I like this image for many reasons, one of them being that there is lady in smoke (the actual title), but it is not obvious to the naked eye--it's aesthetically pleasing because it has some mystery.I want you to find upload an image of a space (virtual or tangible) that carries the same aesthetic appeal balanced with its own mystery. Maybe the physical structure has a history unknown to its inhabitants. Maybe the virtual space has an architectural landscape that resembles a physical space that is easily forgotten...
http://www.theswitchboard.net/index.php?topic=21368.msg172635#msg172635
ReplyDeleteokay so this is my image. i didn't know another way to upload this so all you gotta do is copy and paste the link and you will be able to see it. i picked this image after a lot of thought. it was a tie between a picture of Easter Island with all the stone faces and this. i ended up choosing this one because it reminded me of many things depending on how you look at it. i think the main one was that it was a ripple in a pond or ocean and i miss being able to go to the beach. another reason is because it looks like a cut apple, and right now i am hungry so that might be why that popped into my mind. another reason is that it is actually a black hole. i have always found this pictures to be wonderful and never alike. you can be in the middle of space and look like something that you would find in the grocery store. the picture could also be a planet in the middle of what i would call a light storm. so many different things that this picture could represent depending on what your experiences are, if you live near the beach the ripple could be the ocean, but if you live no where near an ocean then one might see a puddle or pond ripple. how you see this picture is how YOU perceive it.
Aaron Murphy
ReplyDeleteImage link:
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/739/surrealart15.jpg
At first glance the above image appears to be a painting of any ordinary flower. The earthy tones, green foliage, blue sky, and familiar bowl shape of the actual flower immediately makes one recognize that the image is indeed of a flower. Of course there is a glaring oddity in that the petals of the flower are out of the ordinary in their shape and structure. Upon focusing on the petals, it's easy to tell that they are shaped like humans, all varying in stance and position, but all humans nonetheless. It's also rather easy for your initial view of the flower to get lost while focusing on the people. The people alone create a sort of image on their own that can be separated from the rest of the scene. Their posture and vividness remind the viewer of rejuvenation or epiphany. Perhaps the celebrating people represent the area's relief and joy that a flower is finally blooming out of the rough, dull grass below. Or, the people could even be seen as distressed, especially considering their reddish color. Maybe the scene depicts the life of the area's last flower finally withering away before winter. Examining these aspects in detail somewhat alters or makes the original image an afterthought. Ignoring the people or looking at the image from a mere ten feet back makes the image once again appear to be “only a flower”. The image certainly fits the criteria of being aesthetically appealing due to its mystery. A similar flower with ordinary features would not be displeasing to the eye, but the added mystery definitely adds another level of complexity and draws the viewer in.
This ties-in nicely to the last blog post. Before the activity where the class examined the student union, most students probably didn't give much thought to the union's functionality or value to other users of the space. It was easy to forget our preconceptions while looking at the space in greater detail, as is true with the flower image and most other, if not all spaces.
Aaron Murphy responding to Melanie Titus
ReplyDeleteYou're right about experiences influencing the way one interprets a space/image. Being interested in physics, I see the image as a singularity/black hole, where not even light can escape its massive gravitational force. If I ignore the background, it could be a graphical representation of some sort of subatomic phenomena. I honestly can't see how it could be interpreted as an apple, which just reinforces your point of experiences and conditions influencing our perceptions. While aesthetically appealing and, without a concrete description, mysterious, the image draws the viewer in and forces them to examine it in detail, revealing their preconceptions.
Tess Stohr
ReplyDeletehttp://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZIZw_OPGhDg/R1JPMkk8xNI/AAAAAAAAAL0/PLPR_YoMUCg/s1600-R/iceberg.jpg
I know a lot of people have already seen this picture before but I found it a perfect fit for this assignment. The picture of the iceberg holds a certain air of mystery that matches its enormous size below the water. In my Psychology class last year, my teacher had a poster of this on the wall and he referred to it in most of his lectures about the mind and that is where I achieved this mindset. Until then I only thought of this picture as a pretty drawing of the iceberg that sunk Titanic so I combined the two ideas. Now, in my mind this is a representation of a person’s mind and how destructive it can be.
