Enjoyment and Appreciation in Art

The 'shower scene' in Hitchcock's Psycho is generally recognized as one of the most shocking in the history of Cinema, and is one of the most analyzed as well. Arguably, a dissection of how he produces the effects of the scene can contribute to one's enjoyment of it, as well to an understanding of the feeling of Horror, in general, e. g. the role in it played by Vulnerability. From which, it might be concluded that appreciation of the objective features of an Artwork can suffice as an explanation of Aesthetic enjoyment. On the other hand, that analysis of Hitchcock's technique does not account for another dimension of the shock that most viewer's have experienced. That dimension is due to the character, played by a glamorous Hollywood actress, who receives top billing in the movie, being killed off only half way through the film, a completely unexpected turn of events, especially in the context of the movie industry, and, in general, of 1960 America. Most analysts agree that Hitchcock was deliberately attempting to subvert both movie convention and the general culture of the time. However, as illuminating as this analysis might be, and as appreciative of Hitchcock's Artistry one might be because of it, it cannot enhance the experience of the shock of watching the scene, insofar as the latter is a function of unexpectedness. To the contrary, it can only diminish that surprise. So, Aesthetic Theory must distinguish between Enjoyment and Appreciation in Aesthetic Experience, i. e. between its immediate and reflective aspects. While the latter are objective, and, evaluable, the former are contingent, and, so, not open to disagreement. Likewise, any synthesis of Enjoyment and Appreciation can only be contingent, as well, and, thus, beyond objective evaluation.