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The Golden Section and Architecture Do We Find It Pleasing?
The Golden Section and Architecture Do We Find It Pleasing?
Suppose that we were to divide a line such that the ratio of the shorter segment to the longer segment equals the ratio of the longer segment to the entire line.
Mathematically, this can be shown as a/b = b/(a + b) Where a, b represent the lengths of the shorter and longer segments, respectively, and a + b = 1 Phi 1 --------------|-------1 phi phi = 0.618 Phi = 1.618
In Book 6, Proposition 30, Euclid discusses division of a line to obtain the golden section 1 A G B ------------------------------g 1g GB = AG , 1 g = g AG AB g 1
Many art books talk about centering objects about 1/3 of the way across
Is it aesthetically pleasing?
Controversial
Many studies have been done Conduct of studies has been controversial
Criticism
Golden rectangle was in middle of proportion ranges (7th) Subjects not randomly selected Subjects may have been cognizant of Fechners hypothesis Preference is a function of associations Association being the human body which all subjects had
Studies by Culture
Canadian versus Japanese 9% of Canadians preferred it versus 5% of Japanese Americans versus Europeans Substantial differences showed up between these two groups
It may simply be that the psychological instruments we are forced to use in studying the effects of the golden section are just too crude. D.E. Berlyne, 1971
Thank You!