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Elephant Art

The Drain

Master Poster
The Drain
Joined
Dec 12, 2005
Messages
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This is a video of an elephant in Thailand that is apparently painting pictures of elephants.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy9kKxJJpug

Is it for real? Can an elephant do this? Is this elephant doing this, or is its helper 'helping' it? And is the art-teacher from London, who says she's going to teach the elephant, being taken for a ride or in on the scam? Or maybe this really is for real?


(PS: Sorry, but I don't know how to do the JREF disclaimer thing on youtube video links. If a mod wants to adjust this, that would be great).
 
My brother in law has a Elephant painting up in their living room. With a picture of an elephant by it to "prove it".
 
The helper is "helping" it. These elephants are trained and coached to make these pictures, with the trainer always holding one tusk to provide the stimuli that directs the movement of the trunk. Without a trainer standing next to them all the elephants do is make "abstract" brush strokes. It's nothing more than the Clever Hans effect.

So no, elephants do not have any concept of art. And no, these elephants do not know that they are making pictorial representations of reality, much less of themselves.
 
Slayhamlet - there is not much to suggest you are either right or wrong. The trainer is present. I wonder what would happen if the trainer was not there? It would be a very sophisticated version of the Clever Hans effect. Mind you elephants are far more intelegent than a horse.
 
I have no problem with the idea that an elephant can be trained to paint lines. It's just very gimmicky.
 
I once painted an elephant in my pajamas...


...how he got in my pajamas, I'll never know:cool:
 
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