Art - A Symbol Of A Product Of The Unconscious

Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961) was a famous psychiatrist, psychologist, and founder of analytical psychology. He not only persisted in practicing his theories in life, but also deep studied the eastern philosophy and brought forward the theory of "spirit can guide future" suitable to all humans. Based on the rich experience information obtained from his mental analysis work of large amounts, through study and comparison of the life of original race, myths and legends of all kinds of different culture circles, eastern and western philosophies, thoughts and religion phenomena, Jung certified that besides self-conscious and unconscious with personal characteristics owned, the mind also has collective unconscious as being made up of so-called "archetypes" , which is regarded as the source of consciousness and mental activities.Jung specially attached importance to the creation and symbol of the collective unconscious universally existed in humans. He found out all kinds of archetypal images in human cultural relics and tried to use his archetype and symbol theory to explain its sameness and difference. Jung' s unconscious theory has not only contributed a lot to analysis of pathological phenomena and treatment, but also helped a lot in self-analysis and self-outsight for humans. Furthermore, when facing with times and social phenomena, it can also direct people to widely and deep think. Therefore, whether in psychiatry and clinical psychology, or mythology, religion studies, literature, even physics, his theory brought great influence.In this paper, the writer deep understands Jung' s unconscious theory and certifies that: art is not the result to represent personal characteristics, but the symbol result of unconscious that can express mutual thoughts and arouse resonance of humans. Meanwhile, it also discusses the important function of unconscious in art creation process. It studies the relation between human and self-unconscious and discusses the basic efforts of unconscious in art.This paper is divided into four chapters.Chapter 1 mainly introduces Jung' s life and achievements and expatiates on the communication and dissension between him and Sigmund Freud (1856-1939), the founder of psychoanalysis, who influenced a lot on him.Chapter 2 firstly to compare and study conscious and unconscious of humans to realize that besides consciousness in mind, there is another potential and infinite capacity—unconscious; then through comparing the difference between Jung' s and Freud' s theories on unconscious, to explain the source and content of unconscious. Furthermore, to introduce the background of unconscious being known in art filed and to explain Jung' s and Freud' s different views on art based on human' s mental activities.Chapter 3 consists of three sections.In the first section, according to Jung' s theory, unconscious is divided into personal unconscious and collective unconscious and their characteristics are compared. Meanwhile it explains in details that the core of Jung' s theory is collective unconscious. According to the study method and theory basis of collective unconscious put forward by Jung, his theory is certified not fiction. Furthermore, through observing the art of ancient world and the characteristics shown in later works of art with primitive trend, it illustrates that the collective unconscious in art reflects the inner experience mutually and inherently owned in humans and the most primary core of human' s appetence.In the second section, firstly to summarize the factors comprising the collective unconscious—conception and character of archetype, then realize that archetype is the source of our imagination. Furthermore, to analyze and study the conception of archetypal images and its representatives: persona, shadow, anima and animus and self; and then explain their representations in art. Meanwhile, through deep understanding the archetypes of individuation and self, it emphasizes and certifies that the most important conclusion of Jung' s theory is to reach the unification and integration of personality and self-realization. In the third section, to discuss the conception, character, function and effort in art of symbol and emphasize that art is the symbol result of unconscious. Because the archetype of collective unconscious is shown through symbol, so, Jung thought: for art, symbol is the most important conception and the language of expressing the unconscious; while art is the symbol language to show the archetypes hidden in mind. In other words, art is the warehouse accumulated with unconscious. At the same time, through analyzing some famous works with the most influence in western arts history during the period of 19^th century and 20^th century, to explain symbol' s effort and meaning in art works.Chapter 4 illustrates the unconscious' s effort in the artists' creation process and the relationship between it and art works producing symbol. In conclusion, the outstanding art works can touch your heart and bring inspirations. Therefore, we should deep understand unconscious and realize its symbol meaning in art. Then, we can contact all kinds of art works with open arms and feel their expressed symbol meanings.