Growabrain

CLEVERLY UNCERTAIN

2006-05-01T01:23:00.000-05:00

According to Wikipedia, surrealism is a “cultural, artistic, and intellectual movement oriented toward the liberation of the mind by emphasizing the critical and imaginative faculties of the ‘unconscious mind’ and the attainment of a state different from, ‘more than’, and ultimately ‘truer’ than everyday reality.” With this in mind, the surrealist movement became a popular trend in the early 1920’s that was associated with art and all forms of life such as politics and entertainment. One of the well-known surrealists that many consider to have ended the movement with their death was the great Salvador Dali who was introduced to the era in 1929. Dali used vivid colors along with random images to create several of his masterpieces that appeared non-realistic. Through Dali’s many paintings, one can see and completely capture the art of surrealism and how Dali used the art movement in order to convey his ideas to his viewers.

Known as Dali’s most famous work and one piece that represents what all surrealism is about is “The Persistence of Memory” painted in 1931. In this painting, Dali placed four “melting clocks” into one of his favorite landscapes with a mountain and a body of water in the background. As surrealism emphasizes ones imagination, Dali arrived with the idea of the melting clocks to be placed in his work. The idea of this painting is to convey a sense of time and its relevance to ones life. While looking closely at the painting, one will see a fly sitting on top of one of the four melting clocks. Although the clock is already melting as time does, Dali placed the fly upon the clock in order to say that time “flies” and will pass you by before you know what happened. To go with this thought, in the clock right next to the one with the fly, ants are placed on another sticking to the same theme that time slips away so quickly. In the article “Salvador Dali: Images of the Surreal” by Kit Basquin it is suggested and supported by many others that Dali had a unique obsession with painting odd insects in his works that all connected to his fears. While this might seem unconventional, the surrealist era allowed for Dali to get a message out through painting one of his fears. How else could one relate time flying by with a watch? Dali used his fears and sped up time through simply placing an insect upon one of the clocks. An interesting observation in this work is the fact that although the fly and ants are placed in there, it is not just suggesting that time goes by quickly. The melting of the clocks, according to Basquin, gives us the idea that “time relentlessly continues despite the mechanical failure of an object or being.” Although the clocks are the primary objects in this piece of art, the background gives off a sense of serenity and the idea of not worrying about time. The setting appears peaceful and calm as if time didn’t matter, but this draws little attention since the clocks stand out at the front of the work. The title of the painting becomes the easiest way to sum up this entire piece. “The Persistence of Memory” is named this because like the melting clocks and time no matter what was failing to work or count time, time constantly passed by and when looking back in memory it appears that not only did it pass by, but also it flew by. Dali used his imagination to bring together an art piece that conveyed its message throughout the entire work while it did not use advanced ways to express the idea but just his own thoughts and perception of time.

One of Dali’s greatest attributes was his perception on images, history, and random things as well as his willingness to express his thoughts. Another well-known work of art Dali created was “The Madonna of Port Lligat,” painted in 1950 of Madonna and her son Christ. In this painting, Dali centers in on Madonna and Christ, but places several objects in the painting to be explored with deep thought. Like a typical Dali painting, we once again are placed in a mountainous background in a dry area with the sun gleaming down. Being a surrealist, Dali doesn’t necessarily need an intriguing background because he is trying to express his thought of the main subject and in this painting that would be the mother of Christ and Christ himself. Items related to the ocean from shells to sea urchins are placed all over the painting surrounding Madonna and her baby. It is hard to gain any relevance of these items due to the fact that Dali never came out and discussed any of them, but one might be able to see some significance for themselves. An interesting part of the painting that catches the viewers attention are the rectangular holes in both Madonna’s and Christ’s torsos. Dali thought of the two as tied together and as one, so both share the deformity in the painting but it is noticed that Christ appears in Madonna’s stomach as if she had not yet given birth. This resembles that they are still one. While Madonna is perceived to be praying, Dali places a cross and mini ball into Christ’s hands indicating power. Dali’s thought of Christ’s power can be seen because the ball is rotating above his hand as if it was a mini globe and Christ had the opportunity to bless them with his holiness if he so chose. Dali also confines the two by placing them within a concrete barrier in the shape of an arch. He separated Madonna and Christ from the regular world and set them aside as something more than normal. Dali’s unique use of objects defined the surrealism movement at the time because it expressed his views on the subject in his own personal manner. He was able to create flow in his work but relate it all to the same theme through his own image bestowed in his head.

Dali mastered the era unlike any other painter due to the fact that he was partially believed to be crazy but mainly seen as a genius. In surrealism one can do as they please because it is not necessarily a real thing but it is how the artist’s view images. While Dali painted in this movement, one will certainly always be able to find one of his works demonstrating his bizarreness and surrealist tendency of painting objects such as shells with the baby Jesus. To be able to grasp the message of one of Dali’s paintings along with other surrealism works you must know the artist. No one might ever gain the full knowledge on why a seashell and an egg tied together dangle above Madonna but it must be thought about. This movement is about guessing; one cannot figure out another’s thought process and as to why one object was placed here or there or even in the painting at all. Although everything relates, it is just as if it might be encrypted with some secret knowledge that one must examine and engage thought in, in order to put it all together. Dali put art together like no other during his time and “The Persistence of Memory” shows this. This piece better interpreted than many of his other works follows the solo theme of time constantly passing us by. From painting clocks that appear to be melting to placing tiny insects upon them Dali suggests his thoughts on messages such as time. One’s thoughts are a vital source needed to go along with surrealism, without personal views success could not have been achieved during a movement such as this.

As the surrealism era became the number one artistic trend in the late 1920’s, people no longer could find an explanation for what it was they might have found themselves looking at. With a great artist like Dali, it was not the painter’s job to signify the meaning of everything in the painting but it was necessary that they strictly go off imagination and thoughts that were not necessarily realistic. Dali brought an impeccable imagination to the time from using all sorts of objects in his paintings from shells dealing with Christ, to rhinoceros horn relating to his sister, and reflecting an elephant from a swan. From statues, paintings, movies, and other aspects dealing with surrealism, Dali excelled in all fields. The imagination, beliefs, and originality that Dali possessed took him to the top of his era and made him one of the most well-known painters of all time.

“The Grand Master of Surrealism Salvador Dali.” USA Today 1 May. 2005,

SUR-REALLY A PROBLEM

2006-05-01T00:56:00.000-05:00

In 1946, Gertrude Abercrombie painted one of her several pieces of art tied to the surrealist movement. According to the Ackland Museum’s website, Gertrude did not technically classify herself with any movement but said, “I like to paint simple things that are a little strange.” Found in the African Art section in the Ackland museum one can find the painting “Charlie Parker’s Favorite Painting (Originally Design for Death)” by Abercrombie. Her celebrity friends such as Charlie Parker, Billie Holiday, and Sarah Vaughn heavily influenced Abercrombie’s style of painting. Many believed her painting’s ideas came from the lyrics these famous artists once sung. In this painting Abercrombie portrays racial violence while at the same time using different techniques other than a noose to spread her ideas to on lookers.

When first looking at “Charlie Parker’s Favorite Painting,” a tree, ladder, stool, and noose are the primary objects that jump out and grab ones attention. By painting a portrait with a noose in it during the current time, it automatically coincides with racial issues due to the fact of civil rights and inequality at the time. Gertrude focused on the objects in her painting to convey the main idea of her work, but at the same time, the entire painting has meaning. It is not just there to fill up space. Taking a deeper look into the painting’s isolation becomes a key factor to go along with the theme. Gertrude painted an old dead looking tree isolated by itself with no hints of life to be seen. This isolation occurs due to the fact that African Americans believed to be alone at this time in the world without any support. Resting against a branch of the tree stands a solemn ladder signifying help. This ladder resembles support from within the African’s own community due to the fact that they could not gain any help from others at the time. While the tree and ladder resemble segregation and lack of support at the center of the painting the main objects dangles by itself. Abercrombie places a noose and a stool in the middle and this stands for the fight against the African Americans or the force they faced. At the time, blacks were denied of all of their rights by whites and were continually threatened if they pushed the issue of equality. The noose is painted as one of the more realistic objects due to the fact of its power and thus is why it becomes the focal point in the piece. While Gertrude does a great job of sending messages through objects in her painting, her style also tells a lot.

Gertrude’s use of colors and painting techniques allows for her to give deeper meaning to her painting than just the objects. Going along with the isolation theme in “Charlie Parker’s Favorite Painting” it is seen that dark and obscure colors engulf the piece. The land in the painting appears to be gloomy with a look of fog to lessen the hopes while it reflects the dull sky. One can see only one cloud here that appears pitch black as if it was one primary problem that might haunt the African Americans. At the top the dull sky becomes lit up by the moon, which stays there shining directly upon the tree holding the noose. The moon’s gleam acts as a spotlight upon the tree while constantly reminding us that this problem was here and would remain for quite some time. Placing this moon and light along with the use of dark colors Gertrude effectively conveys her feelings on the problem and how she believed it was a very significant issue.

Abercrombie used the entire painting to signify the theme she wished to attain. While one can recognize that the painting coincides with race, if one takes a deeper look into the piece Abercrombie gives them the chance to see her thoughts on the problems that African Americans face. While a noose hangs in the center as a force fighting for inequality, the rest of the picture surrounds the idea of hardship and troubles people confronted at the time. Through the use of proper techniques and placement of influential objects all can see Abercrombie’s perception of the current issue.

HOPE AHEAD

2006-05-01T00:55:00.000-05:00

As appealing as all artwork can be to the human eye, each conveys a powerful meaning through the details that bring the image together. Each piece of art deploys a message by the artist intended to tell a story of the painting and its meaning. While only artists know the exact intentions and meaning behind their work, they place clues all around the piece to try and convey their ideas to the public. One piece that particularly caught my attention is Claude Monet’s Houses of Parliament, London 1905. In this piece, Monet brings together several aspects of art to illustrate his viewpoint in the painting and allow the viewers to analyze the painting for more than just a picture of the Parliament.

In the early 1900’s, Monet painted three similar paintings of the Houses of Parliament, all from the same view. While all the paintings were of the same object, the last painting of the Houses of Parliament catches my eye due to its unique view. In the third painting, Monet brought a gloomy tone to the painting while in the first two works of art, one can see peace in the river and the buildings seem to be normal. As Monet was painting this, he was looking through his apartment window out over the famous Thames River directly towards the Houses of Parliament; this is what one is able to see in the paintings. It is the vast difference in the third painting compared to the others that draws my attention to the work through his use of color, texture, and other various forms. Monet’s work was influenced by the impressionism era at the time in France where painters focused on the lighting and used different forms of colors and strokes to create their own perception of an image.

In the painting the Houses of Parliament, Monet brings together his impressionism ideas of using curves and different shades of lighting to convey his own perception of the Houses of Parliament. In this painting, one can see the swooping lines that create the buildings in the background in dark eerie colors. The work is composed of all different dark shades of colors providing it with somewhat of a depressing feeling and a gothic setting. While the sky hovers over the entire picture with the dark puffy clouds, throughout the entire painting one sees a dark maybe even negative view of the setting. The piece draws attention from one single section of the painting through a narrow stretch in the center of the work where we see light. Out of nowhere, Monet places a sign of hope into his work by lighting up a little spot in the clouds where maybe the sun had broken through. From this light, sections of the river sparkle and reveal a sight of aspiration for one that good things are to come. The image appears as if it was under some static sight while Monet was painting but this was part of his style in order to go along with impressionism. The curvy buildings and dashing waves provide us with the dangerous tone but his subtle use of light brings us to safety.

As part of the impressionism era, it is hard to understand if paintings really had any meaning due to the fact that this era painted pictures of images and the primary concern was the lighting in the painting. While they focused on mainly the image, much like Monet if they had a message to get across they used the lighting to get this across. As previously stated at the time of the painting I believe that Monet saw the Parliament maybe in a time of need or corruption but placed a light on them. As the majority of the painting consisted of threatening colors it was his use of light when he let the sun break through the clouds and illuminate the buildings that showed that maybe he believed there would be good times ahead.

Through the Houses of Parliament, Monet left room for the painting to be interpreted but lacked any message with strong significance. This remarkable piece brings forth an array of shades and tones that capture Monet’s own perception of the image being painted. While painting as an impressionist leaves one with few chances to be interpreted, Monet successfully selected colors to go along with the theme of the painting. One can find the hope at the top an always look for great things to come as in Houses of Parliament where the small speck of light breaks through and radiates the entire work.

What is Art Anyhow?

2006-04-30T23:54:00.000-05:00

AD REINHARDT
Yellow Painting (Abstraction)
Oil on canvas, 1946

“Art is art, everything else is everything else” – Ad Reinhardt.

Art can be defined as the creative work of an individual that stimulates the mind of another. Works of art communicate feelings directly from the mind of the painter to the mind of the viewer, with no intent to explain why the impact occurs. As a result, art appeals to individuals because of their ability to be defined by the person, without requiring a great deal of intellect in order to be interpreted. Art appeals to the creative side of the individual, evoking various feelings and emotions that are stimulated by the works of art. Abstract art in particular, focuses on capturing images that are non-representational of real life objects, with the abstract expressionism movement of the forties emphasizing on the expression of the physical art of painting. However, one artist’s work in particular suggests that art is created in order to represent itself. Ad Reinhardt’s work embodies the idea the meaning of a certain work of art does not have solely depend on the how it depicts the world around us. In other words, his work is made to be appreciated for its own sake as simply paint on canvas.

Reinhardt’s work serves to separate art from having to fulfill the duty of representing something that we want to communicate. Art in itself has the ability to foster creativity and thinking by allowing the viewer to interpret the images in any way he likes. This interpretation should not be dependent on the message of the painting or on the nature of it. Art by itself, for being art, should be able to be enjoyed without having to adhere to the expectations that there are about what it should be, or about what it should convey. Apart from other abstract expressionist who try to capture the art-making process itself, Reinhardt’s work capture the very fundamental quality that makes art appealing without having to specify a certain meaning for the viewer to interpret. His work contrasts the methods and works of other artists of the Abstract Expressionism movement such as the action painting of Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning, and Clyfford Still’s color field paintings. While the action painters sought to express the art making process on canvas, Reinhardt’s work captures the fundamental basis that makes art appealing not only to the eye, but also to the mind. This is shown in particular by his “black paintings”, characterized by a seemingly black canvas, which are actually composed of basic geometric shapes in different shades of black. Reinhardt’s work prior to his black paintings was mainly composed of colorful geometric patterns characteristic of the minimalist movement. His abstractions were composed of patters and shapes that were meant to express simplicity in meaning, compared to other abstract works that are characterized by lacking any set arrangement or order in the painting. From his minimalist works, Reinhardt’s paintings shifted to a series of abstractions in which he further simplifies his works, enlarging patterns to take a whole canvas. Further works lead to color abstractions that give the initial impression of being a painting that is completely made of one color, when at close inspection the artist’s pattern can be seen in the slightly different shades of color used. His work then exhibits a trend in which Reinhardt further simplifies his work and separates himself from other painters who seek to represent an aspect of the world with their art. His artistic apex reached when he concentrated on his black abstractions during the early 60’s until his death, he describes his work as “a free, unmanipulated, unmanipulatable, use less, unmarketable, irreducible, unphotographable, unreproducible, inexplicable icon” of human art. By making paintings for a purely artistic purpose, Reinhardt produces artwork that does not depend on the viewer for a specific meaning for an assignment of beauty; his work is solely art for the sake of art. He manages to separate his art from possessing photographic qualities to capture the artistic perception of the world; Reinhardt’s work in essence is appreciated for what it is instead for what it conveys. While other artist’s works contain intricate representations of the world, seeking to capture emotions, feelings, and actions on paintings, Reinhardt’s works capture the very fundamental essence of what makes illustrative art appealing and attractive. His simple patterns and use of homogeneous colors on later works force the viewer to appreciate the painting for the paint and oils that are attached to the linen of the canvas. He does not try to represent depth, faces, shapes, or objects; he only captures simple patterns and simplifies them ever further as he carries on with his development as an artist. Emerging from full abstractions with a variety of shapes and colors, Reinhardt’s work does a full journey to develop into the single-color paintings and simple patterns that produced the final signature of his black paintings. Being reduced to nothing more than a black canvas, his work possess evocative qualities even though it lacks aspects that some individuals would expect art to posses. However, the development of art has led to an interpretation of it as being a fundamental method of human expression. In other words, art is viewed as a method of self-expression that evokes ideas and fosters our perception of the world. But in Reinhardt’s sense, why can’t art also do the opposite? Why can’t it force a re-evaluation of our expectations of what art should be and allow for the understanding that art does not really have to be anything else than art?

Through his career, Reinhardt produces work that has to be approached with an open mind in order to be appreciated fully. The artwork that characterizes him can be considered a culmination of the earlier artistic movements that aimed to liberate art from the expectations of the times. Before movements such as cubism and surrealism, painters were concerned with capturing human perception on canvas by recreating the moments and scenes that were associated with a certain emotion and shaping their paintings to convey that certain message. When cubism and surrealism emerged, they challenged that notion of art being a reflection of the world. Cubists started by including all perspectives on one picture, and surrealist followed by molding their perspective to reflect how their world reflected on art. Reinhardt’s work fits into this scheme by providing artwork that is a reflection of itself. As a result, his work can be considered the culmination of a movement to liberate art, and as such, a movement to allow a greater freedom of expression with illustrative art.

Ad Reinhardt’s work is characterized by the black paintings that culminate his development as an artist. Although his works range from colorful abstractions, to minimalist patterns, to his black abstractions, the fundamental theme and idea stays the same. Much like cubists incorporated paintings from all possible points of views and the surrealist championed their representation of the unreal, Reinhardt’s art can be seen as the last step in separating art from being tied down to representing reality or its derivatives. His work can be viewed as the ultimate refinement of art, producing artwork that represents the artist’s idea of unbounded artistic expression, free from conventions and expectations. Unlike other artists of his period, Reinhardt’s paintings capture the essential component of art, nothing else and nothing more. In comparison to other abstract artists who use abstraction with the intent of expressing an intangible or abstruse idea, Reinhardt used abstraction to separate art from the world, so that instead of expressing an idea, it becomes an expression of the idea on paint and canvas; it becomes and idea used to express art.

Reinhardt, Ad. Art-as-Art : the Selected Writings of Ad Reinhardt. New York: Viking P, 1975.
Rowell, Margit. Ad Reinhardt and Color. New York: Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, 1980.

What do you see?

2006-04-30T10:20:00.000-05:00

What is art? Everyone has a differing opinion in this matter. Since there are so many various forms of art, it is difficult to discern what art truly is, or what is merely a finger-painting created by your kindergartener. I find that abstract art perplexes me to a spectacular degree due to its abnormal shapes and construction. One of my favorite country singers, Tracy Lawrence sang “It’s All How You Look at It.” I believe that this philosophy can be applied to art. Wallisy Kandinksy was a Russian abstract artist whose piece “Yellow-Red-Blue” demonstrates the suprematism movement. This trend focuses on the use of geometric figures such as circles and squares. In “Yellow-Red-Blue” Kandinsky is portraying a person losing touch with reality. However, an individual’s own interpretation is dependent upon their emotions and previous occurrences.

Past experiences effect how you perceive the world around you. For example, when I was five I was attacked by my neighbor’s dog and ever since then I have been overly sensitive towards dogs. When I encounter a German shepherd, the type of dog they had, I tense up and recall that moment. Kandinsky noted in his autobiography that he “experienced objects, events, even music primarily in terms of color, and he did not conceive of color in its physical and material aspects but rather in its emotion effect” (Selz 128). Therefore he connects his reality and emotions with his creative style and color palette.

With this in mind, this painting causes me to flashback to the days when I watched the hit television program, “Full House,” virtually every afternoon. In the final episode of the series, the youngest daughter, Michelle, fell off her horse, hit her head and lost her memory. The lines that are coming out of the geometric figures on the left, which resemble a face, create movement. This directs your attention towards the chaos which fills the right half of the painting. I interpret this diverse clutter as the memory or sanity that someone has lost. These objects represent the different experiences that are captured within your brain. If my memory were to be lost I would hope that my thoughts and memories would resemble the beauty and creativity thrown upon this canvas.

The geometric figures which dominate “Yellow-Red-Blue” are responsible for conveying the overall theme of the piece. Kandinsky was greatly influenced by the teachings of Theodor Lipps, who emphasized that “illusionary effects in geometric configurations as a result of distorting perceptual forces or tendencies that emerge when abstract forms are brought together in a pictorial frame” (van Campen 135). Therefore, it was Kandinsky’s intent to spark emotions and memories in the minds of his viewers. Kandinsky places these shapes strategically to resemble vaguely familiar objects such as the head which sends up a flag in my mind to my past experiences. However, the other arrangements of shapes possess various connotations.

The energy in this work of art is visually stimulating. A great deal of the painting can be inferred from the expression on the theoretical face of the piece. The red and black circles comprise the eye of the silhouette, and although it bears a resemblance to a hamster, I recognize the wideness and intensity of the eye as a look of fear and concern. However, the degree to which this emotion is perceived depends upon the individual. According to those around me I misconstrue the intensity of people’s emotions. Oftentimes I believe that my mother is perturbed with me and in actuality she is not. Therefore someone else could view this as a person who has achieved some form of inner peace.

