Using the metaphoric story device of two tribes, one that builds their culture around words and the other which depends primarily on visual perception, this paper suggests a distinctive mental paradigm at work within the society of artists, who pursue visual literacy through graphic ideation. The author discusses his education in art and his…

Popular beliefs and research on modes of thinking among artists and scientists promote the idea that artists are motivated primarily by emotion and intuition, while scientists are stimulated primarily by logic and reason. This dichotomy and its implications for art education are discussed and criticized. (Author/IS)