First, a disclaimer: Until society accepts that "intelligence"-regardless, even, of what specific definition we use-is but one gift among many that human beings possess in varying proportions (consider physical abilities, gender tendencies, diligence, compassion, etc.) the very concept will continue to be the cause of may misunderstandings and hurt feelings.

Pattern recognition is widely regarded as one of the key components of intelligence. I.Q. tests abound with questions asking that we recognize a pattern and identify an image or number that continues that pattern.
Many (perhaps most) people innately derive pleasure from recognizing patterns. Songs often get better the second or third or fourth time we hear them; radio stations use this fact to sell records (cf. Payola).

The moment of understanding a concept is delicious... Finally "getting" a math formula we had to learn for class; finally seeing a movie that people have been discussing ("Oh, THAT's what she was talking about") Things falling into place in our minds. Knowing when in a song the break/bridge is coming...anticipating it, diving into it exactly when it happens.

When the pattern is too easy, though.... hearing that song the 1000th time, hearing the same joke the third time, predictable movie plots....we feel a repulsion. The human mind needs at least a slight challenge to retain interest.

Modern art was simply a breakage of rules, a challenge to forms. It was humanity proving that we are not bound by rules.

Postmodern art, though (and much of today's art-in all media-is pre-modern with something weird thrown in to disguise it) came with recognition of this need to strive for pattern recognition. It sets out to present almost-but not quite-grasp-able patterns; to draw us in, but not let us go. It gives us no truly articulable pattern with which to sort it in our minds. It gives an impression of completeness, of narrative, without the real thing that we may grab hold of, and then disregard the path taken to get there.

So: those who (truly) appreciate post-modern art are:
1) Those who are prone to pattern recognition, and therefore find "accessible" work too easy. And
2) Those flexible enough to simply accept the bits of cognizable information along with a lot of vague feelings.
And then, of course, there are a whole lot who just fake it.

Learn more about this author, Lenny Watson.
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