What is it called when someone is utterly absorbed in a piece of art?












1















At one art workshop, the lecturer was describing the state of being when one is fully absorbed in a piece of art.



It is paired with losing a sense of time for a brief moment and sometimes followed by an emotional reaction caused by a particular work.



An example would be when one is looking at paintings and they burst into tears.



I know that there is a word for this state of being. The word could be taken from another language.










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  • Please include the research you have done.

    – JJJ
    Mar 24 at 21:37











  • And give us a sample sentence please.

    – lbf
    Mar 24 at 23:36











  • A term for a general state of absorption (i.e. not restricted to looking at a piece of art) is flow, coined by Hungarian psychologist Csikszentmihalyi. Here is a brief extract from the Wikipedia article: "In essence, flow is characterized by complete absorption in what one does, and a resulting loss in one's sense of space and time".

    – Shoe
    Mar 25 at 8:23
















1















At one art workshop, the lecturer was describing the state of being when one is fully absorbed in a piece of art.



It is paired with losing a sense of time for a brief moment and sometimes followed by an emotional reaction caused by a particular work.



An example would be when one is looking at paintings and they burst into tears.



I know that there is a word for this state of being. The word could be taken from another language.










share|improve this question

























  • Please include the research you have done.

    – JJJ
    Mar 24 at 21:37











  • And give us a sample sentence please.

    – lbf
    Mar 24 at 23:36











  • A term for a general state of absorption (i.e. not restricted to looking at a piece of art) is flow, coined by Hungarian psychologist Csikszentmihalyi. Here is a brief extract from the Wikipedia article: "In essence, flow is characterized by complete absorption in what one does, and a resulting loss in one's sense of space and time".

    – Shoe
    Mar 25 at 8:23














1












1








1








At one art workshop, the lecturer was describing the state of being when one is fully absorbed in a piece of art.



It is paired with losing a sense of time for a brief moment and sometimes followed by an emotional reaction caused by a particular work.



An example would be when one is looking at paintings and they burst into tears.



I know that there is a word for this state of being. The word could be taken from another language.










share|improve this question
















At one art workshop, the lecturer was describing the state of being when one is fully absorbed in a piece of art.



It is paired with losing a sense of time for a brief moment and sometimes followed by an emotional reaction caused by a particular work.



An example would be when one is looking at paintings and they burst into tears.



I know that there is a word for this state of being. The word could be taken from another language.







single-word-requests






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













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share|improve this question








edited Mar 24 at 20:49









Mitch

52.4k15105220




52.4k15105220










asked Mar 24 at 20:40









Kamil FolwarcznyKamil Folwarczny

1061




1061













  • Please include the research you have done.

    – JJJ
    Mar 24 at 21:37











  • And give us a sample sentence please.

    – lbf
    Mar 24 at 23:36











  • A term for a general state of absorption (i.e. not restricted to looking at a piece of art) is flow, coined by Hungarian psychologist Csikszentmihalyi. Here is a brief extract from the Wikipedia article: "In essence, flow is characterized by complete absorption in what one does, and a resulting loss in one's sense of space and time".

    – Shoe
    Mar 25 at 8:23



















  • Please include the research you have done.

    – JJJ
    Mar 24 at 21:37











  • And give us a sample sentence please.

    – lbf
    Mar 24 at 23:36











  • A term for a general state of absorption (i.e. not restricted to looking at a piece of art) is flow, coined by Hungarian psychologist Csikszentmihalyi. Here is a brief extract from the Wikipedia article: "In essence, flow is characterized by complete absorption in what one does, and a resulting loss in one's sense of space and time".

    – Shoe
    Mar 25 at 8:23

















Please include the research you have done.

– JJJ
Mar 24 at 21:37





Please include the research you have done.

– JJJ
Mar 24 at 21:37













And give us a sample sentence please.

– lbf
Mar 24 at 23:36





And give us a sample sentence please.

– lbf
Mar 24 at 23:36













A term for a general state of absorption (i.e. not restricted to looking at a piece of art) is flow, coined by Hungarian psychologist Csikszentmihalyi. Here is a brief extract from the Wikipedia article: "In essence, flow is characterized by complete absorption in what one does, and a resulting loss in one's sense of space and time".

– Shoe
Mar 25 at 8:23





A term for a general state of absorption (i.e. not restricted to looking at a piece of art) is flow, coined by Hungarian psychologist Csikszentmihalyi. Here is a brief extract from the Wikipedia article: "In essence, flow is characterized by complete absorption in what one does, and a resulting loss in one's sense of space and time".

– Shoe
Mar 25 at 8:23










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















1














A couple ideas come to mind. This one can be a bit difficult since being absorbed in something seems to require focus, yet it also seems involuntary.



