The study of art and its effect on external inspiration: A comparison between art majors and non-art majors

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine whether a commitment to the study of art affects how students receive inspiration from their external environment. The frequency and intensity of external inspiration is compared in art majors versus non-art majors. In addition, we examine whether attitudes developed through the study of art are correlated with inspiration. Specifically, we focus on attitudes to art-making and art appreciation. We developed psychological scales and questionnaires to measure three parameters: (a) the frequency and intensity of inspiration from the external environment, (b) self-evaluation of art-making, and (c) attitudes toward art appreciation. We then asked 190 undergraduates who majored in the fine arts and 189 undergraduates with non-art majors to complete these questionnaires. The results show that art majors experience inspiration from their external environment more frequently and intensely than non-art majors. Attitudes toward art-making and appreciation, which differed between non-art majors and art majors, were positively correlated with externally-derived inspiration.