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Olafur Eliasson’s Room for one colour: an ambient environment generating dialogue between artwork, space, artist and visitor
No full textThesis (B.A. in Art History)--John Cabot University, Fall 2023.In 2022 Olafur Eliasson recreated the installation Room for one colour (1997) in Palazzo Strozzi, Florence as a part of his Nel tuo tempo solo exhibition. With this version, the artist initiated a dialogue with the palace, taking into consideration both the interiors and the history of the role of the building throughout the centuries. This dialogue, in contrast with previous versions that took place in either a white cube or semi-public spaces, enhances the participatory quality of Room for one color. This thesis examines artwork’s direct relationship to spaces where installed each time, how the installation responds to and changes within definite types of locations with the specific focus on Palazzo Strozzi. The research also delves into artwork’s relationship to the viewer, how Room for one colour (2022) creates a dynamic interaction between the architectural space, artwork and viewer by facilitating a direct communication between the artwork itself and the viewer as participant. Starting from the individual perception of the artwork, based on sensorial engagement and bodily intelligence, the research then delves into the understanding of collective experience. This experience, which is considered part of a larger “social turn” in art beginning in the 1990s-early 2000s, enhances the communication between the artwork and the artist with the space and the viewer, developing into a form of co-creation. By further relying on era-defining terms introduced by scholars and critics of the last fifty years, the thesis focuses on the latest direction of museums based on principles of inclusivity and social engagement. Through examining a number of concepts ranging from social, experiential and participatory practices it sets a framework for the analysis of aesthetic and conceptual qualities of Eliasson’s installation. The thesis contextualizes Room for one colour as a created immersive environment within museum space and analyses the way it facilitates a visitor’s individual and collective experience, both in the artwork and in relation to the outside world
Morphing Triangle Contact Representations of Triangulations
No full textA morph is a continuous transformation between two representations of a graph. We consider the problem of morphing between contact representations of a plane graph. In an F-contact representation of a plane graph G, vertices are realized by internally disjoint elements from a family F of connected geometric objects. Two such elements touch if and only if their corresponding vertices are adjacent. These touchings also induce the same embedding as in G. In a morph between two F-contact representations we insist that at each time step (continuously throughout the morph) we have an Fcontact representation. We focus on the case when F is the family of triangles in R2 that are the lower-right half of axis-parallel rectangles. Such RT-representations exist for every plane graph and right triangles are one of the simplest families of shapes supporting this property. Moreover, they naturally correspond to 3-orientations. Thus, they provide a natural case to study regarding morphs of contact representations of plane graphs. We characterize the pairs of RT-representations admitting a morph between each other via the respective 3-orientations. Our characterization leads to
a polynomial-time algorithm to decide whether there is a morph between two RTrepresentations of an n-vertex plane triangulation, and, if so, computes a morph with O(n2) steps. Each of these steps is a linear morph moving the endpoints of each triangle at constant speed along straight-line trajectories. Our characterization also implies that for 4-connected plane triangulations there is a morph between every pair of RT-representations where the “top-most” triangle in both representations corresponds
to the same vertex
Axis-Parallel Right Angle Crossing Graphs
No full textA RAC graph is one admitting a RAC drawing, that is, a polyline drawing in which each crossing occurs at a right angle. Originally motivated by psychological studies on readability of graph layouts, RAC graphs form one of the most prominent graph classes in beyond planarity. In this work, we study a subclass of RAC graphs, called axis-parallel RAC (or apRAC, for short), that restricts the crossings to pairs of axis-parallel edge-segments. apRAC drawings combine the readability of planar drawings with the clarity of (non-planar) orthogonal drawings. We consider these graphs both with and without bends. Our contribution is as follows: (i) We study inclusion relationships between apRAC and traditional RAC graphs. (ii) We establish bounds on the edge density of apRAC graphs. (iii) We show that every graph with maximum degree 8 is 2-bend apRAC and give a linear time drawing algorithm. Some of our results on apRAC graphs also improve the state of the art for general RAC graphs. We conclude our work with a list of open questions and a discussion of a natural generalization of the apRAC model
The Other, the Madman, the Hero: The Epileptic as an Ambivalent Figure in Hercules Furens and Othello
