Routledge Jung on Art: The Autonomy of the Creative Drive

Product Description In this book, Tjeu van den Berk examines C. G. Jung's personal perspective on art and how his work intensely engages with this theme. It analyses Jung’s profound reflections on artistic considerations such as how we experience art, the specific qualities in the perception of beauty, the nature of the creative process and the aesthetic attitude. Jung on Art considers Jung's feelings about art simply being 'art' rather than reducing it to a moral, political, religious or psychological product. It also discusses Jung’s notion that the artist is only a breeding ground for a piece of art, and once complete, the piece has an independent existence. Topics covered include: symbolism the difference between art and aesthetics Jung's ideas about himself as an artist the psychology of art Jung's perspective on modern art and surrealism. This book will be of great interest to all Jungian scholars, as well as those interested in the meeting of Jung and art. Review "... key concepts are set out in a clear and unambiguous manner within each chapter, with technical terms carefully and clearly explained in order to help frame the arguments presented... van den Berk has done an admirable job in extracting key material from the volumes published by Jung, in order to present a very clear exposition on the topic. ...A timely and important contribution to the field, I expect this book to become a key text for all those involved in the practice and reception of art viewed from a psychological perspective."- David Parker, International Journal of Jungian Studies, November 2012 About the Author Tjeu van den Berk was director of the C. G. Jung Society of the Netherlands. He has written widely on Jungian psychology.