When viewing this piece, I tried to revisit it with a fresh mind upon each screening. In one instance, I analyzed the work after watching “Fried Green Tomatoes,” which is infamously known as a chick-flick. In this movie one of the main characters, Ruth Jamieson, was abused by her husband. With this event fresh in my mind, I identified the face on the left as an abusive, angered husband, while the disheveled mess on the right was a battered and bruised wife. The two lines toward the center of the piece, one with a pinkish semi-circle and the other with a number of white semi-circles, although not aligned with the face, appear to be a mouth. The upper line would be the lip while the other circles are teeth. I believe that the distance between the lines shows that the husband is furious and yelling at his wife. In addition, the lines that I had once thought resembled the movement of memory loss now represent anger. They are stiff and rigid, which is similar to the posture of someone who is enraged. This fury is transferred to his wife, whose geometric figures tell an even deeper story.

The color palette which Kandinsky employs evokes a variety of feelings. When viewing this piece as an abusive domestic situation, I see the black and blue as the essence of bruises and the spurts of red as blood. The body for the most part is painted black and blue which would suggest that she was beaten. Also, there is a circle that is in the general region of an eye socket which is red. This suggests that she was struck in the face. All of these inferences were drawn from my recollection of this movie. Therefore, interpretations of abstract art are left up to the viewer to decipher with the use of their memories and experiences. Had I experienced a program such as a children’s show or even a sporting event before analyzing “Yellow-Red-Blue” my interpretation would have been substantially different.

It is interesting to consider all of the different experiences that yourself and others have encountered and how they would alter your view on art. Minds are shaped as we grow up and come into contact with various situations and circumstances. For the most part, everyone has had a time in their life that has been difficult that causes them to react in a distinct way to different conditions. I believe that traumatic experiences would signal feelings of deeper and a more intense interpretation of abstract art. In addition, the artist themselves more than likely draw upon events in their own life when crafting their pieces. The deepest meanings tend to lie within abstract art, and are for the most part, the most challenging to find. However, everyone is entitled to their own interpretation of the piece, which attributes to the power of the abstraction.

Kandinsky’s abstract and conceptual style leaves a great deal of meaning for his viewers to unearth. Geometric shapes and bright colors are brought together effectively in “Yellow-Red-Blue” in order to initiate memories that will help to form various analyses of the piece. My understandings of the painting resulted from childhood memories and recent thoughts. Based on this knowledge, I believe that abstract art, although the artist may have a single message in mind, is in actuality open to interpretation. Art is objective, unlike many things in life, and you can look at it any way you see fit.

The Aesthetic Theories of Wassily Kandinsky and Their Relationship to the Origin of Non-Objective Painting
Peter Selz
The Art Bulletin, Vol. 39, No. 2. (Jun., 1957), pp. 127-136.

Early Abstract Art and Experimental Gestalt Psychology (in Historical Perspective)
Crétien van Campen
Leonardo, Vol. 30, No. 2. (1997), pp. 133-136.

Picasso Blesses the Rains Down in Africa

2006-04-28T09:38:00.000-05:00

Life is full of interactions. When we interact with something, we never use just one perspective. Cubism illustrates our use of many different perspectives. Art Cyclopedia explains that “the key concept underlying Cubism is that the essence of an object can only be captured by showing it from multiple points of views simultaneously.” Cubism portrays multiple dimensions, breaking up, analyzing, and re-assembling objects in an abstracted form. Wikipedia explains that, “instead of rendering objects from a single fixed angle, the artist depicts the subject form multiple angles simultaneously as an attempt to present the subject in the most complete manner.” Scott Crosier relates Cubism to our perceptional perspective. “We might see a tree off in the distance, and as we approach it, our perspective of the tree changes. We might even walk past the tree, and look back on it from a completely different view or see an aerial view of the location and appreciate it from a different perspective.” Pablo Picasso conveyed different view points in his artwork, leading the art movement of Cubism. What most people do not know though is that the inspiration for Cubism was highly influenced by African art, in which I believe Picasso encompassed best into the innovative art movement.

Since the Renaissance, the majority of artists thought that perception used space well only with a linear symmetrical perspective, imitating a realistic view of a model. Cubism, developed by Picasso and Georges Braque opened a totally different window in the art world, revolutionizing the art movement of the early 20^th century. Picasso is specifically known for creating Cubist artworks depicting the face. His Girl With Dark Hair conveys different perspectives, showing the front of a girl’s face and the side of her face at the same time. Other portrait paintings may show the front and the profile of the face interlocked, along the area of the nose, as seen in Le Chandail Jaune. Facial artworks are a highly significant theme in Cubism. Surprisingly, these Cubist facial portraits were all first inspired by ancient African masks.

According to The Metropolitan Museum of Ar t, Picasso had first seen African art in the spring of 1907, when he visited the Musée d'Ethnographie du Trocadéro in Paris. As stated by Wikipedia, “before beginning the Cubist phase of his painting, he spent several years exploring African art.” During Picasso’s time spent living in France, the French empire expanded into Africa. This increase of Picasso’s interest in African artifacts and ancient art inspired his work. Ancient African art is very similar to Cubism in the sense that both concepts reject the attempt to copy nature as realistically as possible. This can be seen in the many traditional African masks. Moreover, African masks are a consistent re-occurring theme in Picasso’s work. Traditionally African masks were made to represent spirits. This makes me feel that ancient Africans created these masks not with the intent of recreating a face, but of something else that the eye cannot perceive, only the spirit and the mind. Picasso’s Cubist paintings of faces depict this same unique perception. In his Three Figures Under A Tree, the forms of African masks are clearly seen. In BBC News, Marilyn Martin in the article “Picasso and Africa,” points out that Picasso’s distinct features are “the elongated noses and concave faces.”

The Cubism movement claims to have started with Picasso’s innovative Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, painted in 1907. The figures of five different women are depicted, each figure portrayed in a distinctive point of view with the use of form and color. This painting is an essential cornerstone in the movement’s development. The oil on canvas reflects Picasso’s experiments with seeing the same object, a womanly figure, from various directions. This work represents what Picasso aimed to complete through most of his works, which is to depict his subject matter not as the eye sees it, but as the mind sees it. For instance, the woman in the lower right hand corner is only showing her back; nonetheless, a face is still shown. The centered two women have noses portrayed on the front of their faces in an attempt to reveal both the front and the sides of the face in the same image. The use of color is also of immense importance. Instead of color being used to create a natural and realistic image, it is used to contrast different perspectives of viewpoints, creating depth. During his Cubism phase, Picasso used natural colors that were earth tones, distinctive of African sculpture.

Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, which is noted as the first Cubist painting, was highly influenced by African art. All of the women’s faces share striking similarities with African masks, especially the two faces on the right of the painting. The colors used are different shades of a consistent brown. Some art historians call Picasso’s early stage of Cubism his “Negro period.” This is because of his incorporated dark colors to illustrate the bodies of people, particularly women.

In comparing Picasso’s Cubist work to other famous Cubist artists, it is apparent that Picasso’s work expresses African themes compared to other artworks. Georges Braque, the other leader of Cubism, was extremely impacted by Picasso’s first African-influenced work, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon; however, his Cubist works primarily focused on still life, such as musical instruments and landscapes. Unlike Picasso, he was not known for creating many facial portraits. African influence is not only seen in Picasso’s facial portraits and body forms, but also in other objects. The BBC News article entitled “Picasso and Africa” reveals the African influence behind Picasso’s work. Picasso’s 1908 Sitting Nude, exhibits a more structural body form, influenced by an Ivory Coast mask. The Tree, displays the shift from traditional European landscapes to an unconventional perspective. Braque’s 1907 Cubist Landscape at La Ciotat displays a more traditional European landscape, using brighter colors. This supports my opinion that although Braque was a leader in Cubism, influenced by Picasso’s African-themed paintings, Braque did not exhibit this same theme as strongly.

According to Study Art, “modern studies of perception have shown that people do not view things from one fixed, all-encompassing place, but from an infinite number of glances which are then connected in the viewer’s mind into one picture.” Picasso, through Cubism, suggests that the way our mind sees things can be expressed in art. However, I believe that if Picasso had never been exposed to the ancient African masks in Paris, he would never have been inspired to look at art in such a different light, possibly ceasing the Cubism movement from ever occurring. Not until we insightfully look at Picasso’s Cubist work can we realize that African art and Cubism are very similar in perceiving nature differently. Picasso was the one who was able to transcend ancient African features into modern art, creating the beauty and genius that is Cubism.

Not Another Finger Painting...

2006-04-27T13:53:00.000-05:00

HANS HOFMANN
Undulating Expanse
Oil on canvas, 1955

"The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak." –Hans Hoffman

Undulating Expanse hangs on a gallery at the Ackland Museum in Chapel Hill, taking up a significant portion of the wall it sits on. Modest in everything but size, my attention was called to this painting in particular because of the uncomplicated manner in which it seemed to work. At first glance, the painting looked to me as if it was the oversize version of a child’s play with paint; but after looking at the accompanying caption and staring a bit longer at the abstract-expressionist’s work, I found something I could identify with it. The whole scene recalled to me that moment at dusk just before the stars begin to appear, with its pinkish and red hues and its rudimentary representations of mountains and the sky. I felt that Undulating Expanse, being composed of elementary abstract shapes, illustrates that simplicity allows for a better perception of the priceless moments that make life valuable.

Looking at Undulating Expanse, I felt as if the painting evoked simplicity in addition to a sense of unfeigned art by the qualities that it possessed. The artist, Hofmann, draws simple geometric forms that represent the major objects in the canvas. With triangles for mountains and circles for the sun and stars, the picture is not complex in the sense that it evokes meticulous or intricate representations of what a sunset would look like (I say sunset but it could also be sunrise, or even the harvest moon), but complex in the sense that it captures that certain something of the moment (whether it be sunrise or sunset) that triggers in the mind of a viewer a response that a photograph could not. In accordance to Hofmann’s quote, the painting is successful in providing the depiction of a sunset that speaks to the viewer and lets him see the beauty of the moment being captured on canvas, even though at first glance the painting looks not very different from what a child might draw when trying to capture the scene himself. In that sense, the painting is not just an attempt to capture the sunset in with all its beauty on canvas, but an attempt to remind the viewer of what makes the sunset special. With is reddish hues and simple, undefined shapes, the viewer can envision any sunset/sunrise/moonrise moment that he likes; the painting serves as a impulse to inspire the creativity of the reader to take him out of the four walls of the gallery and to a world of himself. In a way, the painting is a vessel, an archetype, that carries and represents the idea that it’s the simple things in life that are meaningful, and to capture them with full significance on a work of art, they must be represented in all of their simplicity. Speaking out of my own experience, Undulating Expanse, as simple as it may be, indulged to me a strong sense of nostalgia and calmness as I imagined the scene in my mind and I became captivated to the painting that caused me to imagine such things.
With its undulating shapes and basic geometric figures, Undulating Expanse allows for the perception of the painting to represent anything that the viewer wants. Part of the deal with abstract art is that an open interpretation of the painting is perfectly acceptable. As is the nature of art to be meaningful to each individual in its own unique way (and in part what makes art so appealing), it’s difficult to pinpoint what would be the definite meaning of a work of art. But being given the right of providing my own interpretation, I feel that the painting captures the idea that the simple things in life such as a shooting star, a sunset and the moon, or a clear starry sky brings happiness to those who can appreciate them with childish eyes.

Juan Gris and His Perception of Cubism

2006-04-27T12:32:00.000-05:00

William Faulkner once said, “The aim of every artist is to arrest motion, which is life, by artificial means and hold it fixed so that a hundred years later, when a stranger looks at it, it moves again since it is life.” The paintings of the cubist artist, Juan Gris, exemplify this notion and bring to light various aspects of Faulkner’s ideals. Indeed, a canvas and mere brush strokes can capture reality and preserve every morsel of life that the object embodies. Gris frequently chose to portray subjects such as musical instruments, fruits, people, and landscapes which his audience could easily identify with. This association allows the viewer to draw a parallel between personal experiences and the painting itself, giving the work enhanced significance and vitality. Juan Gris is a noted cubist painter who has been said to have an eye for “tight complicated design” that invokes emotions and memories sparked by his captivating images (Gonpick).

Upon viewing one of Gris’s most notable paintings, The Guitar (1914), a melodic harmony becomes so real that it is almost audible, while the warm and inviting colors offer an old world feel that brings to mind memories of home. The striped background resembles antiqued wallpaper which often times is present in old houses. This, along with the grain of the wood creates the feel and sensation of a kitchen, which often carries connotations of family and comfort. This painting stimulates the brain by conjuring memories of past events and allows the mind’s eye to wonder into a realm of remembrance and reminiscence.

In addition, the cubist style is extremely significant in this painting. Gris chose to mix pieces of the work, creating a jumble of textures and fusing boundaries between objects. This is analogous to memories and the way in which the brain stores and recalls past occurrences. Over time, days become weeks, weeks become months, and months become years as single events meld into a life’s journey. Memories lose their spatial significance, but are remembered because of laughter, tears, hatred, and love. In The Guitar, the hodgepodge of textures and colors creates an absence of time and space, fostering the perfect environment for neurotically stimulation.

Another remarkable painting by Juan Gris is entitled Man in Café (1912). The most significant area of the work is the face of the man. Gris utilized cubist techniques to disorder his subject’s face, which is significant in many ways. A person’s face is most always associated with the person themselves and who they are. For the man portrayed in the work, his face is a jumble of lines and facial features, signifying that he himself is a muddle of personalities and characteristics. His identity is not defined by a single face, but the combination of many. This can also parallel personalities and how there are often many different facets of a person’s character.

Delving deeper into the painting, it can be seen that the subject of Gris’s work is holding onto unidentified object in his right hand. This symbolizes inconspicuous items that often times carries people through their day to day lives. Some cling tightly to friends and family, while others find comfort in religion, music, books, or art. Whatever it may be, these entities maintain the power to stabilize and centralize daily routines, providing consolation and security. The problem lies in releasing grip of these crutches and living life to its fullest.

The painting Still Life before an Open Window (1915) is yet another thought-provoking work by Juan Gris. The title of the work is particularly telling of its meaning. The open window in the painting can be related to life, open and bursting with opportunities. The beginning of the title, "Still Life", refers to those who simply chose to sit by their “window” and let their life pass them by. The melancholy blue shades echo this feeling of remorse and loneliness, illustrating the sadness the artist feels for those who are merely bystanders to their own lives. Along the same line though, the items in front of the window symbolize the clutter of life’s souvenirs that collect over the years. These articles are vivid and brightly colored, just like the memories that accompany each and every object. They overflow on the table before the windows, attracting the attention of the observer. This is crucial in that many times people tend to dwell in the past, and hang on to what once was or could have been.

The work, Woman With a Basket 1927, is a painting by Gris that embodies many issues that the female gender faces. First of all, the woman is holding a basket, which signifies that she has been working in a manual labor position. She is painted in a loose and undefined manner that emphasizes her meaning to the world. The lines of her body are not solid and definite like a man’s would be portrayed, as in Man in Café previously discussed. The colors of her body merge with the surroundings of the background, which only adds to her camouflage with the environment. Women are often times unrecognized and unseen in the workplace, overlooked for their labor that influences and contributes to society. The face of the woman is generic and plain, displaying determination and fortitude in her emotion. There is, however, a contrast with the antifeminism of the painting, which is seen in the beautiful dress that adorns her body. Soft and flowing, the dress exemplifies her inner beauty and splendor.

There are many similarities among the works of Juan Gris. His use of combined textures resembles a mixed medium piece. This use of varying textures and styles prompts an array of responses to the paintings, as many have preconditioned responses to certain colors and surfaces. Gris utilized wood grain in several of his paintings, along with the theme of musical instruments. Many people believe that there is a strong connection between music, art, and emotional responses contrived by the work. Thus by incorporating these elements into his artwork, he achieves a more potent emotional reaction from his audience.

In an article published in the journal, Art History, in March of 1982, author Christopher Green wrote in a piece entitled “Synthesis and the ‘Synthetic Process’ in the Painting of Juan Gris 1915-1919” that “synthesis and invention have become almost synonymous, synthetic cubist images being presented not as reflections of the world we know, but as additions to it — as new inventions” (Green). This theory is truly representative of the work of Juan Gris. He is a master at capturing an illusive subject, life itself, and preserving it with the strokes of his paintbrush. His artwork can be perceived in a myriad of ways, depending on the viewer of the work. All works trigger certain neurological responses, whether it is a memory from days gone by, remorse for lost time, hunger for identity, or longing for something yet to be obtained.

Green, Christopher. “Synthesis and the ‘Synthetic process’ in the painting of Juan Gris
1915-19.” Art Hisory. Mar 1982: 87-105

Gopnik, Adam. “Juan Gris.” Art Journal. Mar 1984: 81

How's your depth perception?

2006-04-25T15:03:00.000-05:00

Everyone interprets the world in which we live in different ways. Artistic expression is a unique and creative way that can depict our surroundings. Jean Metzinger, a French artist in the late 1890s and early 1900s, incorporated his distinctive style into his piece simply titled, “Landscape.” Greatly influenced by Paul Cezanne, a 19th-century painter, Metzinger changed his style to better resemble Cezanne’s avant-garde approach. Although this piece deviated from his customary Neo-Impressionist style, he continued with his typical mosaic technique. Metzinger was able to portray a beautiful landscape through the use of a complex color palette that blends cleanly and sharp dark-hued lines which accentuate the figures within the painting, none of which dominate the painting and yet enhance their significance.

Throughout “Landscape,” the exceptional color combinations work to shift its viewers’ eyes across the entirety of the piece. Although the colors are rather different, they bring together all the various components of the work. For example, the foreground is composed of light, pastel-like colors which float your eyes up into the next layer of bushes and shrubs. This first level of greenery, however, only embodies the basic shape of bushes. The arrangement and sizes of the brush strokes convince your brain to perceive these shapes as bushes. From the pale colored ground emerges a large meandering tree trunk. In comparison to the ground, the tree is a great deal more realistic; although, Metzinger has employed his mosaic style to depict visual reality through an altered light. This theme of incorporating mosaic brush strokes continues into the remaining aspects of the vibrant artwork.

The other trees of various varieties are also depicted in a similar mode. They are positioned in a manner which frames the inner portion of the landscape. The branches from the tree on the left are outstretched across of what appears to be a hill. Framed inside the trees, and on the hillside is an oversimplified home. Had Metzinger not outlined this structure, it is possible that the house would have blended in with the hillside. The colors he incorporated into the hill are echoed in the walls and roof. By having images that resemble actual objects, illustrated in a distorted light it shows that Metzinger’s style is reflective of the pre-impressionist era.

As you reach the center of the painting, you encounter an image which uses only one color. However, since this image is outlined in harsh, dark lines one is able to assume that this structure is a hut or some form of shelter. This hut is the focus of this painting, but I am uncertain of what the case is. There are other objects of greater artistic ability in the painting and yet this image is the most predominate. It is interesting to note that the hut is composed of the primary color used in the creation of the most detailed image, the tree. This adds to the importance of both of these objects since the tree was used in framing the landscape beyond the foreground, which includes the hut. Therefore, Metzinger utilized his artistic ability in order to guide his viewers through his piece.

All of these different components of the piece culminate in a demonstration of the use of depth. The images depicted in the foreground do not provide a great deal of depth, but rather frames the inner image which relies upon the element of perception. Metzinger uses the gradation of his color palette to elude depth. It appears that the farther away you look in the distance, the darker the colors become. This technique is very effective and helps to emphasize the different areas of the painting.

Pre-impressionist brush strokes and an effective use of color are the keys to the success of Jean Metzinger’s “Landscape” painting from 1904. The different directions which the strokes are placed attribute to the character of the piece. This creates movement around the landscape and directs your attention from the edge of the shrubs and into the outlying hillside. Various hues and bold lines also help to highlight the assorted images. All of these aspects culminate into an intriguing piece which reflects more than its name would suggest.

Is "Dirty Princess" Really Relevant?

2006-04-25T13:39:00.000-05:00

After touring the Ackland Art Museum, I gained a special interest in a 21st Century artist named Julie Heffernan. Her painting, Self-portrait as Dirty Princess, centers around an esteemed woman with an elaborate and decorative skirt. As she stands in the long hallway she is the principal focus in a one-point perspective painting. Heffernan employs vibrant colors and symmetry to establish the scene in the “Long Hall” in Brussels. She also makes use of light as a focus on the woman and as a guiding light to illuminate the intricate details of the hallway.

In this work by Heffernan, the princess in the skirt plays an important role in the perception of the painting. Because of her elaborate attire, the woman is observed as some type of imperative figure. Deceased animals and flowers lay frozen at her feet, while life breathes around her in the faces of paintings on the walls. Her fair skin and naked body provide excellent distinction against the golden walls of the hallway. Even the contrast of shadows and luminous light set the mood of the painting and allow a sense of mystery.