The part of the ice that is above the water is a person’s consciousness; this is the visible part of a person and the picture correctly shows it to be outshining the part underneath and being the focus of the picture before the depths of thought draw the eyes down. The part of the ice below the water is a person’s unconscious; unseen to the naked eye, this is the part of the mind that holds all the secrets to how a person really works and as the picture clearly illustrates it is full of mystery and awe leaving the mind spinning as it tries to comprehend the beauty of the unknown. In my personal opinion the top of the iceberg retains a somewhat pure and innocent look about it as it reflects the pure white off of it whereas the bottom is reflecting the dark that surrounds it. Although there is some of the pure light that reached the bottom it appears more menacing and hostile showing that there can be such things in the subconscious as well. Don’t think the visible ice is perfect either because it has its dark spots as well but they are less and are apparent to the naked eye and are more of shading so that the white is kept within certain bounds.
This is the most thought provoking picture that I have ever seen and even though each person has a different view of things I think that everyone can agree that this picture is much more than just a picture.
Priscilla Ivasco
ReplyDeletehttp://jmcolberg.com/weblog/archives/Abstraction_at_MMazzeo.jpg
Honestly at first this blog brought on a challenge for me and I found myself having quite some difficulty in completely comprehending exactly what we were suppose to be looking for during our search. I came across various abstract and mind blowing images that left me in awe. Several that I could have chosen from, but this one, this simplistic picture stuck out to me the most. Now you may ask me why this image. Well simply because this picture can open up several ideas, and conversations. When I looked at it at first glance I didn’t think much of maybe perhaps a meaning, but after a couple looks to me this image came across as a need to just relax, to pause all chaos from everyday life and reflect on things. At this point in my life that is the last thing that I find myself doing as I constantly keep myself occupied. But then again to others it can mean something totally different. Is this an image of solitude, of sadness, or maybe is it happiness, and quite time? Could it mean contemplation and being lost in thought? An escape form the turmoils of life? There are hundreds of possibilities that people can come up with, that to the naked-eye can simply just seem like a chair in a room, with paintings on the wall. But to someone who maybe loves art, they can see passion, and admiration. Or someone who is currently hitting an isolated point in their life and feel like that is them. I would love to know what YOU guys think of it when you look at it, some people might be deep in thought, others might be straight forward, but that’s the wonderful thing here, there is no right or wrong answer.
Tess Stohr responding to Melanie Titus
ReplyDeleteI agree with your view of letting everyone perceive things in their own way. I would have liked to have kept that door open with my picture but mine turned into more of an interpretation of a meaning that you see represented in the picture. I actually started looking through some photos taken in space but I thought that it didn’t fit my picture of “aesthetically pleasing”. I really like your picture; I see it as a atom on a cosmic scale which doesn’t make sense but it does. The blue rainbows coming out of it are like the electrons. I do have to agree that it does look like an apple as well.
Tess Stohr responding to Priscilla Ivasco
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love the way you interpreted this. Life is moving but we should be the ones who try to slow it down not to speed it up so we can drive, buy lotto tickets, drink, get a job, have a family. Before you know it we are being checked into a nursing home by our children who are moving too fast to take care of us. If we relax then we can view the picture perfect moments (referring to the two pictures on the walls), because a picture is worth a thousand words.
Jackie Randolph
ReplyDeleteLink: http://www.astropix.com/HTML/D_SUM_S/MILKYWAY.HTM
When I read the directions for this blog post and it said to find an image that we thought was mysterious, I immediately thought of well outer space. I chose a picture of the Milky Way because I personally have always been boggled by the theory of space and how something doesn’t have a distinct end to it. I often find myself wondering, well what is on the outside of our galaxy, and then what is beyond that? Then after that? The idea that space doesn’t ever end always confuses me and baffles my mind. This image may be more straight forward, but I think it is all the same and equally mysterious as the others. With how big space is, I believe that there is no way we are the only life form out there. I may not know much about the universe or astronomy, but I still find myself in awe at this image.
Photo: http://i51.tinypic.com/a2aiyx.jpg
ReplyDeleteThis is my photo. I picked this photo in particular because I thought the way the supernova was exploding seemed so realistic in it. Although this photo isn’t from real life it seems as if I’m standing right there on that mysterious planet watching the super nova. Also I loved how the unknown planet in the distance was a bright blue because it brought the sci-fi look to the picture, along with the lake on the planet the picture was photo shopped. This photo reminds me that there are other planets and stars that haven’t been discovered just yet. The mystery in this photo is the fact that this planet doesn’t exist but how did the artist ever come up with this idea and what the planet looks like.
