Art theory has consistently emphasised the importance of situational, cultural, institutional and historical factors in viewers’ experience of fine art. However, the link between this heavily context-dependent interpretation and the workings of the mind is often left unexamined. The recently published article situates and describes the Western fine art tradition as a phenomenon that is a consequence of both the cognitive processes involved in communication, and of cultural norms, practices and institutions. 

Christophe Heintz and Thom Scott-Phillips from the OStension, Communication And Relevance (OSCAR) group has recently published an article on the misunderstandigs about cultural attraction which sparked a lively academic debate. The full texts can be accessed under the links below: