"SeIns: Semantic Instability in Art"

"Variants of Semantic Instability (SeIns) in the Arts: A Classification Study Based on Experiential Reports"

Claudia Muth and Claus-Christian Carbon (+Bera M. Hesslinger)

These sources examine the phenomenon of Semantic Instability (SeIns) in art, which occurs when artworks defy a determinate interpretation and instead offer a plurality of potential meanings. The first source provides a theoretical framework for SeIns and identifies different types of semantic instability, including multistability, dichotomy, visual indeterminacy, and the experience of hidden images. The second source presents a classification study that confirms these types of SeIns, adding a fifth type called integrative blend, and the final source explores the relationship between SeIns and the experience of insight. It suggests that insight can be rewarding even if it does not completely resolve the ambiguity of an artwork, and that this is a key factor in the appreciation of art.