The different versions of blue, purple, and yellow captivate me in this photo. One thing that my eye instantly is drawn to is the lake. In the lake you can see that the artist put a reflection of the super nova exploding in it. This to me is amazing because it’s incredibly hard in the first place to draw an exploding super nova but on top of that the artist was able to draw the ripples in the pond and the reflection. Another thing my eye was drawn to was the gorgeous streaks of light that are leaving the super nova, these streaks helped me visualize the super nova actually exploding. Even without seeing a supernova explode in real life, I was able to imagine it.
Jackie Randolph responding to Tess Stohr
ReplyDeleteI have seen this picture before, in my high school psychology class, and the psychology class I took this summer at FSU, so I already knew what the point of the picture in those terms was. But I had never considered it from the interpretation that you came up with. The fact that you thought of the top of the ice berg being white showing the innocence of what is visibly seen of the person and the darkness of the bottom being our subconscious thoughts was a really unique idea to me. I can definitely see how you took it in that way along with what our teachers and professors have taught us.
Lindsey RIce
ReplyDeletehttp://www.undergroundspaceadventure.com/images/space.jpg
So my image is with a black background making the vibrant pink luster like cloud visible. I believe that it is "aesthetically pleasing" but i think it is lacking something that Ms. K's isn't lacking... To mine there may be mystery but there is no hidden image to look for. Mine is simply about space and the mysteries that come along with it. One can only read about space, very few ever go there, or even experience something similar. This creates a big mystery with the bright pink display and the twinkling stars in the back ground. What is in all that space? What is it like to live with out gravity? What does it feel like to have different planets in your view?
Some believe that there could be living things, and even aliens. I am curious to see what our class believes!
Lindsey Rice in response to Jackie:
ReplyDeleteI had the opposite problem that you did. Because Ms. K used an example where there were two images with in one. So when i first looked for images i look for some with hidden pictures within a picture. But then i realized that there are more mysterious things, including all of the images from space that popped up. The stars, level of gravity, and colorful displays create more mystery than any picture with other pictures hidden within it could.
Chris Davis responding to Tess Stohr
ReplyDeleteI never actually thought about the iceburg picture in the way that you had, I saw it in a completely different way. I have never take a pysch class so I was bound to view it in a different light. Which also relates to my post and picture about having to look at things in different ways to find the answer, or in some cases, the answers. I see that picture as relating to untapped potential. The part that is being used is the part that is above the water. the untapped potential is the part that is underneath, just waiting to be uncovered and see what can be achieved when it is used.
Daniel Mele
ReplyDeletehttp://www.desktoprating.com/wallpapers/explosion-in-space-wallpaper.htm
I chose this image of an explosion in space because it has two big meanings to me. The first meaning is vast destruction. The image of this explosion is enormous it looks as if it spans across the known universe. It has a wide radius of destruction as well because it looks so terrible. BUT! The other meaning i get from it is that it is a new start. I think its a new start because the big bang theory is explained in such a way and if it weren't for the big bang we wouldn't be here. so this image is about death and re-birth at the same time because of its visual appearance and its meaning only perceived by the opinion of the one interrupting the picture.
Chris Davis responding to Priscilla Ivasco
ReplyDeleteI think that the picture can be interpreted in several different ways. I think that you are very right in saying that it might be saying to slow down and enjoy the little things and to just sit down and relax and collect all of your thoughts. I think that it represents a crossroad between 2 difficult choices. The chair is in between the two pictures and there is the option to go to either one. Again, this picture, like almost any other picture, is open to interpretation. There are many different ways to look at things and there is not always one right answer.
Daniel Mele
ReplyDeleteResponse to Tess
I like this image about the ice-berg because it has meanings to everyone who has seen Titanic. But it also holds meaning to people like me who like to study animals and want to know more about the environment because it shows us that we still do not completely understand everything thats underwater. The last domain that most people think we need to expand is outer space but by looking at the picture of this ice-berg i get the sense that we should first finish exploring our own planet first because we know very little about the ocean and its inhabitants.
Response to Aaron
The picture of the flower is very interesting. to me besides the fact that is a representation of a flower and a deeper meaning to someone. to me it also represents something maybe a bit primal or animalistic. it has hte people dancing around the middle of the flower because they are the petals but there is a feeling that the people do not have clothes on. also it looks like the people could be fire or some form of representation to it because the tops of them are pointed and seem to just like float away from the rest of them. but it could be the flower pollinating as well but either way it seems like a tribal thing to me.
