Theorizing Music Perception and Cognition through Visualization of Sonic Phenomena and Mood Immersion

This thesis offers an in-depth examination of the VisualEars Project which explores music perception and cognition, as well as the experience of mood immersion through visualization of music as a sonic, gestural phenomenon by visual artists and a consequent immersive experience of simultaneous music-listening and art-observing by a widespread, virtual audience. The methodologies include ethnographic research, musical and visual analysis, self-reflexive observation, and a randomized and controlled PANAS scale to measure mood in a group. Based upon the general theories of perception such as gestalt and metaphoric understanding in musical and visual perception as well as the longstanding benefits of the arts on wellbeing, this thesis highlights cross-cultural commonalities in musical perception and demonstrates the positive impact of the exhibition on the audience’s mood.