The skirt itself is a symbol of power and control. Animals of all nature lie at the feet of this woman; aggressive squid and resilient birds, all dead to satisfy her with her own sophisticated garment. Animals are often thought to be powerful creations of nature, and to think that one woman would have the ability to manifest such a great number of noble creatures is breathtaking.

The woman in the painting has such eloquence about her. She is demure and dainty amid bloody corpses and chaos. Her delicate hands and pristine composure illustrate her unyielding confidence. Even her legs revealed beneath her skirt display her overall stature. I believe, painting the woman taller allowed Heffernan to elevate her status in the eyes of the viewer. This way the woman physically appeared significant and commanding.

The lighting in this piece of artwork in centrally important to the effectiveness of the painting. Light seeps from windows on the ceilings and dangles from chandeliers and hallway fixtures to shine on the woman and elucidate her presence in the great hall. The main chandelier is strewn with beads of light in which pure white doves flutter ever so casually around, signifying sovereignty and freedom. The light given off by the chandelier is a spotlight for the woman’s head and golden locks of hair. Her face comes alive with the illumination.

Heffernan uses a sense of symmetry in her paintings. Her symmetry in this one; however, is slightly skewed. Although the panels on the walls and the archways of doors are all symmetric, the woman is slightly moved off center to the right. Because of her position it appears that one side of the room gains more focus than the other side. This allows the viewer to pay attention to the intricate aspects of Heffernan’s paintings.

Taking into account the name of the work, Self-portrait as Dirty Princess, and the year in which it was painted, 2004, an analogy can be made with current events. The name, “Dirty Princess” carries the connotations of today’s pop stars such as Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. In the painting, the princess is standing amidst a great hall, which is similar to the luxurious lifestyles of pop stars today. The chandelier highlights the grandeur of their day to day lives. The animals that lie at her feet and compose her skirt can be paralleled to the casualties of innocence and morality provoked by their music. It is sad to see that the princess clothes her self using the loss of life, which is analogous to the fact that the pop stars today make their fortunes off of their scandalous escapades and ways of life.

Heffernan’s paintings exude concentration and devotion to detail. The skirt of the princess and the beams of light demonstrate Heffernan’s keen eye for such elements. Her paintings also contain a spatial focus that immediately grabs the audience’s attention and encourages the viewer to explore the intricacies of the work. Heffernan’s creations epitomize art and embody art’s stylistic dynamics.

Remember the Cubes

2006-04-24T13:47:00.000-05:00

Soldiers Playing at Cards.
Ferdinand Leger. 1917
Oil on Canvas

During the World War I era, artists used their canvas to express their ideas towards the war. Artists captured the qualities that they saw on the war, and reproduced them through their art. One of these individuals, Ferdinand Leger, expressed the meaningless and arid qualities that he associated with the events of the war in his painting “Soldiers Playing at Cards”. However, what called my attention to his painting was the way in which he put his thoughts and ideas on canvas in a manner that was captivating and intriguing.

Some of the qualities that captured my interest to his painting were the shapes and colors that he used. “Soldiers” makes extensive use of geometric shapes to represent structures, making the bodies of the soldiers look un-human and machine-like. The painting represents soldiers as seemingly hollow grey shapes with no facial expressions and recognizable at a glance only by the medals that they wear. Behind the meaning of the painting lies the aesthetic qualities that makes it pleasing to the eye. By using shapes and figures, the painting forces the viewer to look closely for the meaning behind it, getting the idea it represents to the viewer in a subtle manner.

Besides its historical background, the most appealing attribute of the painting to me is the way the shapes and colors work together to make a semi-abstract painting. Even though the shapes and figures appear to resemble real-world structures, their separation from familiar shapes helps to get across the painter’s point of a soldiers detachment from society. Also, the colors and contrast used in the painting called my attention as I found the usage of colors intricate and interesting. The different shades of gray with red blue and yellow accents provide the painting with some color, without producing an excessively vibrant of a scene that would take away from the idea of the painting. Even though a lot of colors are used in the painting, the scene captured by it is still marked by austerity. All of the bright colors are used as accents, yet the hollow-body soldiers that are the center of the theme, as well as most of the background, is composed of blue and grey shades. Overall, my attention was placed mostly on the ambiguous designs that were embedded throughout the painting,

Characteristic of his later work, “Soldiers” represents the ideas of the painter in an abstract manner. Being a cubist painter, Leger’s works are characterized by the usage of tubular shapes to represent objects, and in “Soldiers”, he uses the same techniques to represent bodies in a machine-like manner, almost like suits of hollow armor. Even though the painting exhibits some abstract traits, the meaning of it appears to be a clear critique of the war, allowing me to infer that the author’s feelings towards it were less than amiable. Also, considering the way that painting depicts the scene of a group of soldiers playing a game of cards, it makes sense to deduce that Leger was not focusing on the violence and destruction caused during the war more than the meaning of senseless that it invokes.

When I saw this painting at the High Museum in Atlanta, I remember thinking about how complex and abstruse it seemed while I was trying to figure out what it was trying to show. You can look at this piece and see the military references, and hence connect the painting in one way or another to the events that revolved around the war. However, different opinions as to what the artist was trying to convey in this painting, as all other artwork, is left to the interpretation of the viewer. Whether you look at “Soldiers” and you see an artist’s critique on war, a group of faceless men passing time with a game of cards, or a set of complex shapes and color combinations, a painting’s aesthetic beauty results as a product of what one feels it’s trying to convey and how the painting goes about doing so. With regards to Leger, he provides the complex and intricate shapes that one can look it while trying to realize that the meaning of it is purely whatever we wanted it to be.

A New Perception on the Slave Trade

2006-04-24T10:46:00.000-05:00

Located on the second floor of the Ackland Art Museum in Chapel Hill is the African art gallery. It was in this particular gallery where I was attracted to the colorful, intricate designs of a certain piece on the wall. The Dutchman by Moyo Okediji is an acrylic work on canvas created in 1995. From far away, one may only see a random array of colors woven together. However, The Dutchman is elaborately detailed, displaying the history we all know, of the many Africans and the slave-trade. Okediji was born in Nigeria in 1956, and it is apparent from the piece that his African roots influence his work.

The artwork emits an emotional response within me. The Dutchmen, located in the left of the work, are smoking pipes. One man holds an African woman, whom is shackled and crying sad tears. The man does not look at her, symbolizing his lack of sympathy, or any feeling for that matter, towards her and the other Africans. Another man holds her arm, representing his possession over her. This attributes to the fact that colonists merely viewed the Africans as property, rather than equal human beings. At the bottom of the piece, swim sharp-toothed sharks in the ocean, where other Africans drown. The center displays an African upside-down, half of him in the water. This suggests that he was either thrown overboard, or willingly jumped off, in order to escape the Dutchmen. It is interesting to note that the Africans in the water are without shackles, and those above them are shackled. I think this expresses the thought that although the Africans may have willingly jumped to their death in the Atlantic, they are at least free of the white men and free of the tormented future they would have lived.

Okediji’s use of style and color is specifically important to the image he is conveying. The Ackland Art Museum describes that Okediji’s “prominent tints of blue have dual signification. Not only is the deep Atlantic alluded to, but the pain at the root of African American blues music is also suggested.” The use of wavy lines throughout the work gives off the impression of the wavy ocean; yet, they also give a sense of chains and shackles. The collage-like style creates a chaotic sensation, embodying how the colonists went to Africa, creating disorder and turmoil in the lives of the Africans.

The Dutchman was inspired by the poem “Middle Passage” by African American poet Robert Hayden. “Middle Passage” is about the Atlantic slave trade. The Dutchman was also inspired by Okediji’s time spent in the United States, where he first-handedly experienced the daily realities of African Americans. In the United States, other African Americans have confronted their problems through art. The Ackland Art Museum explains that The Dutchman signifies “Okediji’s own psychic reconnection to his long lost ancestors strewn across the Atlantic and to those who survived in the New World.” In this sense, as we look at Okediji’s incredible work, his encompassment of the blue colors, the wavy impression, and the collage-like design enable us to sense how Okediji feels about the slave trade and African colonists. We are looking at his own perception of something which is a huge part of Okediji’s roots.

Kiss Me, Klimt!

2006-04-23T16:02:00.000-05:00

Many of us are drawn to artistic works because we find them aesthetically pleasing. According to answers.com, aesthetics is the branch of philosophy that deals with the nature and expression of beauty, as well as the psychological responses to beauty and artistic experiences. Expressionism evokes this sense; as said by Art Cyclopedia, it is “a style in which the intention is not to reproduce a subject accurately, but instead to portray it in such a way as to express the inner state of the artist.” My all-time favorite work of art is Gustav Klimt's The Kiss. I am drawn to this expressionist piece because of its beautiful use of details that Klimt is known for, invoking an emotional response within me.

The Kiss, which was painted in 1907, expresses, to me, something that words cannot. I admire this piece because I interpret it as a romantic depiction of the love shared between a woman and a man. The body language between the couple can make any girl melt. The way the woman’s hands cling to her partner’s body suggests that she is afraid that he will let her go; however, the image indicates that he will never let her go, as his hands cradle her face. The use of color and ornate details is magnificent, which initially attracted me to The Kiss. As stated by Wikipedia, Klimt’s work “is distinguished by an elegant use of gold backgrounds and mosaic patterns.”

I think that Klimt’s original style of details is inspired from conscious messages he wants to symbolize. According to LAKS Vienna, Klimt once said, “Whoever wants to know something about me--as an artist, the only notable thing--ought to look carefully at my pictures and try and see in them what I am and what I want to do.” The use of rectangles on the man and ovals on the woman represent their differences; yet, the fact that they share the same golden yellows symbolizes their spiritual closeness and that they are brought together by the love they have for one another. This reminds me of a quote by Aristotle: “Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.” As she melts, a golden aura encompasses their bodies, representing the love, or the spirit they both share that cannot be seen in their mere physicality. The image of blooming flowers beneath the couple sparks yet another quote into mind. The poet, E.E. Cummings once said that “The earth laughs in flowers.” To me, the happily “laughing” flowers reveal that the kiss has a physical effect on its surroundings through its spirit. It seems as if, the couple’s loving spirit is spreading among the flowers, represented by the golden flower strands, connecting the man and women to the earth. Because of this, I receive a sense that their love is something natural, organic, and pure.

Consistent with an Artist Biography by KinderArt, Klimt’s creations “were very decorative and quite symbolic, meaning that many of the images in his work had hidden meaning.” Klimt’s work was intended to be interpreted. His beautiful artistic details paint a clear picture for me to interpret from his perception. By merely viewing the work, I am instantly apart of a beautiful love that is being shared between a woman and a man. This is because Klimt’s perception of the kiss is so vividly expressed that I perceive the same thing, like I am looking through Klimt’s eyes at what a kiss really means to him.

Expressionism At It's Best

2006-04-23T13:38:00.000-05:00

Expressionism is an art movement that originated to satisfy artists need to express their inner emotions clearly through the medium of art. This particular art movement is characterized as a nightmarish style scene which contains distorted images or somewhat fragmented shapes and emotions. Edvard Munch is a fine example of an expressionist painter. His paintings portray the principal qualities that define such an art movement.

One of Munch’s most famous works, The Scream, is my favorite work of Expressionist Art. The painting itself displays emotion and obscurity through its movement of brush strokes and vibrant use of colors. While evoking emotion, Munch’s unique style fascinates me. In my opinion, The Scream, is one of the most inspired works of art from the Expressionist movement. The mixture of straight lines of the bridge and the curvy, voluptuousness of the sky’s clouds and water’s ripples provide for quite an amazing contrast. Munch employs a very unrealistic style when presenting the background of the painting; however, as the onlooker you are always able to distinguish the arch of the sky or the bend of the water. Even in the distance of the water, two boats characterized only by their basic shape, are seen desolately floating. These particular boats are only constructed of connecting lines. Nothing makes them remarkably special; however, even with only a few strew lines defining them, their significance remains crucial to the effectiveness of the painting.

Edvard Munch is a meticulous artist for detail. It may seem from far away that The Scream is a blurry image of fantasy and intrigue; however, viewed closely it is apparent of Munch’s intricate use of mixed colors and the movement of his brush strokes. In the midst of an abstract background, it is evident that the bridge on which the central figure stands is the most substantial aspect of the painting. The bridge is viewed as the only real object in the painting. Even the brush strokes imitate the exact texture of wood grains, while everything else in the painting appears fantastical yet vague.

Much enjoyment can be found in viewing The Scream. Its contrast is so appealing that it evokes an inquisitive emotion and causes me to feel attachment to the central figure by the way he is surrounded by such broad texture and movement. His “scream” is one of loneliness and despair. He is trapped.

Expressionism is meant to incite emotion and awaken inner thoughts. Munch was very talented in doing so. Plagued by childhood misfortune and social issues such as alcoholism and affairs, Munch’s bitter life of misery poured through him and into his artwork. The Scream exemplifies his controversial life by illustrating a sense of anguish and despair. The central figure exerts pain and loneliness, while the desolate background and lost faces of the couple in the distance also exploit a certain isolation and sadness. Other paintings by Edvard Munch such as, The Sick Child and Vampire are also works from this grievous period in his life. They too demonstrate the same techniques of swift movements of brush strokes, blending of colors, and painstaking feelings of aloneness. The Scream is an innovative piece of artwork. The stableness of the bridge provides the notion that the figure’s distress will somehow soon reach resolution. Even Munch’s use of golden oranges for the setting sun and deep blues for the surging water provides for an eye pleasing event. Not only is this painting thought provoking, but it also appeals to your emotions. I, for one, found it very enjoyable.

Have you met the Arnolfini's?

2006-04-23T02:51:00.000-05:00

During the Renaissance all aspects of culture were turned upside down and rearranged. “The Arnolfini Marriage” by Jan Van Eyck demonstrates this changing time. There are many features of this painting that make it distinctive and an excellent representation of its era. Although, it may not be an overly beautiful piece and one that you would like to hang in your living room, it does however, its meaning creates its value. For me, I see its historical relevance in society rather than the actual quality of the work.
My first encounter with this painting was in my World Civilizations class in high school and two years later in my AP European History course. I had the privilege of having the same teacher for both classes and she ingrained in my mind the importance of this simple portrait. Aside from its historical significance, the bold colors that were not used prior to the Renaissance enhance the attractiveness of the piece. The most eye-catching colors are on Arnolfini’s wife. She appears to be pregnant, but I do not believe this to be the case. This portrait depicts the couple at the beginning of the marriage. During this time period, children were an expected occurrence shortly after marriage. Therefore, this was done to show what was expected from this union. In addition, the couple is positioned adjacent to the bed which also infers the conception of a child.
Besides the placement of people in relation to other objects, the objects themselves are considerably interesting. There are many items in the painting that play minor roles. For example, there are two pairs of oddly shaped shoes on the floor. I do not understand their significance and it is therefore even more intriguing to me. The dog in the foreground of the picture, I believe represents the union of the Arnolfini’s. Additionally, the fixtures around the couple are remarkably ornate. This signifies that the pair possesses a considerable amount of wealth, which during these times began to be flaunted among those who were not royalty. I find the connotations of imagery incredibly revealing and stimulating.
I think that subtle messages through art are more effective than outright images. This is because the viewer feels a sense of accomplishment after noticing small minute that has a significant meaning. Many analysts of this painting have paid particular attention to the mirror located in the background. If you look especially close you can make out the reflection of not only the Arnolfini’s, but the artist himself. The Renaissance was a “rebirth” of ideas including views on people. Prior to the Renaissance only royalty and religious figures were immortalized in oils, but now the rest of society is included. This type of thought is known as individualism. Also, the man in the portrait is donning a fur coat, which was originally only available to royalty and aristocrats. Their faces exhibit a distorted from of realism. Everything in this portrait appears to be accurately portrayed except for their faces. These facts are important in deciphering the painting.
The concepts surrounding individualism are the critical components to the actions of Jan Van Eyck. The idea of emphasizing the individual was the driving force behind “The Arnolfini Marriage.” The importance of the artist is also central in the painting. Everyone wants to feel important, and at this point in time, artists were permitted to be important. For example, on Michelangelo’s “Pieta,” he carved his name across the Virgin Mary so the sculpting credit would not go unnoticed. For the most part, everyone is selfish in some form, especially when we do something for which we want attention; it is simply a part of human nature. Although the mirror is rather minimal in comparison to the blatancy of other aspects, it sends the most potent message, if you do in fact realize it is even there.
The “Arnolfini Marriage” is an extremely unique piece that appeals to my love of history. Its representation of the Renaissance period is what makes it a truly amazing painting. I consider it to be one of the greatest pieces of all time simply because of this fact. Jan Van Eyck’s distinctive incorporation of realism and individualism establishes this painting as credible and a staple in our world’s history.

Destructive Decision

2006-04-05T10:55:00.000-05:00

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Confronting My Inability to Confront

2006-04-05T10:19:00.000-05:00

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The Results Are In...

2006-04-05T07:19:00.000-05:00

During my Spring Break, I tossed myself into an experiment attempting to stop my nail-biting habit. I have always bitten my nails; however, I have never known the reason or the stimulant I receive out of my habit. Anxiety, stress, and boredom are the most causing reasons for nail-biting. This makes clear sense to me; however, I personally did not believe that those same reasons could be the cause of my lifelong habit. Nevertheless, after analyzing the data collected from the experiment, it revealed the true variables that caused my urges to nail-bite.

I received a total of nine urges throughout the six days, including one day in which I did not receive any urge at all. I gave into only one urge, not even initially realizing my behavior. The information revolving around my urges provides a connection between my environment and my habit. The situation in which I was in played a critical role on the urges I received throughout the experiment. In six occasions, I found myself in states of boredom. In three other different instances, I felt nervous, annoyed, and worried. In most occasions, a change of environment enabled me to resist any nail-biting urge.

My experiment began on Sunday, March 12, 2006 and ended on Friday, March 17, 2006. On the first day, I was staying with my sister in Anderson, South Carolina. I received an urge to bite my nails during a nerve-racking situation. My sister, to her surprise, found five red bumps on my seven-month old nephew’s arm. We grew worried that it may have been chicken pox, and I was unaware if I had ever had the itchy virus. This was an uneasy and uncomfortable situation to be in, considering the potential threat to ruin my health, as well as my spring break. Before learning that I was, in fact, immune to the chicken pox, I resisted my urge. In order to take my mind off my nails, I went outside to take a breather and to play with the dogs. By leaving the room where I felt nervous tension in, a change of environment led my mind to be free of worries, eventually distracting me from my urge. Later that night, while immersed in watching a very stressful scene in a movie, I became very vexed and tense. I found myself gnawing at my nails and not even realizing I had an urge until it was too late. I was upset with myself, but stopped the biting immediately. The movie scene placed me into a high emotional state, and because of this, I unconsciously received an urge and succumbed to it.

On the following Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, I received six urges due to boredom. Four of the six of these urges came because I was stuck in a car driving for long periods of time. On Tuesday, I completed a six-hour trip from Anderson, South Carolina to Jacksonville, North Carolina. On Friday, some friends and I drove two three-hour treks to the Outer Banks and then back home. My opportunities and options for distractions were limited. In one case, we went to eat food, which helped in combating my urge. For the other occurrences, I resorted to changing the music in the car. Even though I may have been enjoying the particular CD I was listening to while I received an urge, I had to change it. Since I was trapped in a car, changing the music represented a change of environment, because I associated the urge with whatever music I was listening to at the time.

On the Wednesday of the experiment, I received no urges at all. The fact that I remained busy for the whole day supports this data. Because I was engaged in activity, I was distracted from any urges that may have come if I had not been preoccupied. Friday night, after resisting my nail-biting impulses, a defining challenge occurred. While picking up a piece of wood, my nails slid against the surface of the wood, chipping a tiny fragment of one of my fingernails. During this event, I encountered my most powerful temptation yet to give into an urge. Normally, I would simply use my teeth to detach the hanging chip; instead, I solved my dilemma by using a nail file.

Before conducting this experiment, I hypothesized that I would be able to modify my nail-biting habit and not give into any urges. I was able to control all of my conscious urges I received in fear of receiving my punishment, which was losing a dollar to my mother. After the first impulse I did not resist, I made sure not to lose another dollar. The most incredible conclusion from the experiment, though, was what the data uncovered. Every instance I received an urge was affected by my surroundings. The situation or activity I was involved in influenced my emotions, provoking an impulse to nail-bite. I associated the urge with my environment, and I could only ignore my urge once I disassociated myself from the environment. I did this by leaving the room, in which the situation occurred.

The data answers the questions of why I have always bitten my nails, and provides a solution to my problem. I bite my nails when I am in a nervous or anxious emotional state or when I am suffering from boredom. I have learned from this experiment that in order to stop my habit, I need to detach myself from anxious environments, because I link the impulse to nail biting with my surroundings. Because I now know this, I can now put an end to my unpleasant nail-biting and buy some nail polish.

My Habit Bites!

