Scotomisation – a term that’s not in most people’s vocabularies. Yet, it plays a significant role in how we perceive the world around us. It refers to our tendency to see what we want to see and ignore what we don’t. This psychological phenomenon is particularly relevant in the blockbuster movie, The Da Vinci Code. In a pivotal scene, the characters discuss the possible hidden images in Leonardo DA Vince’s masterpiece, The Last Supper. Is Mary Magdalene in the picture? Are Mary and Jesus married? Where is the Holy Grail? Sir Leigh Teabing, played by Ian McKellan, refers to scotomisation. He says it is a key concept to unlocking the mystery within the film. It is a mystery within a mystery within a mystery. Understanding this concept is crucial. It helps explain why people perceive differently what’s in The Last Supper. It also aids in understanding the artistic and historical mysteries surrounding it. Lastly, it explains the excitement surrounding The Da Vinci Code book and movie.
In this case, it is one of the most famous paintings of all time. It is an icon in the faith of millions of Christians. The emotional power of this is considerable. It is no wonder then that The Da Vinci Code book and film have been so controversial throughout the world.
Perception involves seeing and processing information through the filter of our intellect and our emotions. That’s why people often see the same thing differently. Scotomisation can be a false denial but also a false affirmation of our perceptions. The term used in behavioral science is borrowed from the science of optics and ophthalmology. “Scotoma” comes from the Greek word skotos, meaning to darken. It refers to a spot on the visual field where vision is absent or deficient.
In John Dowling’s montages, the mind also sees what it wants to see, not necessarily what’s there. The inability to observe certain phenomena or recognize certain situations, though they are obvious to others. Denial of reality is a battle we can never win – so why do we do it? Fortunately, it is usually not something we have decided consciously. It happens more often because our ego makes an unconscious effort to protect itself. It tries to shield itself from parts of reality it finds threatening. One way it does this is through a process known as ‘psychological scotoma’.
The word ‘scotoma’ is most commonly associated with vision, and it refers to a blind spot in the eye. A ‘psychological scotoma’ is another type of blind spot only this one occurs in the way we view reality. It means there is information in our experience that is inconvenient for our ego. Our ego responds by turning a ‘blind eye’ to it.
Psychological scotoma usually arises as a response to cognitive dissonance. This refers to a situation where there is some type of conflict between our beliefs, opinions, and our behavior. Our ego dislikes obvious inconsistencies in our thinking. It responds by using strategies such as psychological scotoma. By observing abstract images, we can bring these psychological scotomas into our conscious mind. This is especially true when trauma causes the scotoma.
So John Dowling’s abstract art observation can be therapeutic. Our creative brain will use everything possible to make sense of the world we see and experience. It will even use imagination to find some meaning. Our brain’s response to abstract art is a perfect example of how we deal with ambiguity, uncertainty, and doubt. It also illustrates how we handle the unknown and other uncertainties. This response may inspire us to think creatively.
The brain’s emotional centers, such as the amygdala and the insula, are more active when viewing abstract art. This indicates that the interpretation of abstract art is more emotional. It is also more subjective than realistic art. John Dowling says that alternatively, some abstract art reduces the complex visual world around us. It distills this complexity to its essence of form, line, color, and light. Abstract art challenges our eyes and brains. It presents an image that is fundamentally different. This image differs from the kind of images our brain has evolved to reconstruct. When looking at a Pollock it is impossible to find recognizable objects and shapes.
It becomes impossible to think about it in the ways we typically categorize or label. John Dowling believes this causes people to dismiss abstract art. Some may even feel somewhat intimidated by it. It makes perfect sense. Our brains are hardwired to prefer images we can easily identify. Our survival on this planet has relied on our ability to distinguish between a threatening lion and a cute kitten.
John Dowling uses faces and bodies in many of his montages and abstractions. He wants to make us find the face or the body. Even the collection of faces or bodies is something scotomisation makes possible, or impossible.
