that art can access and stimulate advanced cognitive processes within the human brain. As we observe the artwork, our brains engage in a process of deciphering the underlying meanings, resulting in the creation of new neural pathways.
The aesthetic experience is also affective. It is an exceptional emotional experience where a person has a strong and clear feeling of unity with the object.