2006-04-05T07:10:00.000-05:00

I do not own any fingernail polish nor do I own any fingernail polish remover. When my friends offer to paint my fingernails, I decline. The reason is not because I cannot stand the distinct smell of the polish, but because I do not have any fingernails to paint! I have been biting my nails my whole life. In fact, I am almost positive I came out of the womb biting my nails, instead of sucking on them like most infants. I am a flutist, and have played for eight years. My mother claims she loves hearing me play; however she does not have the same love for watching me play. She blames this all on my fingernails. I do not have what she calls “flutist fingernails,” and they must be long to be appealing to look at. There has only been one time in my life when I grew my nails long enough to be able to paint them. This was when my mother compelled me put on a special invisible polish with a disgusting taste, so that every time I went in for a nibble, I immediately ceased with a filthy flavor in my mouth. Ironically, that experience was the only time my nails grew out, and it had been the last. For one week, I will throw myself into an experiment, attempting to stop my nail biting habit and to see whether I will be shopping for new fingernail polish anytime soon.

I have never considered my nail biting a nasty habit I needed to kick. However, my findings show that there are more disadvantages that come along with this habit than there are advantages. Germs bury under the surface of fingernails, and nail biting is physically connecting our mouths with these germs. Rick Lopes, a spokesperson for the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology notifies the dangers of nail biting, “If [nail tools such as files] are used on different people, these tools may spread nail fungi, staph bacteria or viruses.” Just think of the living organisms that may possibly be living under your fingernails, and then think about biting into them with your teeth. Also, every time I bite my nails, the more trauma I am putting on the matrix, the location where nail plate cells are produced. A Health Board on nail biting, which is an online message board on health related topics, warns the importance of the matrix. “Repeated trauma to the nail matrix can result in permanent damage and the nails may never recover.” I always thought that my occasional nail biting was just a harmless habit before finding this information.

According to a nail biting study done by Ruth Osuch, there are two forms of nail biting. One form is referred to as mild onychophagia, which is what I have. This consists of occasional biting. The second form is extremely harmful, known as severe onychophagia, causing bleeding, scarring, pain, and infection. This form is tied close to self-mutilation. I am lucky that I am only dealing with the mild case, which will be easier to stop. PhD. Osuch also states that “Research has shown that many factors are involved in nail biting. Anxiety, stress and boredom are the most prominent reasons.” In an attempt to modify by nail biting behavior, I will try to eliminate these factors that could be influencing my habit.

My self-experiment will take place during my one week school break. I will be in a low-stress environment, free from the pressures of late night studying and the writings of exam papers. I predict that this change in setting will eliminate any anxiety and stress that may cause any desire to bite my nails. However, if a problem unexpectedly arises that could cause any anxiety or stress; I will immediately take a few moments for myself to calm down. This will enable me to become tranquil and to not worry. The problem of facing boredom may be struggled with. My parents will be at work all day, and my younger brother will be at school. Though, there will be two cats to play with, I may become a little bored at times. To eradicate the possibility of becoming bored, I will aim to keep myself busy at all times. These efforts will remove a large portion of any temptation to nail bite.

My progress, or lack of progress, will be measured one day at a time. At the end of the day, I will be either positively reinforced or punished, depending on whether I am improving or regressing. If I am amble to go through a day without biting any of my nails, I will be rewarded. However, if I take even the tiniest nibble at one of my fingernails, I will be punished to give my mother a dollar for every bite I take. This is the ultimate punishment, since I am considerably fond of having money of my own to spend while I am at college, and I hate wasting even the slightest amount of it. The fear of losing even a dollar will hopefully cease any urge I have to gnaw at one of my fingernails.

I will reflect at the end of each day by filling out an evaluation. I will record information pertaining to any urges I had during the day. Details such as, the number of urges I received, when and what time I got an urge, whether I gave into an urge, or what I did to resist an urge will be documented. I will also record how I felt when I received an urge and any other comments that may be of importance. By noting such specific accounts, I will be able to observe and analyze my behaviors at the end of the week to see if my habit had any connection to my emotions. This data could help me in the future to permanently cease my nail-biting behavior.

The goal of this experiment is to temporarily stop nail-biting for a week, and to eventually eliminate all desires to bite any of my fingernails permanently. But before I can kick my habit altogether, I must be able to understand why I bite my nails in the first place, which is the ultimate purpose of the experiment. I will grasp this by analyzing and drawing conclusions from the evaluations I will fill out at the end of each day. I expect that my urges will occur in times of boredom or anxiety. In response to any anxious situations, I hope to replace nail-biting as a stress-relieving action with other practices, such as meditating or writing down my feelings. I predict that I will be able to disregard any nail-biting impulses, in fear of losing any bit of money, even a dollar. However, by substituting other stress-alleviating responses with nail-biting, I anticipate a long-term effect. After all, I am no longer appealed with the fact that I am creating a moist environment under my fingernails, in which bacteria love to thrive in.

Quit That

2006-04-05T03:10:00.000-05:00

In attempt to lead to smoking cessation for myself, I have previously developed my own strategic plan to follow. While going through the experiment I faced many adversities but came out successfully due to the rewards and punishments I had set for following the plan properly. Although it was a difficult task with much on the line, I found a way to accomplish my goal of limiting my smoking, then go without smoking for three days. Due to many circumstances and the environment I was in at the time of the experiment, I received great help in reaching my goal. With only having six days to conduct my experiment I will continue testing myself to avoid smoking and ensure that I quit for good.

In attempt to cease smoking I followed the reduced schedule smoking plan because I found this to be the most effective way and it has been proven to yield good results. In the first two days of the experiment I allowed myself two cigarettes a day. I found these two days to be the toughest part of the plan. While I had averaged smoking around at least six cigarettes a day prior to this experiment only two came as a bit of a shock for me. The problem I found myself facing was that my timing was off on when I would smoke. On the first day I smoked one cigarette early in the morning around 11 o’clock but by 2 o’clock I was craving another one. If I went ahead and smoked another cigarette at that point I would find myself wanting another within a few hours and then exceed my limit, which I did not want to break. With only a few hours into the experiment I already found myself caught in a predicament. Giving in was not the goal though, so through self-discipline I refrained from smoking at that point and this added a boost to my confidence that I could indeed accomplish this feat. Planning and placing myself on a schedule was the lesson I learned here for the next day because I found I often smoke later during the afternoon than early in the morning. Eventually around eight on the first night I smoked another one, which met my limit. To my surprise I did not wish for another that night, but stood strong and kept the urge of smoking away. The first day was complete and I had met my goal of not exceeding two cigarettes. Not much thought was placed in this but I found myself very enthusiastic about the fact that I could limit myself and was ready to see what the rest of the week had in store for me.

Showing success in the first day of my experiment I was given the reward of playing my Mario and enjoyed this fantastic game, but I had another five days ahead of me. The second day did not come with as much ease as I had anticipated and turned out to be a negative day according to the experiment. I avoided the cigarettes in the morning, learning from my mistake the previous day, but around mid afternoon I felt it necessary to light up and smoke a cigarette. Well ok that was only one and I could still smoke another if I pleased according to the limit for the day, but only around an hour had gone by before I found myself feeling stressed out and wanting another. I had already reached the limit and it was only five o’clock in the afternoon. Thinking this could not be good and fearing my punishment I steered clear from smoking but when nighttime rolled around and I found myself around other smokers, I was in trouble. I had smoked again and had now exceeded my limit. Reflecting upon the day and the unsuccessful goal in the experiment I was determined to not break the limit again. Seeing that when I became stressed earlier in the day and placing myself around smokers while I was trying to fight this battle was not the brightest idea. Being tempted by others led me to break my goal and it was not as if they had forced me to smoke. It was that when you see others doing something that usually was part of your routine, it made me want to give in and smoke. I found that I need to only do, what I want to do, and not let what others do influence me even if it was once part of me. Reaching this goal means way more than just giving in and saying one day I will stop because I need to go ahead and quit before it takes over.

Although I had learned my lesson from the second day I had to face my punishment. No Tabasco for twenty-four hours, I was not sure if this would be possible. If I have ever been addicted to anything it would be Tabasco and I have never given up on it. I have been using this sauce religiously at least since I was ten and could not go long without it. There was a long day ahead with it only becoming more complicated due to the fact it was the third day in the experiment and on the third and fourth day I had planned to limit myself to just one cigarette. Pain struck when Tabasco was not permitted while I was eating lunch that day and I swore never again would I break this goal. Tabasco meant much more to me than smoking and I was already going through withdrawal from it early in the day. Dealing with this other form of pain, smoking was not on my mind. It had already placed me in this unpleasant situation that I wished to never venture again. I refrained from smoking until the nighttime but when I did, I didn’t even completely finish this cigarette due to disgust. I had let myself down the day before and felt its wrath through the form of my punishment. I felt as if I had finally reached the turning point and knew that this was the time to quit for good. There was no appealing aspect of smoking and it was not worth the price of your life or Tabasco bottle.

With not exceeding my limit in the day before, I was rewarded with my Nintendo time, but I felt pleased to know that I could finally use Tabasco again. I was not willing to risk this pleasant feeling so early in the day and the urge to smoke never crossed my mind. Well the day was successful so far, but as nighttime came I was going to face the difficult challenge again of not smoking while I was around others who frequently puffed away. It was the night of the fourth day and I had been without a cigarette the entire day and didn’t even think about it. Well to my dismay I had no problem watching others smoke away and I didn’t have the slightest ambition to light one up and join. This had been my first day without smoking in quite some time and I felt proud of this. Things were only looking up and I was coming closer and closer to reaching my goal of quitting. Why would I ever risk my precious Tabasco again it was not worth it.

Once again I was rewarded with Nintendo but it was now something more that I had to have and yearned for. I wanted to quit for good and not risk my health through making another destructive decision. The fifth and sixth days were finally here and the experiment was coming to a close, but now I was not allowed to smoke at all or I risked failure. After a very successful fourth day the momentum kept rolling right through to the next two and there was no turning back. I went three days straight without smoking and had no desire to. The last two days were a breeze in the fact that I never even thought about smoking and was too concerned on the new goal to quit for good not just for some experiment. I guess the day without Tabasco really affected me and lit a spark within my heart to quit because of how painful it was to be without the things you are addicted to that actually don’t harm you or your health.

Much of the success of this experiment can be contributed to the environment I was in during this time. I was not surrounded by many smokers at all times but did face times where others around me smoked frequently. Another positive aspect of the environment was at the time during break there was not a lot of stress and work build up in my life which usually led to me going and smoking but instead I was in a more calm and laid back setting. The rewards and punishments in the experiment aided myself by giving incentive to stay away from smoking and doing something better with my time. While the Nintendo was fun and the day without Tabasco was excruciating the real reward was my health was starting to look up. Going without smoking seemed to be a real positive aspect and something I wish to continue.

Showing overall success in the experiment with only one day of not meeting my goals, I feel as if this is just the beginning to putting a stop to smoking. The first days are always supposed to be the hardest, but with much ease I came through with quite impressing results. Now that I have showed success and know that it is time to quit for good I feel as if I have already made the biggest leap towards cessation of smoking but still have a ways to go. Going for one week does not mean that you have quit, but one must continue their path in order to achieve their goal for some time, but in the end the rewards will be in your own favor. I believe with the success I have already shown and the knowledge of my own will power I am right on target to quit for good.

It's Not That Necessary

2006-04-05T02:27:00.000-05:00

What has the world come to these days? We live in a place were one of the most thriving industries is manufacturing one of the deadliest causes known to man. Big tobacco firms such as Marlboro, Camel, Winston, and many other corporations are making billions of dollars in profit while producing something that only kills man. While smoking is a very preventable habit, many purchase and smoke this product with no ambition of stopping or of considering the risk. After smoking since my senior year in high school, it is time to make a drastic change and take care of my lungs. I have been attracted to cigarettes for quite some time now, it all began at a party early last year and has been a part of my life since. Also with the majority of people I hang around being heavy smokers this increased the amount I would smoke and led to this problematic situation.

While any issue concerning smoking tobacco is very serious, there are certain cases that are far worse off than others, due to the length of time and quantity they have smoked throughout their life. While some believe that lung cancer is the only way smoking can harm someone, to much surprise it takes a greater toll upon ones heart. According to the authors of the article “How to Quit Smoking” over 138 thousand Americans die from heart disease each year while 124 thousand Americans die from lung cancer each year. Both present a huge portion of Americans dying due to tobacco related substances but “Smokers suffer heart attacks at twice the rate of non smokers, and they’re less likely to survive them.” These facts present the great danger that smokers face compared to non smokers and how much more likely it is for them to die from certain diseases. After being bombarded with these negative facts smokers are given relief by the authors when after years of reviewing and studying the subject it has been discovered if one ceases the “risk of a heart attack drops almost immediately” all the more reason to quit knowing there is still a chance.

While smoking decreases our health, it does so in a high rate. According to the article “Scheduled Reduced Smoking: Effects on Smoking Abstinence and Potential Mechanisms of Action” smoking “has been implicated in one out of six deaths, or approximately 434 thousand fatalities per year.” With all of this to take in, scientists and researchers along with the tobacco industry have begun to try and develop ways to help aid smokers that wish to quit, while promoting others to steer clear from this deadly product. Due to the huge settlement after the big tobacco companies were found guilty of lying saying that cigarettes were not addictive they have had to shell out several millions of dollars into the anti drug campaigns and help in other ways by donating money to other problems concerning their products. The article encourages scheduled smoking as a successful form for one trying to terminate their smoking habit. To attempt this procedure the time one smokes and amount are monitored and drastically reduced in order to minimize the amount smoked, but at the same time provide for the craving instead of going “cold turkey” style at first. As time went by in this routine the amount one should allow themselves dwindles down until eventually they are smoke free. The study conducted in the article gave flourishing results while after six months around fifty-three percent of the participants were abstinent. Although the number lessened around the one year mark, there was still a high percentage with around forty-one percent of the participants abstinent after one year. Many methods and aids such as patches and gum have been created in order to help and provide assistance to those wishing to quit and have been proven to be effective.

In my own process of smoking cessation I plan on following the reduced schedule smoking plan but not take such a slow approach and try and quit as soon as possible. In order for me to take action I plan on limiting myself for a few days and then trying to stop completely. Since I have already cut down on smoking previously but was still smoking on a regular basis, it will not be as drastic as some following the cold turkey method. Over the next six days in my experiment I wish to completely halt this habit and never look back. I average smoking close to six cigarettes a day so over the first two days two cigarettes will be allowed. On the third and fourth day I am only allotting myself to one cigarette and then in the last two days of the experiment none will be allowed. In order for me to have incentive to do this rewards and punishments will be given but the main reward is my health. If I go over the limit allotted in a day my punishment will be no Tabasco for the entire next day. Now while some might find smoking addictive, Tabasco is one of the most important things to me, without it I do not feel complete. But to reward myself I get to play Super Mario Three for thirty to forty five minutes because I had just found this and I was excited. Since this is being conducted over break I will be able to have free time to play this thrilling game. Hopefully after completing this challenge I will be able to declare myself victorious, but in order to overcome this battle it will take a longer period of time than six days.

Being able to take a stand for my own good is necessary, while at the same time it will help me see my own self control. Through the reduced smoking schedule method I plan on overcoming this feat with much will power and self-discipline on the line I will attack this problem and end my smoking days for good.

Rigotti, Nancy. “How to Quit Smoking.” Newsweek 3 October 2005: 66
Cinciripini, Paul. “Scheduled Reduced Smoking: Effects on Smoking Abstinence and
Potential Mechanisms of Action.” Addictive Behaviors 22.6 (1997): 759

Blame it on Boredom

2006-04-04T20:16:00.000-05:00

For the past week I have tried to resist the tempting inclination to brush and touch my hair. Through various tactics I was able to moderately reduce the frequency my hair was touched. A complete elimination of the habit was not acquired. However, I was able to realize and understand my obsessive nature. My environment over the past few days has changed drastically, providing me with different situations and circumstances. These scenarios presented me with various levels of stress as well as simplicity. Everyday saw a new location, and a different group of people, all of which culminated in varied opportunities for hair stroking.

Initially, I thought that the threat of losing my blow dryer, which served as my personal punishment, would be threatening enough to thwart me from touching my hair. I was terribly mistaken. The frequency at which I touch my hair is rather embarrassing. I also believed that this embarrassment would serve as a driving force to push me into correcting this habit. However, I discovered that it is going to take a great deal more work and planning in order to put this obsession to rest. I found that I touch my hair in virtually every situation, although some instances were more apparent. Over the course of Spring Break, these realizations became utterly evident.

The beginning of the experiment occurred while preparing to go home for spring break. I was overly preoccupied with packing and getting ready for my camping trip so I did not feel compelled to touch my hair. This confirmed my belief that when I am consumed with other activities, they are able to distract me from my hair. As the experiment progressed, my surroundings changed as well. On the first day of spring break, my friends and I went to Carolina Beach for a camping trip. Spending all this time outdoors provided my hair with an opportunity to become extremely dirty. Showering in the campground showers did not cleanse my hair and I was unable to blow dry it. This left my hair rather dingy and uncomfortable. I simply put my hair up in a ponytail and went on my way.

The fact that I had no control over my hair during this time negates the legitimacy of my natural ability to resist my hair. Living without my blow dryer makes my hair healthier, but not nearly as straight or silky. While camping, my hair was unappealing and grimy. Upon returning home, the first thing I did was to take an incredibly long shower and wash my hair thoroughly. Since I had not obsessively touched my hair over the past few days I permitted myself to use the blow dryer which proved to be a bad idea. My hair became extraordinarily soft and was tempting to touch. The lure of my freshly washed and styled hair was too much for me. During the course of the day I lost my right to use my blow dryer.

With my relapse into touching my hair I lost my blow dryer privileges. However, even though I did not have my blow dryer, I could not resist brushing my hair in order to make it straight and not conform to the shape of my head while it was wet. Whenever I do not blow dry my hair, although it is soft and smooth, it does not dry straight and I brush it compulsively in order to straighten it. On this particular day, I failed yet again in my attempt to stop this habit. I did, however, reduce the number of times I touched my hair. Although, I feel that the quantity is still abnormally high. To discipline myself for my inability to resist my hair, I put my blow dryer away for yet another day.

Additionally, I discovered that even the people around me could not resist running their fingers through my hair. While sitting on the couch with my dad during Day 3 he repeatedly poked my hair. When I asked him to stop he said in a cheesy voice, “How can I stop when it is so soft?” This made me think about how I will be able to stop touching my hair when other people have the same desires to touch it. This particular instance helped me to realize what my largest problem was. My dad was touching my hair while sitting on the couch when he had nothing else to do. I realized that I am the same way. I stroke my hair because it is something to fill the void created by boredom. In order to prevent idleness I feel I must touch my hair. Perhaps I follow the saying that “idle hands are the devil’s tools.” However, it seems as though he is working through my hands through this habit anyway.

Over the course of the next few days, I came to realize that ultimately, I touch my hair out of boredom or nervous habit. If I am not doing anything, I occupy myself by touching my hair. I have found that my longing to feel my hair is the worst while watching television. Apparently, I am not overly captivated by television and out of nervous habit it I touch my hair to keep my attention. I have also found that this habit does not merely exist while I am sitting and being inactive. I noticed that while walking around the mall and other commercial areas I would touch my hair as I shopped. Based on this information, I feel as though the only way to alter this habit is either to strictly enforce my policy of not touching my hair or find a new way to occupy my time. However, if I find a new inclination to fill my time, I will be back where I started, trying to break yet another habit.

This self-exploration experiment has been very eye-opening and I have encountered facts I was unaware of about myself. I knew that I touched my hair too an excessive degree, but I was oblivious to the extent to which I touched my hair and all of the different environments in which the incidents occur. Even while writing this post I became even more aware of my habit. Since I was writing about it I was more conscious of it. I found that it upset me the most to touch my hair while writing this paper than any other time. I feel like that psychologically that circumstance is understandable. However, personally and for the benefit of kicking this habit, I wish that this was not the case.

A Bright Future Ahead Perhaps?

2006-04-04T18:23:00.000-05:00

After much speculation and research concerning my own extravagant habit of money spending, I have conducted an experiment to test and challenge my motivations. The experiment itself was composed of seven days of testing along with rewards for positive behavior and punishments for negative behavior. Within these limits I tested how many times I went to the dining hall rather than eating in my dorm room or going out to dinner at restaurants, in hopes of expanding my meal options and helping me cure my bad habit of spendthrift-like behavior.

To set up this experiment goals needed to be set along with limitations for the study. In order to keep myself motivated I decided that for good behavior I would reward myself after eating three meals at the dining hall by giving myself the option to order take out the next night for dinner. This idea was presented for the fact that by the end of three nights I know that I will be tired of cafeteria style food and it would be a nice break: while also providing motivation for another three nights in a row. Not only this, but I also believe that with a reward such as this I will be able to stay on task and complete my experiment as expected.

To ensure that I stay on task I have developed a punishment to also motivate me in my newest endeavor; a punishment that would only provide incentive for me. I am an avid sweet tea drinker and without it I am cranky and undergo severe withdrawal symptoms such as headaches and lack of energy. Without it I just don’t feel myself, so clearly dropping sweet tea was the obvious choice for my punishment. If for any reason I didn’t eat at the dining hall three nights in a row then immediately the next day I would deprive myself of my sweet tea fix. If anything cures me of wasting my valuable money on meals that I don’t eat I think that it would be this.

