INTRODUCTION
Mental maps involve a bottom up process where various fragments of information are compiled, compared and arranged so that an overall concept or (concepts) is revealed. They are a useful tool for researching topics that encompass several different fields of study.
The purpose of this Blog is to collect various nodes of information (including ideas, concepts, facts, opinions, and resources) pertaining to how human beings experience and engage the outside world. Furthermore, these nodes will be collected from various different subjects including biology, psychology, philosophy, film, fine art, architecture and consciousness. Consciousness, in particular, serves as an ideal starting point for an investigation on human experience as it is the culmination of several mental and biological processes that define our “inner” life. Each node of information will be labeled according to its subject and, using these labels, the various nodes of information will be arranged into a “mental map”. The map will essentially resemble a lattice, tree, or index of some sort that will be posted on or made available via this blog. The mental map will not only illustrate key concepts pertaining to human experience, but also how these concepts work within a larger system of phenomena, thus creating a more complete and cohesive picture of the above topic. Naturally, there will be several drafts of this mental map; in fact, I imagine it will be a very long time before a fully complete version will be ready, especially considering the scope of the topic. Despite this I believe that key concepts will become apparent even in the early versions of the map and reveal intriguing opportunities for further research.
You can get involved by commenting on any of the postings below in the "dialogue" section. I would appreciate suggestions for any other resources such as articles, books, or films that are related to the general topic in some way. Also, feel free to remark on the validity of any of the posted ideas and propositions , the more the opinions the better. Use the links in "navigation" section to browse through the blog and to keep informed as to how the research is developing.
DESIGN MODELS
The thesis will analyze the significance of making space in the development of a person’s sense of self. Furthermore, the study will take place within the larger context of the reciprocal relationship between an individual’s consciousness and their external environment.
Design models are two architectural investigations that seek to further explore two common themes that have arisen throughout my very preliminary research that has encompassed my first term in the program. They are as follows:1) That a person's sense of self is not a singular enitity as many people perceive but a unique combination of experiences that are bound together through a process of valuing and appraisal that occurs whenever we experience out external environment. This idea is maybe best visualized through the analogy of the cells that come together to form organs, and then the organs that come together to form the body. This resulting network of experiences is anchored to a common reality through its comparison relative to other people's inner maps (or bodies) as well as other characteristics and objects found within our external environment.2) The other theme is prevalent in places of worship and deals more an individual's relationship to the infinite. Among the many architectural devices that are utilized to express this relationship, the most common is the framing of light. The way light sometimes pours into a building through framed openings in many ways is analagous to our perception of the external world through our eyes, which themselves can be seen as framed openings. I perceive these sorts of architectural experiences as amplified conscious experiences. Consciousness can be viewed as the contextualization of one self within a particular environment. Places of worship can be seen as houses for amplified conscious experiences because they serve to illustrate an individual's relationship to the infinite, which in my view is the ultimate context.The Design models will essentially be architectural propositions that will address these two themes by making spaces that will serve as apparatuses for amplified conscious experiences.
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