No full textThesis (B.A. in English Literature, Minor in Classical Studies)--John Cabot University, Spring 2023.The aim of this thesis is to uncover the positive story regarding epilepsy by showing how it operates as a signifier of greatness in two influential and connected narratives: Seneca’s Hercules Furens and Shakespeare’s Othello. I want to prove that the two texts offer a portrayal of the epileptic as an ambivalent figure who can be defined through “negative stories” of otherness and madness, while also being narrated as a person of exceptional strength, endurance, and the life experience of a hero. The first part of the thesis will analyze Hercules’ and Othello’s otherness. Hercules’ otherness derives from his liminality, which poses him between the realm of the living and the dead, and the one of gods and mortals. Othello, on the other hand, becomes a “dangerous other” through the racist, animalistic, and hypersexualized images that other characters use to describe him. The second chapter concerns the way Seneca’s and Shakespeare’s heroes are presented in relation to their madness. A comparison between Seneca’s play and Euripides’ Herakles will allow me to perform a more complete analysis of the trope of the epileptic as a madman. The third and final chapter deals with Hercules’ and Othello’s status of hero, to which they rise in different, but both valid, ways. While Hercules owes his glory to his decision to not commit suicide, Othello dies by his own hand and becomes a tragic hero for purging the earth from his inner monster
Documentary Film as Interreligious Dialogue: A Cognitive Perspective
No full textResearch and personal experience affirm that watching a movie can change the way someone lives their life. Documentary storytelling is a multidimensional change agent, a digital media artifact that is rooted in real communities, real lives, and real stories. Because documentary is rooted in the human social world, watching it is a cognitively, psychologically, emotionally, socially, and politically complicated act. Thus, it is a potent medium for stimulating discourse, reflection, and behavioral change. This article explores the power of visual storytelling and positive media representation as a Parasocial-Relational form of interreligious dialogue and delves into practical application as it contemplates best practices for how filmmakers might harness that power, reviewing literature on the possible social, cognitive, and neurobiological impact of documentary. This interdisciplinary cognitive-sociological theory of change posits documentary film as a lever for increased interreligious competence because of its unique ability to disarm with visual storytelling and engaging characters, leading to a potentially reflexive experience of humanization and perceptual shift
Message in a Bottle of Wine from Emerging Markets. Is the Country of Origin Still a Relevant Cue in Consumers’ Perceptions?
No full textResearch shows that country of origin (COO) has a significant impact on product evaluations and purchasing behaviour. However, there is a lack of clarity regarding the effects of COO on Generation Y within the wine industry. Therefore, this study aims to provide clarity on the impact of COO on consumer perception when purchasing wine from emerging markets such as Chile, South Africa, and China. Qualitative research was conducted with atotal of 28 individuals who participated in a qualitative survey. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The results indicate that COO is still an important cue for consumers when evaluating the quality of wine. However, other factors such as price, design, and type of grape are perceived as important factors that influence consumers' perceptions. The findings of this investigation can guide wine marketers in selecting appropriate cues for their international marketing strategies
Exiled but not Forgotten
No full textThesis (B.A. in Art History, Minor in Art and Design/Communication)--John Cabot University, Fall 2023.The artistic landscape of South Africa has been profoundly shaped by its political history, notably the period recognized as Apartheid. This era, which extended from 1948 to the early 1990s, was characterized by a systematic implementation of racial segregation and discrimination. The Afrikaans term "Apartheid," means "separateness,"1 aptly describes this phase that set South Africa under the weight of a new rule. The National Party—mostly Afrikaners, Dutch settlers' kin—put this into play. Laws split people by race: whites had the power in politics and cash flow, and blacks and other non-whites fell to the side, were held down, and kept out. Every slice of life had rules on who could live where, who could work what job, or even mix with whom - all sowing seeds of deep unfairness for those not born white. The harsh system faced years of struggle until the early 1990s when change took root slowly but surely thanks to the battles fought by the ANC. During this time, in art practices, social realism saw a rise in influence, and South African artists began using the style to portray the realities of the black community during the Apartheid period. Art was a form of expression uniformed by a style that allowed artists to depict the honest everyday life experience of non-white South Africans. Even through exile their voice and art stood out to paint the realities of black South Africa. This research aims to understand the nature of political repression and how resistance during the Apartheid period impacted the development of South African art, by studying the works of two South African-born artists Gerard Sekoto (1913-1993) and Dumile Feni (1942-1991), to understand the role of art in promoting social activism as a tool to change South Africa. This thesis will provide deep insight into the life and work of these two talented artists who, even through exile, never forgot where they came from and continued to advocate for an equal South Africa for all
