Response #7.

In Katherine's blog, she asked the question, "What qualities does a work need to have in order to impact (change/alter) the emotion of the viewer?"

I know for myself whenever I view a piece of artwork that changes me emotionally, most of the time it is because there is something within the piece that I can relate to and it strikes me on a personal level. Music, for example, has always been an art work that I've been able to relate to and it changes me emotions so boldly. Some of my most favorite and intimate songs have been about topics that were close to heart with me, and therefore it changes my emotions whenever I hear it. Music that doesn't have lyrics too can also alter my moods because the music itself moves me, and I can feel within the musician the passion pouring through their fingers as they create that music. When I listen to a piece of music and I can tell that the musician is passionate about what he or she does through the music itself, it usually moves me to such a point where my emotions are at their peak and I'm able to feel a mixture of happiness, sorrow, fragility, chaos, and stillness all at the same time. So as for qualities that a work needs, I think it definitely varies with each individual because we all have different life stories that are applicable to the art that we subject ourselves to.

My question is, "Do you find yourself moved the most when viewing artwork or listening to music that reflects your thoughts and feelings? Or is it something completely unrelated to how you feel that tends to move you the most?"