The first word that came to my mind is transfixed.
Transfix is a transitive verb defined by Merriam-Webster as




: to hold motionless by or as if by piercing




This one makes a good bit of sense as its second definition deals with being physically impaled. The art, in this case, is almost forcing you to stop. However, a drawback to this word is that it does not imply much emotion.



Another word that came to mind is entranced.
Entrance is also a transitive verb. It is defined as




: to put into a trance




This one has a bit less force to it, but it more accurately describes that sensation in an emotional sense.



Similar to entranced, you could use enthralled.
Enthrall is another transitive verb. It is defined as




: to hold spellbound : Charm




This one is very similar to entrance.



A fourth word worth thinking about is selah.
Selah is a Hebrew word found throughout the Bible in the book of Psalms. It is generally understood by the context to be a sort of musical direction. Here's an example:




1 O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me;
2 many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. Selah
3 But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
4 I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah




Nobody actually knows the true meaning of the word; however, many suggest that it means something like "stop and listen". This could be something related to that sense of being absorbed in something. Here is the link to the Wikipedia article for the word: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selah



I hope this answered your question!






share|improve this answer
























  • Already ready up-voted (+1) :) Please add Merriam Webster dictionary links. Good luck !

    – Ubi hatt
    Mar 25 at 13:48



















1














I'd suggest the word rapt. It means, "carried away in an ecstatic trance" from Latin raptus, past participle of rapere "seize, carry off". A figurative sense, the notion is of "carried up into Heaven (bodily or in a dream)".



Oxford dictionary defines it as,




Completely fascinated or absorbed by what one is seeing or hearing.




The children sat rapt as the puppets danced.



The old guy was seeing the painting with the rapt attention.








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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes








    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    1














    A couple ideas come to mind. This one can be a bit difficult since being absorbed in something seems to require focus, yet it also seems involuntary.



    The first word that came to my mind is transfixed.
    Transfix is a transitive verb defined by Merriam-Webster as




    : to hold motionless by or as if by piercing




    This one makes a good bit of sense as its second definition deals with being physically impaled. The art, in this case, is almost forcing you to stop. However, a drawback to this word is that it does not imply much emotion.



    Another word that came to mind is entranced.
    Entrance is also a transitive verb. It is defined as




    : to put into a trance




    This one has a bit less force to it, but it more accurately describes that sensation in an emotional sense.



    Similar to entranced, you could use enthralled.
    Enthrall is another transitive verb. It is defined as




    : to hold spellbound : Charm




    This one is very similar to entrance.



    A fourth word worth thinking about is selah.
    Selah is a Hebrew word found throughout the Bible in the book of Psalms. It is generally understood by the context to be a sort of musical direction. Here's an example:




    1 O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me;
    2 many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. Selah
    3 But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
    4 I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah




    Nobody actually knows the true meaning of the word; however, many suggest that it means something like "stop and listen". This could be something related to that sense of being absorbed in something. Here is the link to the Wikipedia article for the word: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selah



    I hope this answered your question!






    share|improve this answer
























    • Already ready up-voted (+1) :) Please add Merriam Webster dictionary links. Good luck !

      – Ubi hatt
      Mar 25 at 13:48
















    1














    A couple ideas come to mind. This one can be a bit difficult since being absorbed in something seems to require focus, yet it also seems involuntary.



    The first word that came to my mind is transfixed.
    Transfix is a transitive verb defined by Merriam-Webster as




    : to hold motionless by or as if by piercing




    This one makes a good bit of sense as its second definition deals with being physically impaled. The art, in this case, is almost forcing you to stop. However, a drawback to this word is that it does not imply much emotion.



    Another word that came to mind is entranced.
    Entrance is also a transitive verb. It is defined as




    : to put into a trance




    This one has a bit less force to it, but it more accurately describes that sensation in an emotional sense.



    Similar to entranced, you could use enthralled.
    Enthrall is another transitive verb. It is defined as




    : to hold spellbound : Charm




    This one is very similar to entrance.



    A fourth word worth thinking about is selah.
    Selah is a Hebrew word found throughout the Bible in the book of Psalms. It is generally understood by the context to be a sort of musical direction. Here's an example:




    1 O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me;
    2 many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. Selah
    3 But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
    4 I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah




    Nobody actually knows the true meaning of the word; however, many suggest that it means something like "stop and listen". This could be something related to that sense of being absorbed in something. Here is the link to the Wikipedia article for the word: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selah



    I hope this answered your question!






    share|improve this answer
























    • Already ready up-voted (+1) :) Please add Merriam Webster dictionary links. Good luck !

      – Ubi hatt
      Mar 25 at 13:48














    1












    1








    1







    A couple ideas come to mind. This one can be a bit difficult since being absorbed in something seems to require focus, yet it also seems involuntary.



    The first word that came to my mind is transfixed.
    Transfix is a transitive verb defined by Merriam-Webster as




    : to hold motionless by or as if by piercing




    This one makes a good bit of sense as its second definition deals with being physically impaled. The art, in this case, is almost forcing you to stop. However, a drawback to this word is that it does not imply much emotion.