Improvements in Compassion and Fears of Compassion throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multinational Study
No full textDuring large-scale disasters, social support, caring behaviours, and compassion are shown to protect against poor mental health outcomes. This multi-national study aimed to assess the fluctuations in compassion over time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Respondents (Time 1 n = 4156, Time 2 n = 980, Time 3 n = 825) from 23 countries completed online self-report questionnaires measuring the flows of compassion (i.e., Compassionate Engagement and Action Scales) and fears of compassion toward self and others and from others (i.e., Fears of Compassion Scales) and mental health at three time-points during a 10-month period. The results for the flows of compassion showed that self-compassion increased at Time 3. Compassion for others increased at Time 2 and 3 for the general population, but in contrast, it decreased in health professionals, possibly linked to burnout. Compassion from others did not change in Time 2, but it did increase significantly in Time 3. For fears of compassion, fears of self-compassion reduced over time, fears of compassion for others showed more variation, reducing for the general public but increasing for health professionals, whilst fears of compassion from others did not change over time. Health professionals, those with compassion training, older adults, and women showed greater flows of compassion and lower fears of compassion compared with the general population, those without compassion training, younger adults, and men. These findings highlight that, in a period of shared suffering, people from multiple countries and nationalities show a cumulative improvement in compassion and reduction in fears of compassion, suggesting that, when there is intense suffering, people become more compassionate to self and others and less afraid of, and resistant to, compassion
A 20-Country Comparative Assessment of the Effectiveness of Nutri-Score vs. NutrInform Battery Front-of-Pack Nutritional Labels on Consumer Subjective Understanding and Liking
No full textThe incidence of overweight and obesity has generated significant concerns among European consumers and institutions. As part of a set of measures undertaken, the European Union (EU) called for one harmonized mandatory front-of-pack nutritional label (FOPL) to improve consumer food nutritional knowledge and encourage healthier and more informed food choices. Different types of FOPLs, ranging from nutrient-specific labels—such as the NutrInform Battery—to summary labels—such as the Nutri-Score—have been developed and introduced in different markets, reporting different degrees of effectiveness in terms of understanding. The aim of this study is to provide actionable insights by analyzing a specific part of the complex consumers’ decision-making process in food when aided by FOPLs. Adopting a between-subject experiment on a sample of 4560 respondents in 20 EU member countries, the study compares the consumer subjective understanding and liking of two labels currently under examination by the EU bodies, the NutrInform Battery and the Nutri-Score. At an aggregated level, the results show that NutrInform Battery is more effective than Nutri-Score in improving consumer subjective understanding and leads to a higher liking towards the label. A detailed by-country analysis highlights either a superiority or a parity of NutrInform Battery for subjective understanding and liking. Theoretically, this study, through a large panel of respondents, adds the fundamental perspective on subjective understanding, complementing the findings of extant research on objective understanding, and further clarifies the role of liking as a complementary element in the food decision-making process toward heathier and more informed food choices. This might be of significant relevance in providing additional evidence that can be used by policymakers in their attempt toward the selection of a uniform FOPL at EU level
Gestalt’s Perspective on Insight: A Recap Based on Recent Behavioral and Neuroscientific Evidence
No full textThe Gestalt psychologists’ theory of insight problem-solving was based on a direct parallelism between perceptual experience and higher-order forms of cognition (e.g., problem-solving). Similarly, albeit not exclusively, to the sudden recognition of bistable figures, these psychologists contended that problem-solving involves a restructuring of one’s initial representation of the problem’s elements, leading to a sudden leap of understanding phenomenologically indexed by the “Aha!” feeling. Over the last century, different scholars have discussed the validity of the Gestalt psychologists’ perspective, foremost using the behavioral measures available at the time. However, in the last two decades, scientists have gained a deeper understanding of insight problem-solving due to the advancements in cognitive neuroscience. This review aims to provide a retrospective reading of Gestalt theory based on the knowledge accrued by adopting novel paradigms of research and investigating their neurophysiological correlates. Among several key points that the Gestalt psychologists underscored, we focus specifically on the role of the visual system in marking a discrete switch of knowledge into awareness, as well as the perceptual experience and holistic standpoints. While the main goal of this paper is to read the previous theory in light of new evidence, we also hope to initiate an academic discussion and encourage further research about the points we raise