Meghan Hemstreet
ReplyDeleteWhen I first glanced at this photograph, I originally thought it was an aerial shot of the earth's land. The colorful strip running diagonally from left to right in the center of the image seemed to consist of various buildings and city structures. The surrounding area looked like a barren island bordered by miles of crystal clear ocean water. As I focused more on the picture, I noticed my initial understanding of it was incorrect. I scrolled down to read the description, and sure enough, the shiny objects nestled together turned out to be a group of colorful stones. The artist, Silvia Marmori, simply snapped this picture while strolling along a waterfront location.
I chose to write about this picture because I have never seen another one like it. The cool blue tones and textures really grabbed my attention. In some ways, this picture reminds me of Captiva Island, a place where I vacation during the summer. Because Captiva is known for having beautiful shells, I walk along the beach shore every year, searching for them as they roll with the tide. When I am there, I feel as though I have a greater sense of appreciation for nature and its serene beauty.
Overall, I like how a piece of artwork so spontaneous can evoke such mystery and questioning within. The process behind it was simple, yet I interpreted it to be much more complex than it really was. When I asked one of my friends about what she saw in the picture, she hesitated for a moment before answering. To her, the photograph resembled a river. Because of our individual perspectives, we depicted the image differently. If any of you guys clicked on the link, what did you first perceive the photograph to be of? Did anyone else see an aerial view of the earth?
Marcee’ Mitchell in response to Lindsey Rice:
ReplyDeleteI think that the image that you chose is very pleasing to the eye, and very pretty. However, I do agree that it might be missing something, such as a hidden image, but mine was as well. I find it somewhat difficult to find something as intricate in detail as the one Ms. K had as an example. However I think that yours is very close to what we are all looking for in detail. It is pleasing to the eye, but also has a sense of mystery and a background behind it that draws us in.
Meghan Hemstreet responding to Tess Stohr:
ReplyDeleteThe first time I looked at your image, I automatically thought of the Titanic. I think that happens every time I hear or see the word iceberg since watching the movie. I really liked how you described this picture the way you did. Taking a general psychology course this semester, I just recently learned in depth about the conscious and unconscious mind. I haven’t really noticed whether or not this picture is in my psychology lecture hall. I will definitely be looking around the classroom on Wednesday to see if it is there though. The next time I hear the word iceberg, more than just the Titanic will come to mind.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.bergoiata.org/fe/Espace02/Deep%2520Space%25201%2520-%25201024x768.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.bergoiata.org/fe/Espace02/10.htm&usg=__G3gMy_OvAC-5gL_cH6IvXLFlxqI=&h=768&w=1024&sz=183&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=6KFZox-FrcwCSM:&tbnh=157&tbnw=209&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddeep%2Bspace%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Den%26biw%3D1024%26bih%3D599%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C44&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=582&vpy=185&dur=4420&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=176&ty=124&ei=mGuhTIb8MYH78Aa278EZ&oei=kWuhTIryKsP_lgezgbWXAw&esq=4&page=1&ndsp=8&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0&biw=1024&bih=599
ReplyDeleteI am a very literal person and thus when I looked upon the picture, all i saw was an abstract painting that meant absolutely nothing. After seeing the title of the work, I was vaguely able to make out a figure of a woman. Yet I am of the standpoint, if you want to see a picture of a woman surrounded by smoke; then why not paint a woman surrounded by smoke. Not an outline of a woman, but a woman in flesh. I do fully understand the idea behind abstract art, it becomes what you see of it. When I stared at the picture for a bit of time, I see a guitar. A guitar surrounded by swirling musical notes or sound vibrations. This mental picture exemplifies how differently people can interpret abstract art. honestly i don't know what else to blog about, not much more can be said about this in particular piece of abstract art. I am sitting in front of the television in the wildwood tv room, watching the post game report for the bears and packers game; and i definitely have more than a slight headache. I would love to go to bed right now but I need to finish a five hundred word blog post and then a two hundred word response to someone else's blog post. Abstract art looks great hanging on walls under special lights, but when it comes to interpretation, leave me out of it, However when it comes to looking at photos of space, my mind stirs with questions and wonder. What in the world is beyond? Will the human species ever get there? If a strict interpretation of the bible is the truth, then how and why did God create such a massive expanse if we would never come in to contact with it? The world beyond is full of questions, it is the next frontier and the coolest thing is that it will be our generation that will get us there. It was the moon, then mars, and now the space station. Is it not time to have a break through?
