Studies even show that when an MRI is used, the region of the brain that experiences emotions is activated when a pleasant work of art is displayed. Even abstract paintings with the use of colors, symbolism and brushstrokes are distinguished enough to make us feel something. It is widely believed that the ability of works of art to awaken emotions in the public is a perfectly natural and trouble-free fact. It seems obvious that we can feel sadness or pity for fictional characters, fear when seeing menacing monsters on the movie screen, and joy when listening to happy and joyful songs. This may be the reason why many of us are consumers of art in the first place.
Many of us tend to think that good art should not leave us indifferent. According to the latter, art consists, as an activity, of transmitting emotions to other people; whereas, according to the former, art's relationship with the public is only a possibility, not a need.