I started my experiment on Sunday, March 19th. That night my friends and I went to the local dining hall, Rams Head which is closest to my dorm. Sunday was the night that everyone was coming back from spring break so it was easy to gather a crowd and experience some cafeteria food with me. Unfortunately that night I realized that this wouldn’t always be the case. I knew that this experiment was going to become more and more difficult, but I was prepared to tackle the challenge. At least for that night it was a complete and utter success.

Day two came way too quickly for my taste. However; again that night I went to the dining hall with friends. This time it was easy to drag myself there because I went to the gym at Rams Head which is right next door and so Rams Head Dining Hall was the easiest food option. The last two nights had been extremely painless for me and I think that if I continue on this track, I will be able to finish my experiment with great success.

My third day performing the experiment was a little different than the first two. In this instance I decided to catch lunch at Lenoir Dining Hall, which is our other cafeteria on campus. Again I ate lunch with friends. The bad thing about this day though is that I wasn’t in the mood for Lenoir, but to appease my experiment I went anyways. I really just wanted a nap after class, not a wrap or sandwich from Lenoir. I found that when I ate there that afternoon that I didn’t eat as much as usual and hurried through my meal to guarantee a nap later. There is one exciting thing about this day; I finally get to order out!

The next day was my reward day. On this particular Wednesday night I had already had a stressful day, so a pizza certainly hit the spot. It didn’t take long for the idea to catch on with my friends. To celebrate my success we all ordered a large sausage pizza. It was absolutely delicious. For the first time in my experiment I had reached my goal. Now I just had to keep myself motivated.

Thursday night was also a success. I really had to force myself to go because my friends were not interested in escorting me but as soon as I arrived I found people I knew and dined with them for the evening. It really turned out to be a lot of fun. I caught up with some of my friends that I don’t usually hang out with as much, and still continued on my track of not becoming so wasteful. Up until this point I have been flawless in my experiment and have given in to the pressure of actually eating at the dining hall. Because of this feat I knew I had to maintain my path.

Unfortunately for me I broke my experiment and did not eat at any dining hall on Friday evening. This was; however, by accident. Like many other days I took a nap on this particular evening and slept straight through the dining hall hours. Of course that was the day I also decided not to get lunch and to wait to eat dinner at the dining hall. Even though my neglect for the dining hall was a pure accident I still had to follow through with my procedure.

The next day was not a good day for me. It was a Saturday afternoon and all I wanted was a sweet tea; however, I made sure that I stayed true to my punishment. Like I thought, I did have a headache and was extremely cranky towards my roommate. She could tell that something was wrong and when I explained all she could do was laugh. I of course did not find the situation funny at all. The rest of the day I distanced myself from my friends and any social activities at all. Instead I went to the library where I completed a lot of work due for the next week. Getting ahead in my work felt incredible, even if it was to take my mind off craving for tea. In the end things worked out for the best since I had no homework on Monday or Tuesday night. That night I came back to South Campus and went to Rams Head with my friends and felt assured that at least tomorrow I would get to drink my precious tea again.

The time had come. Sunday was the very last day of my experiment and I was a little disappointed. With this experiment I was able to make an excuse for myself to actually go to the dining hall and use my meals that I have been wasting the entire semester, but without it what would keep me going? I went to dinner that night with an optimistic outlook on my meal plan and with an optimistic outlook on my success of this experiment. I was going to continue on my already started journey. I was going to continue to eat at the dining hall and quit wasting my parents’ money. I was ultimately cured. Not only was that dinner not The Last Supper, but it felt like the beginning of a new and improved Kate Hooks.

All along my hypothesis for this experiment has been extremely optimistic, but now I really feel like I am changing my behavior for the best. I am more conscience about eating at the dining hall than ever. To ensure that I do go, I try to occupy my time with something on campus so that the dining hall is close by and easily accessible. If I go to the library on campus I make sure that it’s around dinner time so that when I am finished I can stop by Lenoir on the way back and eat a well balanced meal upstairs. The more I eat in the dining hall, the better I feel about the money I am spending and not wasting. This could quite possibly be the best thing I have done all semester.

Looking back on my wasteful behavior I now realize that every bit of my manner stemmed from pure and flat out laziness. How is it that two-hundred feet of space can keep me from walking to the dining hall? How is it possible that I avoid two-hundred feet when I could be saving valuable money? Is laziness really worth losing money over? This experiment has helped me determine that I no longer will substitute indolence for money. Because of this new discovery I plan to stay on the dining hall track for the rest of my freshman semester here at Chapel Hill.

One final thing I realized throughout the experiment was that I was becoming more and more sick of the repetitive nature of the foods offered at the various dining halls. I, myself, am a picky eater and don’t really like to try new foods. This became a problem for keeping my interests in the foods in the cafeterias. To fix this problem I branched out and attempted to taste a little bit of everything. Because of this I now have obtained some new favorite foods which are healthier for me. This again is another positive attribute of my experiment.
My dining hall experiment was a success in more ways than one. Not only was I able to conserve my money, but also I spent time with different friends and caught up and even expanded my interest in various foods. Now when I go home I can enjoy a new and exciting meal with my family and not have to worry about repeating the same foods over and over. It is amazing how an activity so slight can cause such a huge reaction in a person. My hypothesis was not only proven, but now I truly feel as if something was accomplished in my dining hall experience. Maybe now I can be more conscience of where my money goes in other aspects of my life.

Hey Stranger Part Deux

2006-04-03T06:31:00.000-05:00

As you probably know, all of us have been on a mission to try change one aspect of our behavior. In my case, I embarked in a self-made experiment, trying to make the world a better place by being nicer to people around me. For the last week or so, I have actually tried to approach people at random places such as when I went grocery shopping and when I went to the beach. The results of my experiment are the continuation of a week-long task of becoming more sociable and friendly to anyone I can without becoming the stalker next door. Needless to say, my results are summarized on the story-line below.

It all started Friday after I left Chapel Hill with my friend John, who was kind enough to let me stay at his place until my plane was schedule to leave. Because of weird planning, my plane didn’t leave until the following Saturday late in the afternoon, and since they kick me out of the dorm for spring break, I had not choice but to find somewhere to stay. Thanks to my luck, staying at John’s gave me an opportunity to start my experiment when I met his friends from his high school. Curiously enough, in the group that formed there were 2 of us going to UNC, one going to NC State, and one going to Duke (John’s brother Dave goes to duke). Needless to say, this wasn’t the easiest time to play nice, surprisingly enough; we all got along all right (Even including Duke kid). During the Friday night, we all headed over to the Duke Campus because of Dave, and played around with ping-pong and foosball. Next day, we played a game of Risk (the board game where you go and conquer the world), and lost miserably after making too many enemies. Although I didn’t know any of John’s friends or his parents, I didn’t have any trouble getting along them. I noticed however, that I wasn’t usually saying things that could get me into trouble (except when I lost my mind in risk and started getting too comfortable) and that I wasn’t as loose as to the things I said. It seems that the closer I get to people, the less attention I pay to what I say, and that simply being more conscious about what I do usually prevents me from saying anything stupid. While staying at John’s I didn’t have much contact with any random people, so I didn’t really get to start the interesting part of the experiment until was finally on the plane heading home.

When I got back home to St. Simons Island, I spent the first two days, Sunday and Monday, lazing around and catching on some sleep. I went to the grocery store a couple of times, and I had some small chitchat with the cashier, however he was a friend for my high school and therefore couldn’t count him on my list. This whole experiment was becoming harder than I initially had anticipated. I called some of my friends who were home from school, and tried to get them in the experiment. We went to the pier on the island, the primary place where people and tourists usually crowd around, and tried our luck... However, the whole thing became a little creepy tried to approach individuals, first with the group as a whole, then one by one. Some of the guys on the group where not taking the whole deal seriously and went on their own tangent as what to do, so I put the whole thing aside for the night and decided to get extreme about it first thing in the morning next day. So, it was Monday night I had no data to report; needless to say I was in really bad shape. Despite my lack of data, I did get manage to learn some things that helped during the course of the experiment. First, I noticed that it was easier to approach individuals when I was by myself. Also, asking for help is sometimes the best hook in getting someone’s attention span; however, I was stumped as to what to do afterwards. Regardless, I still had not talked to that many people, and therefore I could not expect any significant success to come from the very first tries. Ignoring difficulties I pressed on.

On Tuesday it happened to be a nice day outside, and because of my closeness to the beach, I decided to try my luck there. I called a good friend of mine, Chris, and we took on to the pale white sands of Saint Simons in search of some individuals to “interview”. The whole time was pretty uneventful, except for a couple of successful encounters that provided information that could make the experiment progress. The first event, a group of individuals wanted their picture taken, and we happened to be at the right time to be of service. We found out that this bunch was made up of tourists from up north passing through on their way to Florida and knew some people that lived on the island. The important information however, relates to my friend Chris, and how good he is with people. Apparently, what he does is that he leads people on with question and lets them do most of the work while all he does is sort out the information and sound interested—at least that’s what he told me afterwards when I asked about his skills. Looking back at the situation, he was more forward and presented himself in a friendlier way, asking questions with a genuine interest about the answers he would get, which would explain why he got all the information and I got none. With that in mind, it seems clear that in order to talk to more people, I must present some type of interest on them to make a conversation that lasts longer than a few seconds. The second encounter happened later on while playing with the Frisbee. While tossing the Frisbee around, I launched a horrible shank that landed near a group of sunbathers. Without waiting too long, I tossed another terrible throw that landed near the same group of sunbathers, even though I had moved away from them. As I went to pick up the Frisbee, I thought they were probably thinking I had done in on purpose to try and get their attention. Ignoring my thoughts, I approached carefully and blamed my bad throw on the wind, trying to make some type of conversation with the girl I had almost hit twice. However, I believe that she and her friends saw right through me as soon as they turned their attention away from me as if waiting for me to leave. Even though the whole scenario did provide any success, I did come out with more information about my situation. Initially, I believed that the reason I acted meanly sometimes was because it was within my personality to act what way and that therefore I would have a hard time changing my behavior. However, I found that that being nicer just involved a little bit of thinking and being conscious of ones actions. These actions come naturally to some individuals, like my friend Chris, while others have put effort to act that way, like myself.

The next four days were sort of a blur, hoping around my friend’s houses and catching back on the past few months. I was mostly around people I already knew, so I couldn’t carry out many experiments as I didn’t have many casual encounters, and the ones that I did have, were too casual and mostly consisted of me staking out people at the grocery store. My biggest break didn’t come until the very end of the experiment, when my plane got delayed 3 times over the course of three days, which stuck me at the airport for most of the weekend. That weekend was pretty rough, as I spent it walking around the airport trying to catch flights only to have them cancelled on me. It was a weekend full of hauling my bags around and waiting ridiculous amounts of time just so that I could get back home. One good thing that happened out of the whole deal is that I met a girl who was also on spring break and had the same connecting flight cancelled, so we were both stuck together at the airport with nothing else to do but wait. While waiting for what it seemed ages to get our replacement tickets, we had some time to talk and exchange information about where we lived. It turns out that she goes to school in Detroit and was spending spring break with some friends in Florida. During the conversation, I really wasn’t thinking about my experiment or what I still had left to do with it, mostly as I gave up and was frustrated after being stuck at the airport since early morning only to wait for hours on end to have my flight cancelled and sent back home in the end after waiting all day. The conversation brought some interesting information as it indicated that common traits or situations can bring people together. Even though it seems obvious that people would be held together by common interests, I never consciously thought about looking for something in common to talk about to another person. It doesn’t matter how small or insignificant the connection might seem, as all you need it for is to start a conversation and move on to more interesting things. To prevent form making to many generalizations on just one conversation, all I will conclude is that from what I have experienced, you can't force conversations with people because you can't force to have something in common with other people. You can find people with similar interests, but you can’t pick any stranger and expect to have something in common to talk about. It might work, but it also might not, as I have often experienced over the course of the past week.

While analyzing my behavior throughout the week, I found some interesting parallels between by behavior and how I felt about the situation. For example, during the start of the week, when I had to think out what to do when approaching somebody, I had a tough time getting reactions from people mostly because of how nervous I was. Initially I felt that I had probably should have picked something simpler like waking up early and exercise, but it was too late into the experiment and I was too lazy to change my mind. In the cases when I was with some of my friends, the whole experiment turned into a big prank what we played on the random individuals that we came across. For example, at the pier we talked to the fishermen that were there about what they were catching, how to cook fish, when the best time to fish is, and other random information that we really had not interest in getting but we used to keep a conversation going. In that manner, it seemed that the whole purpose of what we where doing was keeping other people talking without any real conversation happening, which is what the whole experiment was about. From then, I moved on from trying to keep people talking and actually try to have a meaningful conversation about something, even it if is short and without a specific topic.

Near the end of the week, I was running out of time and I didn’t have many opportunities to run into people, but I did see some patterns from just being with my friends. Although the goal of the experiment was to talk to as many individuals as possible and learn to establish connections with them; and indirect purpose of the experiment was to evaluate my interactions with the people around me. I noticed that around the friends I knew the longest; I was more comfortable loosening up and worrying less about what I said. When in a room with people I didn’t know that much, especially acquaintances, there was a brief period of awkwardness while “breaking the ice”. At this point, I saw that I was thinking too much about what I was doing and I was worrying to much about a simple meeting with another person, both of which caused me unwanted stress. It seems pretty normal that a person would be cautions around people that they don’t know, but in my case, I feel that it goes to the extreme, and I get carried away too much worrying about what I am doing.

From the experiment, I learned that I was too uptight about being around people I didn’t know all that well; and that even after trying to be friendlier towards them, I usually found myself in an awkward situation when trying to keep a conversation going at all costs. In the end however, I learned that sometimes you have to take risks with people and go off some random tangent in efforts to amuse them and establish a connection, proving that the old Victor Borge saying that laughter is the shortest distance between two people is not just an overused cliché.

I Can't Help It

2006-04-03T00:31:00.000-05:00

What a tangled web we weave, especially when it comes to my hair. I find that I oftentimes obsessively touch and brush my hair. While writing this I realize that I really do have a problem because I touch my hair in between each sentence. I do in fact a have problem. It does not help that my best friend also has this problem and whenever either of us pulls out a brush we automatically pass it to the other when we are finished with it. My hair is naturally straight, extremely silky, and irresistible. I have always loved the feel of silky, smooth objects ever since I was a little girl. As a child I had a stuffed rabbit, which was an angel with soft, smooth wings. I would rub the wings together between my fingers when I fell asleep or felt nervous. This tendency could have possibly encouraged my behavior towards my hair.

Although I feel as though my obsession with my hair is a problem, it is not nearly as extreme as some cases that have been studied. For instance, an individual classified as “Patient 3” in a study on persons with Parkinson’s disease, had an unhealthy fixation with her hair. The woman had been taking medication to ease her symptoms, however, it created adverse effects. She became consumed with her hair and constantly brushed it and also had others brush it (Serrano-Dueñas 64). The conclusion that this investigation drew was that this was a “type of displacement activity (self-directed behavior) related to certain non-flight behavior which have been shown to attenuate stress physiological indicators and whose ultimate origin is the prefrontal cortical dopaminergic response to stress” (Serrano-Dueñas 65). I would not equate my desire to touch my hair to stress per say, but rather a nervous habit or impulse.

The authors of the article, “Cultural Rituals and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Is There a Common Psychological Mechanism?” further explore the nature of those afflicted with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Siri Dulaney and Alan Page Fiske stated that obsessive-compulsive patients feel compelled to perform actions that they themselves regard as abnormal, yet absolutely necessary” (Dulaney 246). I feel as though my habit is moderately abnormal, however, I feel that I could correct it, nullifying my need to touch my hair. Through conditioning and punishment and reward system, I believe this can be done.

At first I thought that I would simply put my hair up in a ponytail. However, I find that I twirl and run my fingers through it anyway. In order to train myself to discontinue my constant hair-stroking, I plan on attempting to not touch my hair unless I am washing or blow-drying it. If I fail to do so, I will lose blow-drying privileges. For me, this would be a tremendous loss, considering not a day goes by where I do not blow-dry my hair. To insure that I do not touch my hair, I will be spending Spring Break with a large group of friends. They will thoroughly enjoy enforcing my experiment and will do whatever it takes to guarantee I do not give in to the temptation. However, if I do in fact succeed in my mission, I will find a way to reward myself that does not involve brushing my hair.

This obsession, although not overly peculiar, is one which I desire to correct because it occupies too much of my time. My parents as well as my friends have voiced negative opinions towards my hair obsession and I feel I owe it to them and myself to amend it. Completely eliminating brushing my hair, except while blow-drying it, will be a great challenge. However, the result of a successful venture will be amazingly gratifying. Being able spend my days not stroking my hair will be an event for the record books.

Chronic Dopamimetic Drug Addiction and Pathologic Gambling in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease – Presentation of Four Cases
Marcos Serrano-Dueñas
The Germany Journal of Psychiatry (reprint)

Cultural Rituals and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Is There a Common Psychological Mechanism?
Siri Dulaney; Alan Page Fiske
Ethos, Vol. 22, No. 3. (Sep., 1994), pp. 243-283.

A Spendtrift Cured?

2006-04-02T00:08:00.000-05:00

Bad habits are constantly plaguing human society and causing distress among their inhabitants, so when I discovered that we would be experimenting in our English class with some of our own, I was immediately intrigued. These behaviors in which we possess are exactly what their name defines them as: “bad habits.” I have too many to name; however, for this experiment I would be focusing on one in particular: my unnecessary lavish spending habits. I spend entirely too much money on things not crucial to my existence and now it is time to change.

After much research it has been brought to my attention that lavish money habits are something that I share with the world. According to “Battling Creeping Inflation Takes Planning,” it is apparent that through rising inflation standards more and more people experience problems with conserving their own personal money. In recent years there had been a sharp increase in money spent and a devastating decrease in personal savings (“A Nation of Spendthrifts? An Analysis of Trends in Personal and Gross Saving”). Because I am one of many who experience this trend I find it very interesting and want to find a way to fix my aggravating tendency.

Since it is impossible to stop spending unnecessary money completely, I decided that I would focus on a specific instance where I truly was being wasteful: my meal plan. I am a freshman at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and I purchased a meal plan of one-hundred meals per semester. I only use about thirty of these meals and waste the others. In the process of wasting this food, I also waste my own father’s money. To modify this dire habit, I have devised an experiment that will attempt to entice me to go to the dining hall and make use of my lonely meals.

Despite the fact that my past efforts to motivate myself to go have failed, I believe that if I stay focused on what is truly important I can overcome this bad habit. Some things that haven’t worked for me in the past were things like documenting my wasteful spending for a whole week and then trying to cut down and if I was purchasing something always make sure that I spent less money than I actually had (“Preventing Financial Problems”). Since other things in the past hadn’t worked I figured I would try something completely different. This experiment can only be performed in a university setting, so I shall begin on Sunday, March 19th and continue through Sunday, March 26th. The experiment itself will include rewards and punishments for reaching the goal or straying and shall also focus on my behavior and attitude towards the experiment itself.

Rewards and punishments are the most important aspect of this experiment. If I reward myself with something that doesn’t mean something to me, then what is the point of following suit in the experiment? Same goes with punishments. If I don’t take away something important to me then it is the same predicament. To assure for a precise and successful experiment I decided on fundamental rewards and punishments. As my reward for eating in the dining hall three meals in a row, whether that be two lunches and a dinner or three dinners etc., I would be able to order a pizza from the pizza place of my choice. I felt that this would make the transition easier for me if I could reward myself with something that is opposite of the dining hall just to keep my motivated. Also this way, hopefully I would get six good meals at the dining hall during my experimental period. On the other hand my punishment is even better than my reward. I have a problem. I am totally and utterly addicted to sweet tea. Without it I have withdrawal symptoms such as head aches and lack of energy. For my punishment, if I do not go three meals in a row to the dining hall, the whole next day will be sweet tea free. This in itself is terrible for me because I am used to at least two cups of sweet tea per day. If this doesn’t change my habit soon enough, I don’t know what will.

With the experiment set up, I plan to study my behavioral response to these specific rewards and punishments and determine their effect on my eating routine. I predict that not only will this experiment motivate me to use my meals and quit wasting them, but also I believe that I will keep up the good work on a normal basis until the end of the school year. The incentives that I set are crucial to my resolution of my bad habit, although I also feel that if I focus on the idea in general that I am wasting money it will also add incentive itself. Next year I have already decided on getting rid of my meal plan. With no meal plan next year I will save my parents so much money on food and never have to worry about this aspect of my bad habit of lavish money spending ever again.

Peach, Richard. “A Nation of Spendthrifts? An Analysis of Trends in Personal and Gross Saving.” Current Issues in Economics & Finance. Sep. 2000: 1

Waggoner, John. “Battling Creeping Inflation Takes Planning.” USA Today 31 Mar. 2006.

Hey There Stranger...

2006-03-30T23:56:00.000-05:00

The situation repeats itself often; a group of friends and I are hanging out together, and after some playful jokes I always end up having someone labeling me as a jerk. In order to find out whether this whole thing it’s just harmless playing from part of my friends, or I really am a jerk sometimes, I decided to take advantage of the opportunity and turn my situation for the betterment of science in a very conspicuous way. In case you haven’t noticed, the current wave of posts contains the outline of our own psychological experiments that each of us will carry out in efforts of changing a certain aspect of our behavior. I personally, will be evaluating my own performance in trying to act “nicer” in order to see who the real jerk is between my friends and me. To do so, I will attempt to overcome shyness and approach individuals who I have not met before in efforts to get a conversation going between us, focusing my experiment on my own performance with such individuals.

