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2.4.3Successful Art Has Survival Benefits: Evolking Emotional Responses In a Controlled Environment
As discussed in Chapter 1, biological adaptations such as emotions and music do not evolve unless they confer survival benefits or reproductive benefits, or both.
How does a work of musical art such as a song confer these benefits?
If a work of art succeeds in evoking emotions, it connects with the survival benefits of emotions, but in a controlled context.
- A successful work of art enables you to feel negative emotions such as fear, sadness, and anger without experiencing the dangerous or unpleasant realworld circumstances that would normally trigger such emotions.
- A successful work of art also enables you to feel positive emotions such as excitement and joy, which you may not experience often under real-world circumstances.