Hughes, Fiona (2021) 'Relief and the Structure of Intentions in Late Palaeolithic Cave Art.' The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, 79 (3). pp. 285-300. ISSN 0021-8529

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Abstract

Artworks at Lascaux and other late Palaeolithic caves integrate geological features or “relief” of the cave wall in a way that suggests a symbiotic relation between nature and culture. I argue this qualifies as “receptivity to a situation,” which is neither fully active nor merely passive and emerges as a necessary element of the intentions made apparent by such cave art. I argue against prominent interpretations of cave art, including the shamanist account and propose a structural interpretation attentive to particular cases. Seen in this way, cave art displays intentions that are analyzable as having a tripartite structure: mentally directed, embedded in actions and receptive to a situation. Moreover, the latter is the medium through which the other two elements are conjoined. Drawing on a range of archaeological and philosophical resources from both analytical philosophy and phenomenology, I argue that what I call cave art’s “intentional story” is important for the philosophy of intentions more generally.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	Faculty of Humanities Faculty of Humanities > Philosophy and Art History, School of
SWORD Depositor:	Elements
Depositing User:	Elements
Date Deposited:	13 Aug 2021 08:28
Last Modified:	17 Feb 2022 09:29
URI:	http://repository.essex.ac.uk/id/eprint/30888

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