The Natural History of Art

Comment on Conniff's article: "The Natural History of Art."
Is our DNA "a sort of ghostly puppet master" (96) determining our aesthetical preferences?

The Conniff article presented some interesting points that only contribute to the ongoing mystery of the origins of the human race. I enjoyed reading the theories he has and it is all very intriguing, however I don’t believe his article possessed the content to persuade me. Some evidence does support the statement that DNA can influence our preferences, but Conniff’s conclusion is far from complete.

Our understanding of DNA expression is very limited, and certain situations may not be the same as others. Preference of art by human beings and the instinctive choice to inhabit grasslands by prairie deer mice have little similarities. Humans succumb to culture, trends, and nurturing. The attraction to savannahs does not indicate the role of genetics. It could be a temporary phase that in ten years no longer exists. The art will remain, but our preferences will change to favor another landscape. I’m sure if people could reproduce the sandy beaches of Hawaii with the gentle breeze and the steady beating of the waves, many would choose it over a savannah. This doesn’t mean we genetically prefer beaches either, we just exist in a culture and time period that acts as a “ghostly puppet master.”

I do believe that we, being DNA based, are victims of genetic predisposition, linking us to our parents and our ancestors. I don’t believe that preference is addressed by genetic predisposition and it can’t be genetically passed down to offspring, since preferences change with each generation. The dissimilarity amongst offspring also indicate that there is variation, even among twins.

The only link that I see between the visual stimulus of the savannah and our genetic timeline is the consistent goal of all animals to survive. Despite living in modern civilization, humans still have the instinct for survival. The savannah offers that, but I don’t think it is genetically coded that we will prefer surviving in the savannah over another environment. So basically, our instinct for survival could influence our preference for an environment, but it does not specify which environment.