Reiterating, the objective of my experiment would be to evaluate my performance in dealing with people who I have not met and evaluate the degree of interaction that occurs. Due to the nature of the experiment, I would have to outline a procedure in order to prevent the risk of having my approaches seem like a stake-out. First of all, I will try to make casual conversations when the opportunity comes, instead of trying to force a reaction and risk an awkward silence in return. Also, the individuals that I will approach cannot be individuals that I already know. This will be done in order to prevent my friends from skewing the data and making me look like an established socialite. In summary, I will try to interact more with people around me at all times, and see the reactions that I get from them. Whether the topic is on some random tangent or just some casual chitchat, this experiment will consist of me trying to make conversation and see how people act to my approach. In order to keep my self-esteem up and leave my failures out of the picture, only the successful interactions will be tracked. Although a lot can be learned from failures, only successful interactions contain information that can be evaluated because they provide a positive response to my actions, and hence, reinforce whatever it is that I'll be doing right. Of course, all of the information regarding the experiment (such as topic of conversation, time of day, location, and any other useful information) will be recorded and at the end of the experiment I should have something out of which to make sense of.

As far as background research goes, I manage to find a couple of articles that related to my experiment. On one hand, a study about meeting of strangers outlines some helpful information about the social context and how it affects interactions. The studied consisted of monitoring the chats between two strangers and analyzing the conversations that arose between them. An important point that the article makes is that individuals will engage in conversations that interest them; in other words, people don’t mind being part of “good conversations”. In this context, I can increase my chances of successfully creating a conversation if I can manage to keep the people who I talk to interested. Another useful study, regarding cultural context and social behavior, deals with the effects of social norms on the behavior that is considered socially acceptable. According to this study, social behaviors in individuals follow the norms that society places on them. For example, it is not socially acceptable for someone to walk up to another individual and caress their hair if they have no established relation to one another and have never met before. However, two individuals that have met and have established a relationship can play with each other’s hair, play practical jokes on each other, and even take each other’s possessions and have their actions be perfectly acceptable by society. Therefore, using social cues to know when I am not wanted and also to know when it is safe to proceed will allow me to go a long way in carrying out my experiment without having situations getting out of hand, or in worse case scenario, having to spend a night in jail.

Even though the objective of the experiment involves the simple task of engaging in more interactions with strangers, this task is a lot more complicated than it seems. A simple prediction that can be made is that I will get better at approaching individuals as the experiment progresses and I will get better interactions near the end of the experiment. Also, there should be some correlation between the location and time of interaction and the success rate of my approaches due to the fact that some places are more welcoming to social interactions at certain times (restaurants, parks, amusement rides, carnivals, holydays etc.). One advantage that I'll have with this experiment, is that because spring break coming up, I can carry out my experiment in the comfort of home-field advantage without having to worry about any big distractions. I should be able to get with my friends and run into people casually and test out my hypotheses. With that say, all I can hope for is some good luck.

Bad Habits

2006-03-28T22:44:00.000-05:00

The following is a podcast discussion about bad habits such as itching, procrastinating, being late, and in my case, being a jerk.

Bad Habits

The background music is Dave Matthew's
An' Another Thing from the Album Some Devil.

I Understand About Indecision

2006-03-27T11:21:00.000-05:00

This is a podcast, click here to download:

Link to MP3 File

My Own Lavish Habit

2006-03-24T21:47:00.000-05:00

Check below to access podcast! :)

My own lavish habit.

Attraction: Personality or Physicality ?

2006-03-09T21:32:00.000-05:00

Just imagine this, ladies. Your biological clock is ticking, and if you do not find your Mr. Right soon, you will be labeled by society as an Old Maid. However, you just happen to be in the right place at the right time, when your friend’s phone rings, and he is nowhere to be found. You answer the phone, exclaiming that you are the only one around. The guy on the other end of the line, your friend’s friend, is quite amiable, and you are immensely enjoying your conversation with him. Thoughts begin appearing in your mind; you wonder if he is interested in dating. Your worries are put to ease and your heart jumps when he asks you to dinner for the next night. After you hang up the phone, your friend enters the room, and you tell him everything that happened while he was out. Wondering what he looks like, you ask to see a photograph. He gives you one to look at, and he is not exactly you’re type. Maybe he’s a little shorter than you desire, or a little pudgier that you imagined. Whatever he may look like, just a few moments ago, you were sharing sparks with him on the telephone. How do you feel? Do you let his physical characteristics affect your feelings for him and cancel the date or do you not let it become a bother and get ready for the next night?

This scenario can be played out in many different ways, but the idea of physical attraction versus personality is universal. Is attraction based on physical appearance only, or is it the personality of a person that wins over a potential mate? Helen Fisher, an anthropologist at Rutgers University in New Jersey, has performed numerous brain scanning studies pertaining to the subject of love and attraction. According to the article "The Brain in Love," in her studies, she has found that the brains of many lovers show patterns of areas with high concentrations of receptors for dopamine, “the chemical messenger closely tied to states of euphoria, craving and addiction.” Dopamine is associated with heightened attention, short-term memory, hyperactivity, sleeplessness and goal-oriented behavior; all of these distinctive features can be found present in the brain when interacting with someone of attraction. Some people find that personality surpasses physical attraction, and for some people it is the opposite. In a conducted experiment, brain scans can be used to trace dopamine concentrations to reveal whether people are attracted to physical appearance or personality.

To summarize this experiment, the brains of females will be scanned while engaging in conversations with a compatible male that fits their personality preferences. However, one group of women will think they are talking to a man they consider to be physically attractive. The other group of women will be misled to think that they are talking to a man they believe to be unattractive. The brains of the two groups will be compared to see if there is a higher dopamine concentration, revealing the comparison of attraction between the two groups.

Single heterosexual females that are looking for relationships will be asked questions pertaining to the opposite sex. They will be asked to list the physical characteristics they are attracted to in the opposite sex, as well as personality characteristics. From the women who answered the survey questions, ten will be selected that share the same personality traits in a man. The women will then converse with their compatible match via a speaker phone while their brains are being scanned. This “Mr. Right” will seem to embody perfection for these women, from his good sense of humor to his charming thoughtfulness. His engaging conversations will woo the women. However, the women will not ever get to see what he looks like in person.

The women will engage in conversation with the man for a total of thirty minutes. However, after fifteen minutes, halfway through their conversation, the women will be shown pictures of men they believe to be the man they are speaking with. For five of the women, photos of men embodying their ideal physique will be shown to them. This includes race, height, weight, eye and hair color, age, and any other specific preferences the woman may have. For the other five women, the photos of men containing the opposite physical characteristics that they listed will be shown to them. By revealing an image of the men in the middle of the conversation, brain scans can compare the time frames before and after the women knew what the men looked like. Brain scans will also reveal comparisons in the two groups of women by showing one group “attractive” males and the other “unattractive” males.

Having the women talk to the man via speaker phone engages them into conversation, enabling the women to get to know their potential mate better, forming an emotional connection. This interaction stimulates the brain, revealing results that can be found in the brain scan. Showing the women photos of the men will reveal whether their attraction was based on the personality they got to know over the speaker phone or not. The first group of women will act as a control group, assuming that the women’s brain scans display concentrations of dopamine before and after picturing their “attractive” male. If the women’s brain scans in the second group show areas of equal dopamine levels after visualizing their “unattractive” male, than this reveals that these woman hold personality to be more important than physique. If the scan exhibits decreased amounts of dopamine, then the physical aspects of the men have an affect on the women, even if they do have fitting personalities.

The prediction is that the first group of women will keep a consistent amount of dopamine present in their brains. It is possible that a higher amount could be expected after seeing a photograph of the males. This is because the first group of women will maintain a continuous captivation while conversing with their partner, especially after discovering their attractiveness. Fisher states that “when they’re first captivated, couples often show the signs of surging dopamine.” This captivation is expected to decline, along with waning amounts of dopamine within the second group of females after viewing a picture of their males.

Love is an extremely universal and an important worldly theme. Many famous poems, songs, movies, and plays encompass this subject. Some people spend their lives searching for it. Attraction is the basis of love, acting as a force that draws two people together. Latest research has revolved around the brain and love; yet not the first stage of love, which is initial attraction. The article “The Sensed Presence and Romantic Love,” explains this clearly. “There hasn't been a lot of research on the subject. There are many studies that have yielded interesting statistics about how being in love affects academic performance, how it affects the immune system, how it influences the perceived quality of life, and a range of other findings.” This experiment will reveal an inside view of a woman’s brain’s perception of attraction. It will also expose how women are attracted to other men, physically or emotionally. It will further the scientific knowledge of how the brain perceives attraction, as well as pave the way for many other questions to be asked on the topic of the brain and love. For instance, this scientific experiment can be reenacted using men as the subjects, instead of women to compare the attraction between sexes. Through the use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanning, this research will show us whether women recognize attraction as physical, emotional, or a balance of both, depending on the results.

HEALTHY BRAINS

2006-03-09T01:24:00.000-05:00

Brain Power. What can one do to improve their brain? Well, with recent studies it has been proven that exercise not only helps people physically, but also improves mental health as well. While this is becoming a known fact, one question that intrigues myself is how does exercise physically affect the brain and which sections receive the most benefits from working out? With the development in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technology and brain scanning, it has become possible to test the brain on what sections are being used and to how they are affected. These tests have aided many scientists in answering of questions concerning issues along these lines, since they are well known for being able to take a deeper look into the brain and its corresponding functions.

It is known that exercise helps your mental state as much as physical, especially in old age by regulating your blood flow and oxygen going into the brain. All ages should participate in physical activities for various reasons especially in order to help them fight off several diseases and stay in shape both mentally and physically. While all of this talk of exercise has gone around, one can now see how much benefit that can be received from getting off the couch and participating in activities. Exercise allows for the brain to produce more brain cells and respond better to studies due to this increased blood flow going to the brain. It also helps fight off diseases such as Alzheimer’s because the movement allows for the brain to perform mental activities instead of acting on pause (The Human Brain). With the knowledge of how the blood flow and oxygen improves our brain status, just what sections does this physical exercise really improve?
In order to develop a good idea of what parts of the brain benefit from this activity we must use the new highly developed MRI technology to overview ones brain. This will enable us to see which parts respond to physical activity. These MRI’s will allow scientists to photograph the brain and determine where this increased blood flow and oxygen go in the brain and help develop a more elaborate and healthier mental state of mind. Knowing that the brain’s health improves through physical activity we want to look into the beneficiaries of this activity and how they respond to the exercise. Both genders would have to be tested, along with a control group that did not work out but would perform in similar mental activities and undergo the same tests and checkups that the ones who performed physical activity did. To be able to come up with a conclusion for this experiment a proper way to test the patients would need to be created and implied to ones daily lifestyle.

To perform this experiment and determine all of the results that could possibly be yielded we must start by dividing the patients into different groups according to age and this would be one of the variables presented in the study. We must classify the patients into different age groups because this would not cause variation within the results according to how well the brain responds and because of how different the physical activity levels are by age. The younger one is the more athletic and the more prone to being able to exercise in a more efficient and productive manner, while as one ages, the exercise might not yield the same results and thus could lower the percentage of feedback an area of the brain would produce for a younger generation. This separation according to age would allow for scientists to see how the brain is affected at different stages in ones life and according to their own abilities. After dividing the patients into separate groups there would have to be equal amounts of how many males to females are in the group and then decide for half of the males and females to workout on a daily basis and have the other half stay away from physical activity as best as possible. After a designated amount of time of the patients working out, tests for the brain would soon need to be given. Before taking MRI scans the period of working out must be long enough to have started to show some effect upon their physical and mental state. Then the scans should be given to the patients in order to view the brain and what is occurring due to the either physical activities or lack there of. Multiple scans are needed in order to develop a better understanding of what all sections of the brain are being worked and allowing for the effects of working out to establish a more dominant presence upon the brain. These multiple brain scans being taken upon all different people will assist in the conclusion of this experiment. All scans must be looked at according to the age group and whether or not they were working out. After analyzing all scans, scientists can begin to make presumptions of what sections of the brain responded to physical activity for those that exercised while also looking at the scans of the ones participating in no physical activities.

This experiment should allow for one to engage in many mental activities in order to enhance their mental state no matter if working out or not. All patients must be given equal opportunity to everything other than physical activity, which is decided, at the beginning of the experiment. It is important for equal opportunities to be presented to everyone that way neither the control group nor the exercise group gain an advantage. If one was presented with separate opportunities, then the results could possibly swagger and not come out properly and would not allow researchers to know the real truth.

For the results to be understood by everyone we must look at how and which parts of the brain there are to begin with, then what controls these sections. After having some knowledge of this, it allows for everyone to comprehend what this experiment is ultimately trying to prove. That is whether or not partaking in physical activities actually affects the brain and which sections receive the most benefits from working out? By figuring out what all exercising does for the brain, this could provide a tremendous break through for scientists and nutritionists around the world. This would further develop our knowledge of the brain allowing for one to develop ways in order to try and better people’s health mentally and physically. Discovering all the ways that exercise helps the brain will allow for many new ways to further health and advance standards for the brain while aiding in future research experiments dealing with similar issues.

What does Music Mean to You?

2006-03-09T01:15:00.000-05:00

We already know that different individuals have a different perception about what a particular piece of music means. We associate the music we hear when we are young with those particular experiences, and hearing similar music later can bring up the emotions and feelings that were associated with it—in a trend analogous to the sense of smell and its ability to call forth memories. Studies have already been made in seeking to understand the role music plays on the development and functioning of the brain. Most of these studies have been made involving musicians and the response of their brains to different types of music. However, not much emphasis has been made on individuals that are not musically talented, and not direct correlation between the emotions and the memories of the same events has been analyzed.

Studied have indicated a strong correlation between the wiring of the brain and our perception of music. Not only that, some speculation has been made between the effects of music and brain development. Some parents are known to play music for their children when they are still in the womb, lullabies seem to soothe a crying baby, and music has been related to above-average IQs. Despite all of this information, very little is known about what happens to the brain when it hears music, or the reason why some songs are tied to deeply emotional feelings. As a result, an experiment analyzing the emotional response of an individual to a piece of music and collects the physical brain response via modern scanning technologies will shed light into the problem outlined before. In seeking a connection between sounds and emotions and how they are interpreted by the brain, the study will provide concise information about the way brain works by providing data regarding the relations it makes between musical sounds and personal emotions.

The experiment that I propose in order to study such effects would consist of collecting the responses of individual’s brains to different musical pieces. Using modern scanning technology such as MRI and PET scans, a picture of the brain can be obtained showing the different areas of the brain that are stimulated by each song. Noting that previous studies have established a link between music an emotion (and noting people have different feelings toward a song), the object of the study is to relate the emotions felt and the memories associated with the events to the physical response of the brain. Since a lot of research has involved the brains of musicians and how they personally response to music, this study would concentrate more on the response of an average individual and how their brain responds to music.

Because musicians spend more time around songs and are able to perceive a broader range of sounds, they would respond to music very differently than individuals without musical skill. Therefore, in order to obtain accurate and useful results, certain limitations must be placed on the methods used during the experiment. To test responses throughout a random sample of musically unskilled individuals, individuals who have no little or no experience with musical training would be best for this experiment. In addition, an equal number of men and women would be used in order to have and equal data from each sex, as it has been noted and the brains of the sexes work differently and therefore might respond to stimulus differently. After the subjects have been selected, a brief sense of their personality and their history should be colleted to relate their brain responses to each song to their personal traits. The individuals would then be separated into groups with similar tastes in music so that they can be exposed to set of songs that they are all familiar with.

The variable in this experiment would be the songs that are used in the experiment, as they are the input that will produce the brain responses that will be analyzed. Using modern MRI technology, the effects of a song on an individual can be collected and used as data. In order to obtain reliable results, all individuals will be subjected to the same songs in the same order. To keep the results manageable, only few songs will be used in the experiment. The songs will be selected according to a list compiled from the individuals that participate in the experiment in order to obtain songs that are familiar and identifiable by most individuals. The experiment will consist of scanning the brains of the volunteers as each song is played for them to hear, exposing each individual to the same set of songs in the same order. After the scans are completed, a few questions should be asked about the attitudes and emotions each song provided in order to complement the results obtained with the scans.

After the data is collected, each set of scans will be paired up with the personal information provided by the individual during the questionnaire. In addition, the personality and history profile would also be used as data to relate the obtained results with the personality of the individual. Because of the known correlation between music and emotion, results are predicted to indicate a correlation between an individual’s personality, the song played, and the area of the brain that becomes stimulated. The results will provide information regarding the brain response to music. However, since the same musical stimulus can activate different emotions in different individuals, the discrepancies in results between each can be used to analyze what aspects of the music are related to emotion, while also giving information regarding that memory plays on the process. Memory is tied in this experiment by the effects of nostalgia and remembrance that some songs are expected to have on some individuals, such as songs tied to important events such as marriage, vacation, or memories of earlier years. Because the songs will be selected from the applicants used in the study, careful consideration must be taken in selecting songs that are familiar to all members of a group in order to keep the input given to the brain somewhat controlled.

The results should indicate to a strong correlation between the area of the brain stimulate and the feelings felt about a certain piece of music. Because the same songs will be administer to the same individuals in each group, the difference in emotions (if there is any) can be then related to the area of the brain stimulated during certain periods of the song. This would not only answer what it is that makes some songs “stick”, but it would also provide answers to the inner workings of the brain by providing information about each individual’s perception of the same musical input. These would also indicate how life experiences can shape perception by showing the correlation between these emotions and past life events.

Although there are a lot of variables at work in this study, the ultimate question that will be answered will pertain to the existence of a definite connection between emotions and sounds. The study will be useful explaining some of the shroud covering the mechanisms of the brain, and in this case, explaining what is it about songs that cause such wide array of emotions and perceptions among all of us.

Photographic Memory

2006-03-09T00:54:00.000-05:00

In medical fields today doctors and scientists are still unsure of the authenticity of past tales of photographic memory, also referred to as “Eidetic Memory.” By definition Eidetic Memory is “the ability to recall images, sounds, or objects in memory with great accuracy and in seemingly unlimited volume” (Answers.com). Throughout history there have been many accounts of this condition. The most famous reference is probably Russian mnemonic, memory, performer, S. V. Shereshevskii. Shereshevskii was said to be able to memorize random lists of words and then recall them in much later decades. As remarkable as this sounds, how can it be certain that Shereshevskii just had exceptional memory when recalling past events? It can’t be. That is why I am interested in having an experiment performed to test proficient poker players versus non-proficient people who don’t play poker on their recall of randomly shuffled playing cards.

The pre-frontal lobe is the part of the brain that recalls the short-term memory which is in speculation with this experiment (thebrain.mcgill.ca). This is the part of the brain that would be scanned using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Technology to detect slight changes in activity and size. As the experiment begins, all subjects should be scanned in order to view the before image of their pre-frontal lobes. Two hundred subjects should be used to make this particular experiment precise enough: one hundred males and one hundred females, all between the ages of twenty and sixty. Both men and women of scattered ages are used to provide variation for the experiment. Fifty of the males and fifty of these females will all be proficient poker players who know the nature of card games and cards in general. The other one hundred subjects will be people with no prior knowledge of poker or any other popular card games. These hundred all act as a control group in this experiment. Although similar tests have been conducted in the past, I believe that with proper and current technology to truly analyze and detect changes in the pre-frontal lobe, it will be possible to prove an otherwise labeled “myth” into fact.

The experiment, itself, should begin with the scanning of the whole sample in order to present the inconsistencies of the people’s brain activity and size. Continuing on with experiment, poker players should be called out one by one and each given one minute to examine the randomly shuffled deck of fifty-two cards. After each of their minutes are up each player will be asked to recall the cards in order starting with the first one they flipped over. Data will be collected on the results of each player. As soon as this portion of the study has been completed a scan using MRI Technology will be used in order to monitor brain activity in the pre-frontal lobe. Any changes in data should be recorded. As soon as all poker players have had their turn, the control group should be tested in this same manner. All conditions will remain the same for the control group and they, themselves, will have one minute each to recall the randomly shuffled deck of fifty-two cards as well. Their results will be recorded as to how accurate they were, and then they will be scanned using the same technology as the pokers players. At the end all of the results from both groups will be examined, compared, and studied.