Bryan Anderson responding to Meghan Hemstreets' post:
ReplyDeleteIt is clear that abstract art is what you make of it. She though it was an aerial view of the earth, meanwhile i thought it was a guitar surrounded by either musical vibrations or musical notes. Meghan seemed to get a good bit out of the piece of artwork; this just embraces my statement that the idea of abstract art is to make what you will of it, It is a way to creatively read. It requires an individual to make a connection between the art and a personal belief or experience. This connection maybe, and likely is a subconscious connection. All the same, Meghan was clearly able to make this connection; it is irrelevant whether i agree with it or not, because it is up to the individual to decide the meaning of the piece of abstract art.
Alexis Turgeon
ReplyDeletehttp://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRRMR1P2BlYIjCk317JqI8b6uO39dGRbO4k8ZEhCHoJZfq-aW8&t=1&usg=__QebcChb2f2LKa34oFP8kBWiL8Rs=
The image that we were presented with was truly a mystery as to whether it was a woman or just a puff of smoke. I always wonder if an artist means to make certain images or if they just happen by mistake. Sometimes the best work comes from our mistakes. I had a modern dance teacher who always liked when we made mistakes and usually put them in the choreography. She said a “good dancer is never trying hard enough until they fall and stumble.” The image I chose to use in this blog post is the Earth in space. I chose this image because space has been a mystery to us for years. It is truly a place of mystery and millions of questions. We will never know enough about space; at least we will never be satisfied with what we know about space. There is always room for more growth. In the picture, the Earth looks amazing and full of life. It makes curious to see if the Earth really looks like that from space or if someone just made an image from what they think it would look like. It’s almost too perfect to look real. I think this image holds the future as well as. Soon enough, I think humans will be able to go to space and see things like this. I’ve heard rumors that humans will be going to space on shuttles as almost a normal thing eventually. Could you even imagine seeing this in space? It’d be breath taking. Space is unlimited and there are a million possibilities and questions as to where it came from, what can we do out there, how we can survive out there, etc. I think this picture conveys mystery in space perfectly, it certainly has me curious.
Alexis Turgeon in response to Mac
ReplyDeleteI found your blog intriguing. It's interesting how you actually found other images in the smoke. I could barely see the lady in smoke. I agree with your statement about just paint what you want to paint. Sometimes artists get too into being creative and they leave the viewer out. I think if you need a caption to explain what you were creating, then it is way too complicated. I also like that you chose a picture of space. I too chose a picture of Earth in space. I think it is one of the most questionable things we can think of. Space is going to be part of the future eventually and I’m curious to know more, just as you seem to be
Alexis Turgeon in response to Daniel Mele
ReplyDeleteI find your blog very controversial. I don’t think destruction is always a place of rebirth. Take it a toddler’s toy truck, if you break it then it’s broken and there is no fixing it. Some things once destroyed are not fixable. In this way, the big bang theory is extremely controversial; hence why it is still a theory. I do agree with your choice of space though. Space is unlimited and we only have a million questions as to what it holds. Space is our past, present, and future. Overall, your blog was argumentative but interesting at the same time.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI think the link to my image disappeared for some reason. Here it is again just in case: http://www.pbase.com/silvia_marmori/image/108686228
ReplyDeleteJessi Gould's Response
ReplyDeletehttp://www.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&biw=1280&bih=839&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=gun&btnG=Search&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=
What comes to your mind when you see this image? This picture of a pistol I feel can hold multiple different meanings to different users. It can mean a primary weapon in gaining the source of food for a hunter. For the head of household it may symbolize protection against invaders. It can be a hostage, threatening tool to receive desired objects or acts. This object is important for sheriffs and officials to have an upper hand on society in working to keep us safe. Unfortunately, guns have consequences if they are not used safely and can injure or even kill someone, and this is why guns can be horrifying and be a symbol of a lost friend to some.
When I was about ten years old there was a home invasion robbery in my neighborhood. A man followed a pregnant women home from the gym then snuck inside the closing garage, leaving the women and he trapped indoors. He used a gun as a weapon to get the lady to be quiet while he robbed the house. Who knows if the gun was loaded or not, but just the image and what it stands for gives a robber power and leaves a victim terrorized. At the same time, helicopters carrying police men carrying guns and firearms were flying above searching for this man and his accomplices. The guns the police were using were for a whole different reason, to protect themselves or innocent bystanders if the occasion became necessary.
