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AGGRESSION AND CATHARSIS IN THE WORK OF THE PAINTER FRANCIS BACON

A. Micu

Abstract

The paper aims to highlight the main theories about catharsis, how this transformation occurs in the fine arts, some conclusions drawn from research in psychology that answer the question: what are the conditions under which the sublimation of aggression occurs (catharsis), and when this do not occur - in some cases there is a reverse effect - in fact, increase aggressiveness. The problem could be resolved by the psychologists rather than by aestheticians as follows: Under what circumstances and to what extent, the catharsis action, help us to restoreour psychological balance, and how it works, based on the conditions in which suchactions are happening. The function of catharsis is focused on the need of individuals to release tensions and toexpress emotions more than the need to communicate with others. This tension can beidentified with aggression, and from this point of view, catharsis was approached termsof reducing this aggression. Reducing bullying – the catharsisis the construct whichpredicts that aggression expressed in acceptable social ways reduce the aggressivetendencies. This theory states that people start to behave aggressively towards theirpeers, (- innate tendencies or induced by social cause by specific events) may besatisfied by substitute actions that do not harm any persons in question, but thepossibility for individuals to deliver their anger and hatred by means harmless, reducesemotional tension and therefore the likelihood that they might commit antisocial acts. At the end of the paper, a brief case study on bullying and its sublimation incontemporary Irish painter Francis Bacon work. Cathartic function of the painting is done, both by consuming imaginary aggressiveness(according to the concept of Freud) and by the action of hypnotic, according to Bergson,the effect of the painting on the viewer determines him to break free from mentalinhibitions generated by consciousness censorship and accept suggestions expressed bythe artist that generates unconscious echoes to the receiver, interfere with the visuallyexpressed emotional problem of the artist.

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/SGEMSOCIAL2017/HB61/S15.39

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