An experiment such as this, I believe, will result in a clear conclusion. It obviously will be evident that poker players with more knowledge of playing cards are going to have the upper hand and overall better memory of the order of the cards that they were asked to recall than regular people with no association to cards at all. The main question in review is: will their memory be more lucid because they are poker players and part of their brains are able to recall such things because they are used to the situation, or simply because that set of samples have better memory than the other sample? I do believe that having a great deal of knowledge in a specific area of study enhances your memory on the particular subject matter. This; however, poses the question that if you aren’t an expert are you still able to have perfect memory? That is the answer this test is truly seeking. Tests such as these will provide answers to nagging questions that scientists have had for years. Does who you are affect your volume of memory? Is there really such a thing as photographic memory or is it indeed a myth? It has been said that “people attribute exceptional powers of memory to enhanced memory techniques as opposed to any kind of innate difference in the brain,” and that may be true (Answers.com). Being an expert in a specific field of study or hobby could very well set you apart when it comes to the intake of memory you receive. Professionals have developed their abilities so wouldn’t it seem right for their memories to progress as well? Many famous painters and composers such as Claude Monet and Mozart were said to have photographic memory (wikipedia.org). One other expert in his study was Rajan Srinavasen Mahadevan, who could remember long lists of numbers, but in other instances where there was no relation to numbers at all, his memory was the same as any other normal person’s.

The idea of experts having almost perfect memory needs to be tested more efficiently on just these subjects with knowledgeable background of their specific topic to really decipher whether or not this accusation is in fact true. The main experiment that I proposed to be performed is just a smaller scale of this. With this study scientists will be able to see the differences in the brain activities of pure poker players and normal everyday people. The data that will be collected will provide scientists with a clear understanding of the connection between prior knowledge and memory. As I said earlier, I believe that there is a great connection between these two concepts. The poker players most definitely have the advantage in this study; it was just a matter of testing where in the brain they were affected and how it was possible that they had the advantage. MRI Technology will be able to read all the changes necessary to inevitably reveal this unearthed link.

Despite people’s opinions of this so-called “myth,” the idea of photographic memory is, I believe, very much real and prevalent in today’s society. With MRI Technology and more technological advances yet to come, scientists are aided in discovering new information about the capability of the human brain. All things, they believe, are now possible. With this new bit of scientific evidence, scientists may now be able to put the age old “myth” to rest and proudly say that there is such a thing as people with exceptional or photographic memory.

Have you been writing with the wrong hand your whole life?

2006-03-08T18:05:00.000-05:00

What are the factors that determine whether or not you are left or right handed? Signs typically point to genetics, however, could it be possible to predict which hand is dominant? Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could possibly be the key to unlocking the truth about which hand was meant to be predominant. Brain scanning could be used to help discover which portions of the brain are used most often. This type of analysis provides many interesting findings whether physical or psychological, and would serve as an excellent tool to determine various tendencies.

The story goes, if you are right-handed, you will utilize the rational left-side of your brain, and if you are left-handed, you will employ the creative right-side of your brain. Through the use of brain scanning, this myth could be busted. When writing, I use my left hand; however, when participating in sporting events and other activities I primarily use my right hand. Does this mean that I use both sides of my brain? Many people, however, are taught to be right-handed even if they are indeed naturally left-handed. The right-handed world dominates our society and sometimes forces writing and sports to be instructed in a right-handed fashion. Therefore, identifying the actual dominant hand would enable an individual to develop correctly and assist them through life by directing them towards certain skills and mental abilities.

A 1953 study was performed in an attempt to test a similar hypothesis; however, the brains themselves were removed during the autopsy process (Scott 67). This study was performed with the notion that “cranial cerebral asymmetry are well recognized phenomena,” as well as “the idea that a correlation exists between them and handedness, the left cerebral hemisphere being larger than the right in the right-handed subjects, the converse being true in left-handed people” (Scott 67). In this study, a group of people were chosen to participate in the investigation based on the hand with which they wrote, and the results they acquired were not as they predicted. This was attributed to the fact that the hand you write with may not necessarily denote your “handedness” (Scott 69). Furthermore, the study weighed the actual cerebral hemispheres and from this they concluded that the cranial cerebral asymmetry is irrelevant in determining which hand is dominant (Scott 70). Therefore, I propose that brain scanning should be used into order to obtain more precise data and statistics. Many studies have been performed to compare asymmetry, but I would like to concentrate on following brain activity.

In order for this experiment to yield accurate results, certain requirements must be established. The first part of the study should be targeted towards adults who are well aware of their dominant hand. This would provide the most precise template for how the brains should look for left or right-handed participants. After the model brain image is determined, it will then be open to comparisons of other subjects. These other subjects will be adults who are either ambidextrous or uncertain of which hand is their dominant hand. These participants would provide a dynamic for a comparison of brain that has developed to higher degree than that of a child’s.

The children employed for this study will also have certain qualifications that must be met. In order to insure that the children have not fully developed an affinity for a particular hand, they must be tested before they can feed themselves or perform any particularly left or right-handed function. While choosing the children, the dominant hands of their parents must also be taken into consideration. There should be a mixture of children with parents who are both right-handed, both left-handed, and then another group which consist of a left-handed and a right-handed parent. This would ensure an even distribution of dominant hand possibilities. Genetics play a critical role in the development of children and should therefore be taken into consideration when determining what type of sample group to test.

The experiment itself should incorporate activities that stimulate creative and/or rational thinking. They would be instructed to perform tasks that arouse creative impulses such as musical or artistic compositions. The tasks could include listening to music or an attempting to recreate an image of with which they are presented. The activities for the toddlers will be a great deal simpler than the adults but will, nevertheless, spur brain activity. For instance, they could possibly put together puzzles or create finger-painting pictures, while the adults would be instructed to perform more detail-oriented tasks such as musical or image reproduction. In order to induce rational thought, the children should be presented with toys in which they must fit the correct shape into the corresponding hole. Adults, on the other hand should be given math problems to solve or scientific theories to decipher. These tasks would ultimately help to stimulate the different sides of each individual’s brain. This will eventually help to signify which side of the brain represents which hand.

After all the tests have been performed, the results must be carefully organized in order to efficiently and accurately draw proper conclusions. The adult results as mentioned earlier will be the greatest indicator of brain activity. By using these scans as templates, the young children’s scans can be compared to that of the adults, determining whether the test produces successful results or not. Once conclusions are drawn, they can be applied to daily life and other aspects of life that affect us everyday such as disorders and as well as abilities. Characteristically, being left-handed carries a variety of tendencies not apparent in right-handed individuals.

Left-handed implications can be very serious as well as merely interesting. For example, being left-handed implies “higher susceptibility to neural disorders, lower height, and shorter life expectancy” (Chiu qtd. Gangestad and Yeo). Autism is an example of a common neural disorder apparent in left-handed individuals. In addition, the notion of a shorter life expectancy, in my opinion is because the heart is located towards the left side of the body. The excessive use of the left arm would place a greater strain upon the heart. Although these characteristics are rare, the implications and results of this study could prove to be a key factor in determining other forms of serious brain problems.

By understanding what hand you are meant to use, you can better understand how your brain operates. If you know the side of the brain you use most often you will be able to concentrate on your stronger suits. However, the weaker abilities could be worked on and possibly improved. This would create a movement of people with higher intelligence levels and capabilities. Furthermore, this research will most likely help to reveal other connections between “handedness” and mental functions rather than merely creativity and rationality. Ultimately, this study will help to enhance scientific research through its inquisitive and comparative nature.

Chiu, Ronald. “The Fighting Hypothesis: Stability of Polymorphism in Human

Handedness.” The Science Creative Quarterly. 2006. 19 Feb. 2006

Scott, G. B. D. “77. Cranial and Cerebral Asymmetry and Handedness” Man 55 (1957):

67-70.

Violence and Bad Habits

2006-03-07T23:17:00.000-05:00

While brain scanning and MRI technology has progressed rapidly over the years, many scientists are using this new way of examining human activities to conduct their own studies that intrigue them and others around the world. Bad behavior and hobbies have always been questioned as to why it is provoked and the source that provokes it. In recent experiments different scientists have examined how violent acts and drug use relate to the brain and to what extent it also affects it. Brain scanning was conducted upon several patients that have been related to the two experiments.This reveals to scientists what was actually going through the brain and what effects occurred.

In the first article/experiment "Advances In Neuropsychiatry: Neuropsychiatry of frontal lobe dysfunction in violent and criminal behaviour" conducted by M C Brower and B H Price readers learn of the connections between the brain and criminal actions. The scientists in this experiment mainly focus on the frontal lobe in the brain and its dysfunction dealing with the negative behavior displayed by criminals. The criminals were picked by a “MEDLINE” search in computer systems using keywords such as "frontal lobe" and other words such as "aggression, violence, and crime" then they choose participants for the experiment based on several other factors. The goal of the tests was to find relation between head injury primarily in the frontal lobe of the brain and violence. It has been seen from cases since 1835 how one encounters antisocial personality traits caused by injury to the frontal lobe involving various damage to the orbitofrontal cortex. This orbitofrontal cortex has reign over ones impulse controls such as language, sensitivity, and aggressive outbursts. Through many previous tests, those who suffer from injury to their frontal lobe in the brain have a higher percent chance of committing violent acts but in studying this it becomes difficult to attain an accurate percent due to not being able to rule out factors such as substance abuse, personal status, and other disorders. In order to develop relations between the two an MRI brain volumetric study was used on a group of criminals with an antisocial personality and on a normal control group. After the MRI tests were reviewed, it was seen that the antisocial group had major differences in areas of violent crimes, psychopathic traits, and reduced prefrontal grey matter volume. Through these MRI tests and brain scans it allows people to see how injury to the frontal lobe increases the chance of criminal behavior. After seeing the results it is evident that frontal lobe dysfunction has control over ones aggressive dyscontrol due to the high percentage of subjects with head injury displaying antisocial behavior leading to aggression and crime.

Going along with the first experiment the next article "Cocaine Administration Decreases Functional Connectivity in Human Primary Visual and Motor Cortex as Detected by Functional MRI" tests substance abuse of cocaine dealing with ones physiological fluctuations in the brain. The experiment was conducted using seven "long term cocaine users" undergoing new MRI tests that "study brain functional organization and physiology." Tests were conducted before the drug was administered to the patients, then after twice after the amount of the drug was given out to the patients. These MRI scans were used to detect variation in functional connectivity in the brain. A major factor in these tests was motion demonstrated by the patients. In addition, foam padding was used to slow and hopefully stop movement. After the injection of the cocaine the patients tended to increase motion in the head and if too much motion was performed then the scans could not be read properly. After testing all patients and examining the results it was discovered that all of the patients functional connectivity in the visual and motor cortex reduced dramatically by about fifty percent after being given the cocaine. The MRI used for testing revealed that the use of this substance caused Vasoconstriction disturbing ones blood flow and oxygen to various parts of the brain. These effects by the drug aided in altering the functional connectivity and as a result displayed how cocaine affects the brain while progressively slowing down people's senses.

The experiments conducted allowed researchers around the world to be able to connect criminal behavior and bad habits to the brain and ultimately what such manners can do to one. Scientists saw that in the first experiment many criminals suffer from frontal lobe injury of the brain and that this injury leads to their behavior. Head injury increases one to partake in violent actions and crimes such as, becoming antisocial to even committing murder. While it is difficult for scientists to give an accurate percentage of how many actually commit these crimes based on how many suffer from just head injury, they are questioning whether or not they have other problems such as substance abuse or social issues. The second experiment helped scientists answer the question of what substance abuse can do to ones thoughts and actions. This will aid us in the future in being able to detect reasons of violence and help in determining court cases. While this helps with these examples it also allows for a better understanding of different functions of the brain and what it is that controls various judgments.

Progression and Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease

2006-03-07T23:16:00.000-05:00

Alzheimer’s Disease is a progressive disease that targets the brain in a way that causes memory loss along with loss of most “cognitive functioning, activities of daily living (ADL), and behavior” (“Brain metabolic effects of Neotrofin in patients with Alzheimer’s disease” 87). Today there are many studies that are being tested to further our knowledge of not only the progression, but also of treatment options. I, myself, researched two completely different studies discussing Alzheimer’s disease. In one of these journals I was informed of a treatment option called Neotrofin, which slows the degenerative disease. The other journal was a study of the progression of the disease in comparison to gender and gray matter.

The journal based Neotrofin was very interesting and informative about the disease in general. Neotrofin is “a reported inducer of CNS neurotrophic factor synthesis and release, with memory-enhancing activity and demonstrated restoration of age-induced memory deficits in animals” (Brain metabolic 87). This study was performed on a sample of 19 subjects with ages ranging from 57-85 and the mean age of 72.8. The subject’s education level ranged from 12-20 years with a mean of 14.1 years. The objective of this study was to subject the sample to 1 week of 150 mL of Neotrofin a day followed by another week of 500 mL or 1000 mL a day. Along with the medication prescribed, PET scans were performed to test the efficiency of Neotrofin at the University of California.

Results of this experiment found that there were no significant differences associated with the dosages of 500 mL and 1000 mL. It was found; however, that “the brain areas most affected by high-dose Neotrofin appear to be the cerebellum, where broad areas of increases in GMR, and sensory and prefrontal cortices, where increases and decreases in GMR,” (glucose metabolic rate) “are evident” (Brain metabolic 89). It was also found that the use of Neotrofin “significantly improves memory, executive functioning, and attention” in the Alzheimer patients that were tested on (Brain metabolic 91). Certain areas that were positively affected by this compound were the “cerebellum and putamen,” both of which are associated with “time-binding and procedural memory” (Brain metabolic 92). Also affected was the “dorsolateral prefrontal cortex,” which is linked to “executive functioning and working memory” (Brain metabolic 92). Other parts of the brain that were affected were associated with “declarative memory and acquisition of long-term memories” and “episodic memory” (Brain metabolic 92). All of these parts of the brain were positively affected and showed promise for treatment options.

This study was a success in the fact that scientists are now hopeful in finding a treatment plan for patients with Alzheimer’s disease or other degenerative diseases. “These findings suggest that simply increasing GMR in brain circuits most affected by AD may not necessarily by associate with clinical improvement” (Brain metabolic 94). This is good news. There may be a treatment plan after all.

The next study that I researched was an experiment that tested the progression of the disease. The goal was to test whether “AD is associated with more severe gray matter loss in the temporal lobe” (“Comparing gray matter loss profiles between dementia with Lewy bodies Alzheimer’s disease using cortical pattern matching: diagnosis and gender effects” 326). 83 total subjects were used in this experiment, 38 of which were the control group, who were completely healthy, 16 which had Dementia with Lewy bodies, and 29 diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. All of the control patients went through very intense testing to ensure there was no sign of dementia or Alzheimer’s.

All of the 83 subjects were tested through the use of MRI Technology (Comparing 326). Not only were the subjects tested for gray matter loss, but they were also tested based on their gender in relation to their gray matter. It was found that through statistical maps that gray matter proportions were altered greatly(Comparing 328). For the AD subjects it was also discovered that they had a significant loss of gray matter of up to 20% (Comparing 329).

As for gender association, scientists were amazed to find that in fact, “male subjects displayed less gray matter than females in each of the three group comparisons” (Comparing 330). This bit of information is vital and might even “aid in distinguishing these two common causes of dementia” (Comparing 334). If this could be discovered, it would be a very important component in uncovering a possible cure.

Both of these journals discuss the concerns associated with the progression and treatment options of Alzheimer’s disease and the results seem promising. If scientists continue studying and testing, I believe that we will soon find the answer to all of our questions regarding Alzheimer’s disease. Stopping Alzheimer’s in its early stages is our main goal and I believe that with all the technology that we are equipped with, that goal will be reached sooner than most believe. No longer will families have to worry about their loved ones forgetting their names or beloved memories together, and no more will people die a slow lonely death. A cure will soon be found.

Potkin, Steven G. “Brain metabolic effects of Neotrofin in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.” Science Direct 12 June 2002: 87-95.

Ballmaier, Martina. “Comparing gray matter loss profiles between dementia with Lewy bodies and Alzheimer’s disease using cortical pattern matching: diagnosis and gender effects.” Science Direct 15 July 2004: 325-335.

The Brain and its Song System

2006-03-05T12:14:00.000-05:00

Brain scanning is a technological advancement which displays detailed images and brain activity patterns. This tool enables observations of the brain that have never been seen, and the proposal of questions that have never been discussed. Brain scanning technology such as the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and the Magnetic Resonance Imagery (MRI) are helping scientists diagnose diseases, as well as solving scientific mysteries. Two different scientific experiments involving the brain and its musical patterns were conducted using a PET scan and an MRI scan. In one experiment, PET scans compare different brain activity areas in four separate tasks completed by musicians. The second study compares musicians and non-musicians brain activity during the completion of two musical tasks. The human brain’s neurobiology and its musical processes are relatively unknown and these brain scans establish a better understanding of the amazing organ.

A research study was conducted by the Research Imaging Center of the University of Texas Health Science Center and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s School of Music. This case study researched the brain and its song system, which is “a specialized system of brain areas and neural pathways.” Singing is a specialized type of vocal behavior only found in some animals, including humans, which are the most complex singers. Unlike songbirds and other animals, humans can sing chorally and harmonically. In order to find out more about the neurobiology of the human song, ten musicians, five males and five females, had their brains scanned by a PET scan while performing four tasks. The first task was a melody repletion, in which subjects heard a melody and had to repeat it by singing. The second task was harmonization, in which subjects had to sing, harmonizing with a given melody. The third task was a monotonic vocalization that acted as a non-music control. In this task, subjects sang monotone sequences, using the “da” syllable. The fourth task was a rest, in which subjects were silent. This was used as a non-motor baseline. Scientists hypothesized that brain activation would occur higher during the more complex tasks, like the melody repetition and harmonization tasks. However, the brain scans unexpectedly showed higher activation in areas during the monotonic vocalization task compared to the other tasks. This suggests that monotonic vocalization is actually more musical than previously thought of. This is because this task has many aspects, associating it with music, rather than speech, including a fixed pitch, the slow speed of the vocalization tempo, repetitiveness, requirement to match pitch, and requirement to match rhythm. All these distinctions show that monotonic vocalization is an important part of music.

In a research study investigated by the Department of Neurology of the Seoul National University Hospital, the Program of Cognitive Sciences of the Seoul National University, and the Department of Music Education of the Gwangju National University of Education in Korea, brain activations of individuals with and without musical training were compared. Two groups of females, one group consisting of five graduate music majors and the other group including five graduate students majoring in other studies without any previous musical training were scanned with an MRI while listening to music in two task conditions. First, a music listening condition was performed, without a task requirement, except to listen to the music. The second task was a distorted tune test condition, in which subjects had to identify abnormalities in the musical tunes. Results showed that the temporal cortices activities were stronger in musicians than in non-musicians. This suggests that, because this area is devoted to multimodal processing, “its stronger bilateral activation in musicians may reflect multimodal integration of cognitive aspects in music processing, presumable attainable only through a long-term musical training.” This region is also close to the area where linguistic or musical semantic processing occurs, advocating that “musicians may have accessed more musical meanings of presented stimuli than non-musicians.” The musical group also displayed a more balanced activation of both hemispheres in the brain than the non-musical group. This study confirms that brain activity patterns differ depending on the tasks performed and the prior musical training of the subjects.

These tests involving brain scanning allow researchers to uncover the answers to many questions about the brain’s song system and its musical processing. They enable us to connect the dots in the relationship between the person and its brain. In the first test, brain activity was compared between the different tasks, allowing us to see the relationships of the different brain activities depending on the musical task. The second study compared the brains with different tasks also, but a huge part of who the person was played a role in brain activation. By comparing the brain activities of musicians with non-musicians, people were being compared with other people. Prior musical training had a huge impact on the results of the research studies. Most of our personal experiences, memories, and personality are buried deep within our brain’s subconscious; and it all must be taken into consideration when observing scientifically.

Sleep and Learning

2006-03-04T10:30:00.000-05:00

As brain research goes, there has been a lot of it involving the role of sleep on memory consolidation. Whether it involves remembering stuff or being able to understand and retain ideas and motor skills, learning deals with the ability of the brain to acquire a new task. This ability, regarded by some as brain plasticity, is thought to be related to the amount of sleep that an individual attains; meaning that the ability to learn and retain a skill is dependent on the amount of sleep the brain is able to obtain. Currently, studies have shown a direct correlation between sleep and the learning of new skills (pdf), indicating that becoming proficient at a certain skill or remembering certain things depends in one way or another on the amount of sleep we get. However, no direct correlation as to what stage of sleep provides these benefits or how much of it we need is currently known. Regarding sleep and memory and how is linked to learning a new ability, learning is complemented by the period of rest following the learning/practice of a task.

Just to get started, two recent studies have analyzed certain aspects of sleep and how they affect learning. Study One, regarding sleep and the time course of motor skill learning, correlates the amount of sleep to the amount of learning that is obtained. The studied involved a finger tapping task, in which 40 right-handed individuals betweenthe ages of 18 and 28. The finger-tapping task required subjects to pressfour numeric keys on a standard computer keyboard with the fingersof their left hand, while repeating the sequence, 4-1-3-2-4, as quickly and as accurately as possible,for a period of 30 sec. The 40-person group was split into 4 experimental groups of 10 people each, in which each group carried out a specific training and sleeping regiment. The results indicate to the following:

Following training, small improvements due to practice are possible before, but not after, the large improvements independent of practice that develop across a night of sleep.
Secondly, doubling the amount initial training does notalter the amount of learning thatdevelops overnight.
Thirdly, the amount of learningthat occurs because of sleep does not correlate with the amount of learningachieved during training, suggesting the existence of two motor learning involved in learning
Lastly, additional nights of sleep still offer continuedimprovements to learning.

