Ethereal Pause: a redefinition of silence through artistic discourse.
Abstract
Silence has been a fundamental concept, both for its physical importance and its symbolic weight. However, have we ever asked ourselves what silence is? This study proposes a redefinition of the concept of silence through artistic discourse, based on an interdisciplinary approach that combines personal perceptions and their manifestation in art. To this end, a multi-method approach has been carried out using qualitative methodology and the analysis of artistic works. Based on a survey of open-ended questions (N= 119), we analyze how silence is perceived in subjective terms. Subsequently, a critical analysis of the presence of silence in different artistic works is carried out, highlighting how silence functions as a creative resource. Finally, a connection is established between the participants' perceptions and the artists' expressions, revealing a common line of thought that is not reflected in the classic and objective definitions of silence. This approach allows us to construct a richer and more complex view of the phenomenon and reveal how art can serve as a means for redefining silence as a personal, subjective, and emotional experience.
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