    Another word that came to mind is entranced.
    Entrance is also a transitive verb. It is defined as




    : to put into a trance




    This one has a bit less force to it, but it more accurately describes that sensation in an emotional sense.



    Similar to entranced, you could use enthralled.
    Enthrall is another transitive verb. It is defined as




    : to hold spellbound : Charm




    This one is very similar to entrance.



    A fourth word worth thinking about is selah.
    Selah is a Hebrew word found throughout the Bible in the book of Psalms. It is generally understood by the context to be a sort of musical direction. Here's an example:




    1 O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me;
    2 many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. Selah
    3 But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
    4 I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah




    Nobody actually knows the true meaning of the word; however, many suggest that it means something like "stop and listen". This could be something related to that sense of being absorbed in something. Here is the link to the Wikipedia article for the word: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selah



    I hope this answered your question!






    share|improve this answer













    A couple ideas come to mind. This one can be a bit difficult since being absorbed in something seems to require focus, yet it also seems involuntary.



    The first word that came to my mind is transfixed.
    Transfix is a transitive verb defined by Merriam-Webster as




    : to hold motionless by or as if by piercing




    This one makes a good bit of sense as its second definition deals with being physically impaled. The art, in this case, is almost forcing you to stop. However, a drawback to this word is that it does not imply much emotion.



    Another word that came to mind is entranced.
    Entrance is also a transitive verb. It is defined as




    : to put into a trance




    This one has a bit less force to it, but it more accurately describes that sensation in an emotional sense.



    Similar to entranced, you could use enthralled.
    Enthrall is another transitive verb. It is defined as




    : to hold spellbound : Charm




    This one is very similar to entrance.



    A fourth word worth thinking about is selah.
    Selah is a Hebrew word found throughout the Bible in the book of Psalms. It is generally understood by the context to be a sort of musical direction. Here's an example:




    1 O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me;
    2 many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. Selah
    3 But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
    4 I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah




    Nobody actually knows the true meaning of the word; however, many suggest that it means something like "stop and listen". This could be something related to that sense of being absorbed in something. Here is the link to the Wikipedia article for the word: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selah



    I hope this answered your question!







    share|improve this answer












    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer










    answered Mar 25 at 2:35









    TawiskaruTawiskaru

    111




    111













    • Already ready up-voted (+1) :) Please add Merriam Webster dictionary links. Good luck !

      – Ubi hatt
      Mar 25 at 13:48



















    • Already ready up-voted (+1) :) Please add Merriam Webster dictionary links. Good luck !

      – Ubi hatt
      Mar 25 at 13:48

















    Already ready up-voted (+1) :) Please add Merriam Webster dictionary links. Good luck !

    – Ubi hatt
    Mar 25 at 13:48





    Already ready up-voted (+1) :) Please add Merriam Webster dictionary links. Good luck !

    – Ubi hatt
    Mar 25 at 13:48













    1














    I'd suggest the word rapt. It means, "carried away in an ecstatic trance" from Latin raptus, past participle of rapere "seize, carry off". A figurative sense, the notion is of "carried up into Heaven (bodily or in a dream)".



    Oxford dictionary defines it as,




    Completely fascinated or absorbed by what one is seeing or hearing.




    The children sat rapt as the puppets danced.



    The old guy was seeing the painting with the rapt attention.








    share|improve this answer




























      1














      I'd suggest the word rapt. It means, "carried away in an ecstatic trance" from Latin raptus, past participle of rapere "seize, carry off". A figurative sense, the notion is of "carried up into Heaven (bodily or in a dream)".



      Oxford dictionary defines it as,




      Completely fascinated or absorbed by what one is seeing or hearing.




      The children sat rapt as the puppets danced.



      The old guy was seeing the painting with the rapt attention.








      share|improve this answer


























        1












        1








        1







        I'd suggest the word rapt. It means, "carried away in an ecstatic trance" from Latin raptus, past participle of rapere "seize, carry off". A figurative sense, the notion is of "carried up into Heaven (bodily or in a dream)".



        Oxford dictionary defines it as,




        Completely fascinated or absorbed by what one is seeing or hearing.




        The children sat rapt as the puppets danced.



        The old guy was seeing the painting with the rapt attention.








        share|improve this answer













        I'd suggest the word rapt. It means, "carried away in an ecstatic trance" from Latin raptus, past participle of rapere "seize, carry off". A figurative sense, the notion is of "carried up into Heaven (bodily or in a dream)".



        Oxford dictionary defines it as,




        Completely fascinated or absorbed by what one is seeing or hearing.




        The children sat rapt as the puppets danced.



        The old guy was seeing the painting with the rapt attention.









        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered Mar 25 at 10:44









        Ubi hattUbi hatt

        4,0741028




        4,0741028






























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