PCS Caleb Hazen
Reflections on Visual Perception
Cultural and Environmental Factors
This section on Visual Perception deals with another factor that affects the way we view the world- our cultural upbringing and the views our environment constantly subjects us to. It points out that because we are living in a westernized, “carpentered world”, we tend to view things from an architectural point of view. Since we are used to using such things as skyscrapers and trees as depth cues when looking at the horizon, the images that we produce might reflect that dependence to a certain way of looking at things. In the studio, we should remind ourselves that as artists, we are here to make people question what it is they’re looking at, that perhaps by simply rotating an everyday image we can force people to question what they normally take for granted. By working against the flow of these westernized cultural influences, we can create better, more meaningful art.
Reflections on Practices of Looking
Images and ideology
When talking about images and ideology, one must first know what ideology is. Ideology is the cultural thinking, the general view of the public at the time. What is considered normal now may be considered ridiculous in the near future. Because our social context is continually changing from day to day, the way we view the world around us is also changes. It is important to note how the audience, the general public, will consider a picture, what meaning will be initially derived from it. We wouldn’t dare think of promoting something that is associated with terrorism in today’s day and age. It would be received poorly, as public tension about the likelihood of terrorism is probably at an all-time high. Since the woman’s liberation front, views on the stereotypical housewife have changed dramatically, and promoting a subservient woman in an add for a cleaning utility would be considered taboo. Before embarking on a project in the studio, it is important to note the social context at the time and relate that to what you’re working on.
Reflections on Mirror Neurons video
Mirror Neurons give us a glimpse into the world of visual perception in a very different way, through the eyes of a scientist. The video explains how mirror neurons help us to imitate and relate to everything and everyone around us, and by understanding that, we may heighten our understanding of how certain people will relate to a work of art. If there is a feeling that is associated with a picture, for instance, sky diving, those who have shared that experience before will draw a different reaction from the picture rather than those who have never felt the sensation. The latter may feel an imagined sense of free falling, while the former will mirror the sensation in their brain, as demonstrated in the video. We can relate this to the studio by remembering that certain images, such as a person eating or bathing, will evoke generally the same response from everyone, and as our audiences get more specific, we can also specify our image to target certain emotions and reactions from them.
by
Caleb Hazen
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