My first reaction to this image was fear, but the more I thought about it the more I appreciated and realized the danger of this weapon. It is a big controversy and everyone has the right to their own point of view. I personally believe guns should be very difficult to attain and only officials should be able to use them, but my uncle is a hunter and would think very differently. He believes hunting is a sport and a gun is just a tool.
Jessi responding to Alexis
ReplyDeleteWhen I first opened the image you chose, which i saw as earth i wondered why? As you started talking about mistakes it got my mind going and really thinking about earth and space. It is true why do I believe earth looks like a round sphere with green and blue? Who told me that, and made me believe it? Should I believe what I hear? One day hopefully I will get the chance to go to space and make my own opinions and assumptions. After watching the Disney movie Zenon girl of the 21st century, it showed an entire community living in a huge space crater. Maybe life will turn to that and we will get to learn so much more about the other planets around us. I can't wait to see if we will gain the technology in my lifetime to acquire this ability, my guess is it is very possible with the rate our world is changing.
responding to tess.
ReplyDeletewow your right that i seen the picture before and i agree with you. First I saw the ice above the water and then was immediately drawn downwards to the greater part of the image. I sat there and just looked at for quite awhile focusing more on the bottom than on the top part of the iceberg. I did like how you related this image to a person's consciousness. I would never had gotten that from the picture and it seems that you wouldn't have either if you were not in a psychology class. It just stresses the point that experience is a huge part of how we interpret things.
responding to Daniel Mele.
ReplyDeleteI also chose a space picture. It seems that space is one of the great unknowns to almost everyone. I like that you can see the picture in two ways. The first time I looked at it all I really saw was orange. When I looked more closely I saw what you meant by a huge explosion that seems to stretch forever. The planet which I know is big in itself seems SO small to the explosion behind it. I can sort of see what you mean about it being a new beginning. It would take thousands of years to get to the point where that area could begin again, but I do like how you saw that the end of something can also mean a beginning.
http://www.theswitchboard.net/index.php?topic=21368.msg172635#msg172635
ReplyDeleteWhat is more mysterious than space itself? It is the final frontier that man has only begun to explore and learn about it. This photo depicts a beautiful night time scene of a barren landscape and breathtaking starlit sky. It’s almost as if you can see a different galaxy in this picture or some sort of nebula. For myself I don’t believe there is any greater catalyst for the imagination other than space. It’s vast and dark and yet full of huge orbs of light that are larger than our own sun. The mystery of space is so alluring because since there is so little known about space, in comparison to the knowledge of our own planet, that we can make our own assumptions about what is out there and how the universe functions. All of our thoughts are completely genuine. I believe that space can also be symbolic too. The human mind is much like space in a way that we don’t fully understand it either. Aspects of the mind are unexplainable, like emotions. Scholars can identify what parts of the mind emotions come from but not why we have them or why different people have different emotions for the same experience. However, like space, the mind is a beautiful thing. It is unique. Without it the world would be a different place, lacking in individuality. There would be nothing like art or music or passion for one another. Life would be a series of events that would be directed by an instruction manual. Digressing, this photo holds more meaning than just a starry night sky in some northern wasteland. It is a motif for something that is unexplainable or too large to grasp. It is something spectacular that is found all around us and is inescapable.
Morgan in response to Mac
ReplyDeleteI like what you have to say about abstract art. Also I find it funny how you got distracted in the middle. However, when you get on a train of thought at the end I found that was interesting. I like when you said “would god create something so massive that different things will never come into contact with each other”. I feel like that is a very interesting statement that causes a lot of different thoughts. I totally agree that it is time for a new breakthrough as far as space goes.
Morgan Davis' comment on Tess Stohr's post.
ReplyDeleteI have to say that I agree with Tess’ comment on her photo of the Iceberg. We all have this state of consciousness that makes us the person we are. How we are perceived by others, is the top of the iceberg, while the lower half, the greater half, is our personality, our inner thoughts. That deeper lower part of the iceberg, can only be seen by those with extra research, for example, a scuba diver to the iceberg is equally the same as a true lover to myself. They see beneath the surface, and expose us to our true selves, through the magical world of love.