In a Second Study, regarding sleep-dependent learning and motor skill complexity, 4 experimental groups were assigned a certain typing task that involved a variable degree of limb complexity. The typing involved one hand, or both, and the number of characters that needed to be typed was also varied. The study mainly related the complexity of the task as defined by the amount of coordination that it required. The results indicated that performance initiallyimproves during training, and continues to improve after following periods of sleep. Also, findings suggest that thelearning process dependent on sleep provide maximumbenefits when involving motor-skill tasks that were difficult prior to sleep. In other words, sleep improves the development of a task following training, and that maximum benefits were obtained when the task was most challenging.

So why did I decide to include these tests and why are they related? First, involving the idea that learning is dependant on sleep was deeply analyzed in the two studies, both of which concluded that sleep did in fact contribute to learning. The studies were conducted by analyzing the effects that sleep had on learning a physical task. The results colleted using MRI scanning showed the areas of the brain that were stimulated during learning and later on during the performance of the task after it was acquired. Also, speed and accuracy was monitored to evaluate how well the task was acquired. In addition, regarding the stages of sleep, REM and SWS and their role in learning, the studies provide a more complete picture at what actually happens when we sleep.

Is OCD really a "gray matter"?

2006-03-01T20:07:00.000-05:00

Obsessive-compulsive disorder, commonly referred to as OCD, is an illness in which a person possesses “worries, doubts, and superstitious beliefs” (OCF) to an elevated degree. Tendencies of OCD include an extreme phobia of germs and illness, as well as impulses to count and repeat movements (OCF). As of late, research has been performed through the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine what aspects of the brain signal an occurrence of this disorder. Changes in the volume of the various matters in the brain indicate abnormalities that suggest obsessive compulsive tendencies. This incidence was recently investigated through a voxel-based morphometry study. Furthermore, obsessive-compulsive disorder can be linked to other diseases which MRI studies can help to diagnose.

The article, “Regional Gray Matter Abnormalities in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Voxel-Based Morphometry Study” delves into the case of varying volumes of gray matter within the brain. “At its simplest, voxel-based morphometry (VBM) involves a voxel-wise comparison of the local concentration of gray matter between two groups of subjects” (Ashburner and Friston). This piece documents an investigation delicately performed on certified OCD patients and completely normal subjects, as is the philosophy of VBM. The basis of the study is that MRI images are “normalized to an anatomical template and segmented into gray matter, white matter, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) compartments” (Valente, Jr. 479). All of the MRI scanned images for each participant in the study are then compared to the templates. Based on these images, researchers hoped to prove that the greater abnormalities in size of the particular brain regions would denote a higher degree of OCD (Valente, Jr. 480).

Once completing the study, the scientists concluded that the most defining difference between the two categories of subjects was within the gray matter of the brain. In patients previously characterized as OCD, there were distinctions between the overall quantities of gray matter in certain regions of the brain. Some zones experienced a decrease in volume of gray matter while others increased in size (Valente, Jr. 481-2). Testing did not show a significant association with the difference between gray matter volumes and the severity of the disorder, however further MRI studies could reveal this to be true. The results also concluded that the use of antidepressants did not play a role in affecting the volume of gray matter (Valente, Jr. 482). Overall, this study substantiated that the VBM method can provide relevant information about OCD and possibly further future testing (Valente, Jr. 485).

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is also linked to chorea, a “rare paraneoplastic disease” (Muehlschlegel 1523) which involves abnormal, unintentional actions. It has been observed that subjects with chorea develop obsessive-compulsive tendencies in the early stages of the disease. In the article, “Paraneoplastic Chorea with Leukoencephalopathy Presenting with Obsessive-Compulsive and Behavioral Disorder,” focuses on a specific case study that examines a 69-year-old woman with chorea (Muehlschlegel). This woman experienced a drastic change in behavior, exhibiting the previously mentioned tendencies. She was given an MRI to detect the same trends in the gray matter of the brain as in the earlier article discussed. Tests revealed that the patterns of her gray matter were similar to the findings of the previous study (Muehlschlegel 1525-6). Therefore, this further illustrates that this method of testing is fairly successful in detecting obsessive-compulsive brains.

Brain scanning is a remarkable tool to make use of during psychological investigations. Abnormalities in your brain are unique which are in actuality useful. As seen in these articles, this type of scanning can help detect neurological syndromes such as obsessive compulsive disorder, as well as other diseases. This is a serious issue and it is fortunate that methods to detect these illnesses have been discovered. I believe that it is possible that these scans will lead to a way to help prevent these diseases as well.

Muehlschlegel, Susanne. “Paraneoplastic chorea with leukoencephalopathy presenting with obsessive-compulsive and behavioral disorder.” Movement Disorders Nov. 2005:
1523-1527.

Valente, Antonio A. " Regional Gray Matter Abnormalities in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder:
AVoxel-Based Morphometry Study." Biological Psychiatry 15 September 2005: 479-487.

Overpopulation an Issue?

2006-02-27T11:41:00.000-05:00

After reading this post by Matt Brown, I am more than mad, I am infuriated. The post, “Is the World Really Overpopulated?,” based on the article by Anthony LoBaido from World Net Daily, “The Overpopulation Lie” is, I feel, a complete misinterpretation of our worldwide issue of overpopulation. To me, overpopulation is not just an issue that is found in some countries, it is a problem that affects the entire planet. By definition overpopulation is, “excessive population of an area to the point of overcrowding, depletion of natural resources, or environmental deterioration” (Dictionary.com).

Although as Brown points out some countries such as Korea are indeed under populated, he fails to mention and see that overpopulation is a very current issue that affects the overall status of our people all over the world. Some countries such as Seoul Korea do have issues with ratios of guys to girlsbecause of aborting “unwanted girls;” however many other women in third world countries such as China and India give birth to many more children than the average family due to rising mortality rates in those areas (The Indepundit Baptist). Mortality rates are a prevalent issue inthe minds of women in third world countries. In order to have males to continue on their familylineage and work for their families they must keep having children, especially when a lot of theirchildren die from disease, starvation, and lack of fresh water. In most countries such as these, birth rates have risen alongside mortality rates due to this concern.

Besides the obvious fact of not enough food and water to care for all of the people all over the world, there is also the concern of what that people globally are physically doing to negatively affect our environment. If you think about it, it makes sense: more people, more carbon emissions through cars and corporations, and more of disposing of garbage outside. It is obvious that we are not going to run out of people on earth, but we might run out of clean earth space. The truth is that as horrific as abortions and starvation are they are a part of life and a part of our world. Without them we would be even more overpopulated than we already are. Birth rates and mortality rates both have positive correlations with each other and should. When birth rates rise so should death rates. What Brown fails to understand is that this is a normal occurrence. The troubling thing is that with more humans walking around creating their own footprints they have a negative effect on our environment.

It is certainly evident that overpopulation is affecting our environment and other key elements of our world. As a result of our exponentially growing population, millions of tons of waste are accumulated with no place to be stored. Burning the waste it is not a viable option because of carbon emissions that are already plaguing our fragile environment. Burying the waste in liners deep in the earth is causing leakage of toxic rudiments which ultimately is affecting our aquifers and groundwater by polluting the water that we ourselves drink; therefore burying is not feasible either. Not only is waste a dilemma, but food is also a major concern. As the numbers of humans increase so does the need for plentiful amounts of food. As we all know, food and fresh drinking water are two necessities of life and without access to these things our bodies endure malnutrition and ultimately die.

Although Matt Brown is one-hundred percent correct on the issues of countries like Korea with under population, he still needs to understand the world’s concern with overpopulation and its effect on our precious planet. I certainly feel that people should be more alarmed with our growing problem. There are so many things we could do to prevent our world from becomingtoo populated, but because most of the countries with the crisis are third world means they don’t have access to proper birth controls or family control methods. Many people who live their lives for fixing our crisis have developed family planning programs in these countries. Hopefully by the year 2050 instead of rising to 9 billion people, we can start to regulate ourselves.

Brain Evolution

2006-02-26T18:44:00.000-05:00

So the assignment was to search for some new scientific research that related to the purpose of our blog. After some searching (consisting mostly of querying Google about anything brain related) I found a very interesting and controversial series of posts on Brainethics regarding the evolution of the human brain. Being familiar with the topic of neurology and seeing how controversial the role of evolution is, the post caught my attention and as such it made a good topic of discussion for the task at hand.

The author spans his argument along three posts, beginning with the effects of a specific chromosome on the development of the brain. In this first post he discusses a study of Human Chromosome 8 regarding the role of it on the evolution of the hominid brain. The study analyses a specific gene cluster on the chromosome and how the genetic information contained in it affects to the functioning of the nervous system. In summary, the study relates certain regions of the chromosome with the development of the brain, and concludes that high mutation rates and positive selection of the genes in the region would contribute to the rapid mutation of the primate brain. Also, comparing this chromosome among species would give more information as to what gene contributes to what aspect of the neural system, since brain development is known to occur within certain modules and areas rather than as a complete expansion of brain matter.

His second post builds up from his previous argument and cites another study regarding the genes on Chromosome 8 and the fast evolution of the human brain. More importantly, he examines how there is a possibility that the development of the brain is occurring at such a fast pace that our brains now arephisycally different from our close ancestors. Although there are still more variables to examine, knowing that certain genes on Chromosome 8 directly affect the development of the brain, and knowing the fast pace at which changes are brought about due to positive selection (meaning that the presence of the gene and its "improved" versions would have a very positive effect on the survival of the organism) points to a fast and changing brain.

The last post however, brings a touchier subject in hand. The theme of his blog being the ethics behind studying the nervous system and how that in turn relates to how people think, his last post points to another gene that plays a key role on the development of the brain, that also carries with it its share of side effects. These gene, name ASPM, is involved in determining brain size, while it is also been related to problems such as microencephaly, seizures and cortical malformation (a malformation of the brain cortex)

So what are the consequences of this? If the study is correct, then it follows to beleive that the pace at which the human brain is developing is very fast. One of the things influencing such development is the positive selection that a bigger and better brain provides (its important to note however, that bigger might not always be better...). On the cavemen era, this would make sense as the individuals who were "smarter" would be more likely to survive, either because of their ability to find food and shelter or because of their ability to work in groups. Back in those days, any little bit helped, and it makes sense to think that being smarter than others would provide an advantage in surviving. However, nowadays it’s difficult to see positive selection on the brain, since society has been effective in providing for the survival of many individuals regardless of their abilities. It is assumed that the smarter individuals would be involved in the type of tasks that have a demand for them, but wouldn't it also be safe to think that a smart individual would find a way to survive without having to work? In both cases, the genetic behind are not being placed under any selective process that elimitanate "bad" genes and promotes "good" genes, and as a result, it is hard to see how the brain is able to "evolve" under these conditions.

In overall, the study provides a very controversial issue. Besides the whole duel between evolution and intelligent design, it brings a foot the idea that the brain itself has been changing at a very fast pace. That in itself is some topic of controversy, as it leads to believe that our brains have been improving throughout all of our history. We have been getting smarter from generation to generation, an interesting point considering that today a great proportion of the population of the earth has a greater knowledge than the average population did 100 years ago (meaning that the average Joe today would be somewhere near a genius if he traveled in time back to the day Columbus sailed the ocean blue).

Just something to think about as I celebrate 19 years of brain growth.

Avian Influenza

2006-02-25T23:02:00.000-05:00

Throughout the blog “Bird flu in mammals spreads beyond site of infection to other organs” the author known as BJS discusses important issues dealing with Avian Influenza. This catastrophic virus has become a major scare in many countries mostly overseas where several have been victimized by this flu. The flu not only effects birds but unfortunately spreads to many animals as well. In 1997 it was first documented that the virus can even affect humans. As BJS discusses in his article, the flu begins as a respiratory virus. This infection; however, does not stop there. Inevitably it can take over many organs throughout the body.
With many recent epidemics leading to death, scientists have begun to take a closer look into Avian Influenza. Recently at Erasmus Medical Center tests were conducted to monitor the spread of the bird flu in mammals using cats infected by the virus in the respiratory and digestive tracts. All of the cats being tested showed the typical symptoms of the flu such as respiratory distress, weakness in the muscles, and symptoms of lethargy and fever. As they were being monitored the virus was soon seen in the throat, liver, kidney, heart, and brain. All vital organs needed in order to live. As it began being detected in these organ systems the author discusses the concern shown for the spreading infection. In affecting these organs the scientists noted that the influenza began damaging cells containing necessary proteins one needs.
With cellular damage acting upon these parts, one must realize the increase risk this bird flu can place upon human beings. After the first case of Avian Influenza in humans was detected in 1997. The virus became a national problem due to the effects it places upon not just birds but all mammals from cats to humans. Over the past year and a half many cases have risen in which humans have been affected by the virus. The flu in itslef has killed several people while leaving others critically ill. This past fall and winter there was a huge outbreak in the eastern hemisphere affecting several areas. Due to the tragedy it was placing in these areas, many countries including our own began to worry about risk of infection. The virus can very easily be transported into our own world through birds. It is a common fact that coming in close proximity of any infected bird can infect humans. Many “water birds” play as hosts to spreading the disease simply by “shedding” their saliva. This actuality alone causes concern for the entire world.
Because the virus is mainly detected in certain regions, the availability for Americans to attain this flu is rare; however, one can easily become infected and not truly know their own risk. Many humans become sickened by contact with an infected bird. It and has not been proven that you can attain the disease from eating a cooked chicken because it is a virus and heat typically kills the bacteria, so properly cooked poultry is safe to eat. Americans are presumed to be very safe and unharmed from this virus, but traveling abroad heightens the risk depending on the location.
While this blog stresses the risk of Avian Influenza spreading throughout the organs and does a good job presenting the problem of death, it does not clearly explain many important facts of the virus. The author clearly assumes that all readers know the many characteristics of the flu and how it can be spread. It is hard to relate to this blog with no previous knowledge. For example, the blog mentions the viruses nature of affecting humans, but never discusses how. Despite its misleading information, humans are for the most part safe from the disease. Although it is lacking vital information, someone deprived of background knowledge could easily understand the nature of the virus and its ability to take over the body and its organ systems of all mammals. This article in particular provides an interesting read especially if you want to learn more about the anatomy of Avian Influenza. It is evident that someone with much knowledge of the flu wrote such an acquainted account.

Invasive Species and Humanity

2006-02-22T20:43:00.000-05:00

In the blog, Human Nature Nuggets, Darlene, the author, compares human nature with mere instinct. Her entry, “Invasive Species: Birds, Plants, Insects, Animals, and Mankind,” questions the effects on invasive species. The author summarizes a BBC News story entitled “Grey Squirrels vs. Red Squirrels,” explaining how grey squirrels became an invasive species in England. Grey squirrels were introduced to England from America between 1876 and 1929. The grey squirrel population now thrives, not only causing the red squirrel population to decline, but also causing damage to the woodlands. The author gives specific examples of different scenarios involving invasive species and its effects on its environments. The blog presents the idea of comparing humanity as an invasive species, questioning what is more important: the benefits that humanity is reaping of invasive species or our comfort? The blog is effective at provoking thought by providing various scenarios, by introducing innovative ideas relating to the topic of invasive species, and by presenting an organized blog format.

The entry opens with an article, giving a specific example of what occurs today as a result of an invasive species, the grey squirrel. This first scenario enables readers to understand the nature of exotic species in a foreign environment; specifically, that once introduced to a new habitat, the “newcomers” gradually change from being the minority population into the majority population, affecting the biodiversity and its environment. Opening with this story leads the way for more examples of foreign species and its effects.

Starlings, a European bird, were introduced into the United States for basically aesthetic purposes. “Ironically starlings are now widely regarded as pests for various reasons, including the fact that their huge flocks, noisy habits and prodigious waste are considered aesthetically displeasing” (Starlings). Just like the grey squirrel is now threatening the European native red squirrel, the starlings now thrive, threatening native songbirds. A similar scenario includes the Asian native ladybugs, introduced to destroy soybean aphids to save soybean crops in the United States and Canada. Successfully, the beetles did, in fact, save the soybeans, as well as the soybean farmers from losing millions of dollars. However, the ladybugs have not only destroyed soybean aphids, but more passive native species, as well.

By providing readers with these different invasive species cases, the author enables us to see the gravity of the issue. In every situation, a foreign species has been introduced by human intervention to a habitat it is not native to, establishing a thriving breeding ground, resulting in domination over native species. This is a serious threat to biodiversity, because it is a direct threat to extinction of the native species. By not allowing the other species to naturally compete for survival, it is an evolution in reverse.

With these underrated problems undetectably arising, the author questions whether the so-called “benefits” that society obtains from the foreign species are really beneficial at all. The author proposes the idea of humans existing as an invasive species themselves. Other humans were forced by foreigners to leave their native lands and devote their life to serving different men in a different land. Although, unlike plants and other animals, human globalization did not threaten the end of humanity as a species; but, it did provoke competition within different races. Over a long period of time, the United States has experienced a timeline of progression with slavery, emancipation, unjust laws favoring white people, and the civil rights movement. Yet, racism is still present in today’s societies.

These ideas of invasive species present a scientifically philosophical theme. Human globalization has definitely created extremely hard times in history; yet, without these problems, society may have never progressed into today’s more accepting communities. Invasive species cannot be compared to a globalization of plants and animals, because there is not a human nature present among the animalistic competition that occurs, leading to endangerment or extinction. However, it could be quite plausible to hold human nature responsible for causing invasive species outbreaks. Nonetheless, if so, humanity needs to help in solving this global issue and not ignore it; we did not fail in attempts to solve the troubling times of hardships caused by human globalization. People changed racial turmoil, and it is time to help the environment and its turmoil.

MESOTHELIOMA AND ASBESTOS

2006-02-15T11:34:00.000-05:00

Asbestos is used in building of the structures that surround and protect us from the outside world. However, while shielding us from external threats and hazards, asbestos is infiltrating our internal systems and creating havoc. Asbestos is fiber that is exceptionally sturdy and comprised of properties that enable it to be impervious to heat (EPA). These fibers, when airborne, may enter your lungs and put you at risk of developing mesothelioma, an incurable form of cancer. This matter was discussed in the blog entitled, "Mesothelioma 411" . Constant research and studies are being performed to help diagnose and treat mesothelioma.

“Mesothelioma 411” compiles various articles about the topic which enlighten readers about the assorted aspects of mesothelioma. The blog includes “Mesothelioma Tests - Advancements in Testing Method” by Adam Jones, who follows and documents the latest findings in mesothelioma research. This posting indicates that progress has been made surrounding testing and therapy for mesothelioma. The most critical finding is in blood testing. Jones stated that “protein levels in the blood could indicate the presence of mesothelioma cells.” Discovering the occurrence of the disease is the first step in treating and eventually finding a suitable treatment for mesothelioma.

Although the blog is informative concerning the risks of asbestos and the threat of mesothelioma, it does not provide readers with in depth information about what is being done about this issue. Mesothelioma is a growing problem as seen by the emergence of commercials for attorneys aspiring to handle mesothelioma cases. Asbestos can be found in many locations such as factories, home, and schools and there is a great deal of money to be had through lawsuits. However, these lawsuits will not further research, but rather remove funding from investigative studies which could ultimately lead to a cure. With the countless number of people affected by this disease, resources could be allocated in a more efficient manner and begin to save lives.

Considering that this blog is a compilation of works by a plethora of authors, the creditability of the actual blog creator is unknown. As a whole, this blog appears to be a smattering of various postings surrounding mesothelioma. However, the setup of the blog is somewhat difficult to view, the postings oftentimes occur more than once a day and it is hard to figure out what day it was originally posted. Although the information offered in the blog is relevant to the topic, it does not discuss the advancements in mesothelioma research. In comparison to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) website on mesothelioma and asbestos, this blog does not have the same creditability and backing to guarantee their claims. Also, the EPA’s website was a great deal easier to navigate. This was because it provided links to relevant sources and a substantially greater quantity and quality of information. Overall, “Mesothelioma 411” was informative but did not encompass the depth that it could have.

Since there is not yet a cure for this truly fatal form of cancer, there is concern among my former schoolmates and myself. Our high school randomly closed off our auditorium last year with warnings of asbestos. An extremely large percentage of the school was involved in the drama department, which spent a great deal of time in the auditorium. They are now fearful of their exposure to asbestos and the potential for mesothelioma. Other schools have faced similar problems, for example, a high school in Bristol, Tennessee had to be shut down due to asbestos. Students were sent to Bristol Motor Speedway to conduct class in the skyboxes around the track. Problems such as this should not have to be faced by our youth.

Asbestos harbors enormous terrors within its astounding strength. Its ability to cause mesothelioma, an incurable cancer of the lungs, is worrisome as is the researchers’ inability to unearth methods of treatment and prevention. “Mesothelioma 411” attempts to assemble a wide array of articles concentrating on the various facets of the disease and its causes. This blog is instructive and helpful, while at the same time befuddling due to its diverse collection of postings and difficult navigation as well as the overwhelming number of advertisements for mesothelioma lawyers. The advancements in mesothelioma research are few and far between but there are blogs on the web to keep the public informed of its progress.