More Information, Greater Appreciation: The Correlation between Background Information and Aesthetic Judgment of Tourist Crafts

Abstract

More information is often correlated with greater appreciation. Drawing on the model of aesthetic appreciation and aesthetic judgment in art psychology, this study aims to investigate changes in tourists’ aesthetic judgments of tourist crafts when provided with different background information. Blue calico, an art form created through white pulp dyeing and printing, is an intangible cultural heritage of China. The photographs used in this study illustrate typical examples of blue calicos that are commonly sold in tourist gift shops in Wuzhen, China. Data from a sample of 133 participants (49 women and 84 men) was analyzed using Two-Way Repeated Measures ANOVA. We examined to what extent respondents varied their assessments of the calicos based on author manipulation of background factors, such as commentaries by the artist or details about the production process. We found that tourists’ impressions of the aesthetics of blue calicos were predicted by background factors, especially those of tourists who were less interested in high arts. Specifically, blue calicos reported to tourists with names that conveyed an auspicious meaning predicted tourists’ assessments of the calicos as more aesthetically pleasing. Explanations of the production process also predicted an increased appreciation of calico aesthetics. Conversely, artists’ commentaries were not significantly correlated with an increased aesthetic merit of calicos. Understanding what may affect tourists’ assessment of art could help those in the tourism industry market souvenirs to drive sales and enhance tourists’ understanding and appreciation of intangible cultural heritage.