Aaron Murphy responding to Alexis Turgeon's response to Daniel Mele
ReplyDelete"In this way, the big bang theory is extremely controversial; hence why it is still a theory."
You're right, the origin of the universe is unclear, but to declare something irrelevant because it is "still a theory" displays ignorance of the word "theory" and undermines the very fabric of scientific inquiry.
The word "theory" is used in casual conversation so freely that its definition in a scientific sense has become clouded. That's why sometimes you'll hear "scientific theory" instead of "theory"--to differentiate between the colloquial "assumption/conjecture" definition and and the formal use of the word.
Here's the definition:
"In the sciences, a scientific theory comprises a collection of concepts, including abstractions of observable phenomena expressed as quantifiable properties, together with rules (called scientific laws) that express relationships between observations of such concepts. A scientific theory is constructed to conform to available empirical data about such observations, and is put forth as a principle or body of principles for explaining a class of phenomena." (Wikipedia)
And here's where the confusion comes in:
"In the humanities, one finds theories whose subject matter does not (only) concern empirical data, but rather ideas. Such theories are in the realm of philosophical theories as contrasted with scientific theories. A philosophical theory is not necessarily scientifically testable through experiment." (Wikipedia)
I'll also add: the informal use of the word "theoretical" is synonymous with "hypothetical".
Now to address your post more directly, I'll briefly explain the theory in question to the best of my ability:
The universe is expanding. This is evident by observational data accumulated over the past few centuries. It's very obvious from this data that the main components of the cosmos (namely galaxies) are quickly moving away from each other . Once the direction in which they are traveling is reversed (mathematically), they all seem to converge at a singular point. This is the "big bang theory". Interestingly enough, it doesn't predict an "explosion" per se like most people imagine, but rather a rapid expansion from a singular spot.
Another interesting tidbit related to "theory":
We all know gravity exists, and its force can even be calculated quite simply. So simply in fact that many of us learned how to do so in high school. That's all great, but it doesn't show HOW it works. The only way to begin to understand how something works is to develop concepts and models based upon empirical data (the calculation I mentioned, and in relation to the big bang, the observable movement of cosmological objects). This collection of work is then refereed to as a theory.
Sorry if this was long-winded, but being a physics major and interacting with this subject a lot, I see confusion over the word "theory" too much. Hopefully the two examples I gave clearly outlined the difference between the two uses of the word. Hopefully this also helps to validate Daniel's post.
Cody Cox
ReplyDeletehttp://matadornetwork.cachefly.net/matadortrips.com/docs///wp-content/images/posts/20090802-stonehenge1.jpg
The first thing that I thought of when talking about mystery is defiantly Stonehenge. The place seems so weird but yet when you look at this picture you can see how beautiful it is during its sunset. Scientists and historians are still trying to figure out who built it and for what reason did they do it. Some believe it was a sort of calendar that these people built to figure out what time of year was it. They say that during the winter and summer solstice light would only travel through a predetermined spot that would let the people know that it was either the summer or winter solstice. Others believe it was from a spatial phenomenon that motivated this people to create this monument. We still don't know how they built this monument in the first place. There are many speculations that are still not accepted as the truth. Either way people are still drawn to this area and many people from around the world still come to this site. For the mystery or its beauty or maybe both but people still come and that’s all that matters. I really wanted to go to this site because I too am drawn to this mystery. There is no one left from those ancient times to tell us for what purpose was this site built. There is no written documentation on how or why it was built all we can do is speculate and think of theories of why. I think that Stonehenge was built as a recorder of time for the ancient people but I am not sure what it is and the beautiful thing is, it’s a mystery that may never be solved. Mankind has solved many mysteries like why is there night and day and why do the seasons change. Its hard to believe that with all of this technology that we can't one hundred percent say that we know how and for what purpose was Stonehenge built
Cody Cox Commenting on Aaron Murphy
ReplyDeleteI am not a Physics major but when you were describing the Big Bang theory it seemed to me that you were describing the Big Crunch. I believe that scientist measure the distance of the galaxies around us by measuring the wavelength of each galaxy. Wavelength is another way of saying color right. If that is so then most of the galaxies have a longer wavelength which means that it is at the beginning of the light spectrum (ROY G BIV) which means that it is moving away form us but there is one galaxy that has a shorter wavelength and is the color blue which means that it is coming closer to us. If the Big Bang theory is true then all the galaxies would be moving away from us. Also when you were talking about the Expanding Universe and gravity you are almost contradicting yourself. The expanding Universe is a theory thought up by Einstein (General Relativity theory) which explains the expanding universe but when you talk about gravity Einstein didn't believe in Gravity he thought that Sr. Isaac Newton was wrong when it came to this idea. I do believe that Einstein never did prove him wrong though but I could be wrong which would strengthen my point. Like I said I am not a Physics major but I am here to tell the other side of the story.
Aaron responding to Cody
ReplyDeleteThe big crunch is a theoretical end of the universe when expansion ceases to accelerate and ACTUALLY reverses. I was just describing a method by which the origin "spot" can be observed, by tracing objects' movement backwards.
Yes, the wavelength (dependent on frequency and velocity) of a electromagnetic wave determines color. It sounds like you're explaining redshift, which is a phenomenon not unlike the Doppler effect, if you're familiar with that. And yes, that is one way to determine a galaxy's distance.
How did I contradict myself? Those were two completely independent paragraphs, in which I was just outlining how theories are based upon empirical data.
General relativity declares that gravity is caused by curvature in spacetime. It is not an explanation for the expansion of space, or the "expanding universe". This is (along with a few other concepts) what Einstein is known for, not the metric expansion of space.
Einstein certainly didn't "not believe in gravity". After all, general relativity (Einstein's) is still the most accepted explanation of how gravity works. What Einstein disagreed with (and rightly so) was that Newton's law of universal gravitation required gravity to move faster than the speed of light, which is impossible. This was what got him started on general relativity.
Anyway, we should try to get back on topic. Although Ms. Mitchell did say to treat these like a conversation, I hope I/we haven't derailed the assignment too much.
Chris Davis
ReplyDeletehttp://www.maniacworld.com/Hidden-Tiger-Optical-Illusion.jpg
So im not sure why, but my originaly post was deleted or removed so here it is again. Can you spot the hidden tiger? Is it hidden in the background by the trees? Or is it hidden right in plain view? The answer is in the stripes. The hidden tiger is not an actual tiger hidden somewhere in the picture, it is spelled out in the stripes of the tiger in the front of the picture. I was not able to see it at first. I had to look at the answer because I was being literal and looking for a tiger. This picture helped me to realize that there is more than one way to look at something or that there can be more than one way to find a solution. Sometimes the answer may seem obvious or appearant, but often, by looking at something in a different angle or looking at it in more depth, it can take on another meaning or change the answer completely. By looking at something in a new angle, it can open your mind to new thoughts or ideas. It can also allow you to take a current thought and go in a whole new direction with it and make it in to a new and improved idea. Also, by looking at something in one way, you might come up with one answer or idea. But, if someone else looks at it in a completely different way, they might come up with a completely different idea or answer than what you had. They can both be right, it is just entirely up to the perspective of the individual.
Priscilla responding to Tess.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first saw this picture I thought of two things, first of my psychology class, because we had discussed last year and how some people only display surface level things, but in reality there is just so much more beneath the surface that is kept hidden. But then I also, like most girls thought of the Titanic movie, and how sad and wonderful it was. It made me really want to watch it again. This picture is great in the sense that anyone can look at it and interpret it in which ever way speaks to them. I really love your image choice and I think that we could really just have lots of conversations based on it.
Priscilla responding to Aaron
ReplyDeleteThis picture in some ways scared me a little bit because at first I wasn’t sure exactly what it was that I should be thinking, or what I should be seeing in the image. My ideas were unclear, but after some careful looking, I felt like it was more like a ritual based image, or like a dancing ritual that was going on. I’m not sure if I am correct though. I also see a flower there but I’m not sure what all of these elements mean. I would love to know the real meaning behind this image and what the message that is meant to be conveyed is.
Okay last week I did the wrong blog so this is blog # 3. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteI picked this picture because I thought it was vibrant, lively, and pleasing to the eye. I like this picture because many different people can look at this same pick but all see different things At first when I looked at the picture, it appeared to be just a multitude of colorful shapes made up of all different sizes, but now every time I admire it I find something new that I had never seen before. The second time I looked at the painting I could see musical instruments. Then I began to decipher the two faces playing the instruments. It is interesting that even looking back at the picture now I am still discovering musical instruments in the painting that I had never seen. At this point I am excited to look at the picture to see if I can find all the different perspectives people have on this picture. This picture is intriguing solely because I can choose to make the picture be whatever I want to see in it.