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Xinran (Chen) Kong

Topic 2 Final

Project link:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-QGL5pUa_uge25o-R6Ki9lTcqRfU7wxq/view?usp=sharing

 

 

Project background:

Pay attention to the mental health problems of adolescents and children, and pay attention to their sleep quality

 

 

Project intention:

Improve the mental health problems of adolescents and children, improve their sleep quality, and reduce the frequency of nightmares

 

System map:

 

Topic 2 Final reflection

  • What did you learn?
    Through this class, I learned many ways about critical thinking. I learned to analyze, judge, criticize and deny specific thoughts or words, and actions. This includes both criticizing others and blaming myself. I have learned to participate in the dialogue with a positive and humble attitude, deeply understand the other party’s point of view, and form my own conclusions; to criticize myself is to constantly reflect on my own thoughts, that is, to often take out my own thoughts and reflect on them. For example, I often try to consider if my thinking just now is enough fair, deep enough, logical, etc.Before this course, my critical thinking ability was relatively weak in many cases. Because in my previous thinking, there was a kind of “egocentrism” and “inertial thinking”. To put it simply, I tend to get used to knowing things only from my own experience and perspective and act according to inertia. Because of this egocentrism in my thinking, it’s hard for me to be critical.

 

  • What feedback did you receive? Any reflections on the critique itself?
    I received much feedback about the criticism itself. Critical thinking refers to the process by which we examine the information we have and make critiques and decisions based on this examination. When we think critically, we identify issues, examine facts, analyze assumptions, consider other factors and ultimately determine reasons for or against an idea.For example, Initially, when I was researching the subject of nightmares, I subconsciously assumed that all nightmares were bad and needed to be resolved. But after all-around thinking with my classmates and teachers, I realized that many nightmares are beneficial to health. The right level of nightmares can untangle negative emotions, thereby helping people to live better.

 

 

  • What might you do differently in terms of process or content?
    I will explore more types of dreams and study how to control or adjust the content of dreams so that people can live better.

 

 

  • What was inspiring? What parts?Constantly improving and enriching the depth and breadth of thinking is what makes me feel joyful and fulfilled in this course.

 

 

  • Revisit the assignment prompts: how did your project relate to the original prompts, in terms of critical lens, audience, tone, etc…
    My final presentation is very different from the original idea, but as long as you carefully sort out the entire change process, you will find that my adjustments are very logical and orderly. Initially, I wanted to design a sleep aid bracelet to assist users in adjusting sleep quality through vibration, music, smell, etc. In the end, on the one hand, the wristband was not comfortable to wear at night, and on the other hand, the inspiration came from my sleeping pillow. At the age when I often had nightmares in my childhood, I had a very soft pillow, which was very gentle and accompanied me through every good dream. I drew inspiration from it and designed a sleep aid pillow with functions such as playing music, emitting good smells, and adjusting sleeping positions. I hope my design can help children with nightmares have a good night

 

 

 

  • How did you balance research and experimentation? Which is easier for you? How can you focus more on the areas that you shy away from?
    I’m lacking in experimentation. Because I’m living a life where it’s really hard to reach the typical target audience. In the next stage of the study, I will make some adjustments, whether it is to increase the chance of contacting target users or to select more suitable objects for research as target users

Ideas Arrangements Effects

那些能够检测睡眠的手表手环,正在让失眠变得更严重-36氪

 

  • Idea:
    • This device should be a comfortable wristband to wear while sleeping
    • The wristband can monitor heart rate and body temperature
    • The monitored heart rate and body temperature data can be analyzed to see if you are having a nightmare
    • The bracelet can help soothe the user’s emotions and adjust the nature of dreams

 

  • Arrangements:
    • The user should wear the wristband while sleeping
    • The wristband should be comfortable and not interfere with sleep quality
    • The sleeping environment should be quiet and free from distractions

 

  • Effects:
    • To detect whether the sleeping person is having a nightmare, an
    • To help the nightmare person to adjust the dream
    • To improve sleep efficiency

Publics and Counterpublics-how to explain pictures to a dead hare

The artwork I am studying is how to explain pictures to a dead hare by Joseph Beuys.

At the beginning of the performance, Beuys locked the door of the gallery’s solo exhibition from the inside, leaving the gallery audience outside. So they can only observe the scene inside through the window. Beuys, whose head was smeared with honey and gold leaf, began explaining the painting to a dead rabbit. He whispers to the dead thing he is holding in his arms, and wanders the corridors, passing from one work to another. Occasionally he would stop and return to the center of the gallery; stepping on a dead fir tree lying on the ground. Three hours later, the onlookers were allowed into the room. Boyce, on the other hand, sat on a stool in the entrance area, with his arms around the hare, his back to the onlookers.

 

A: Joseph Beuys.

 

Q: For whom?

A: Humans in limitation.

 

Q: With what materials and metaphors?

A: The rabbit is the material.

 

Q: With what intention?

A: In many religions, the rabbit has a widespread, ancient, and symbolic meaning. For example, in Greek mythology, it is related to Aphrodite, the god of love; for the Romans and Germanic tribes, it is a strong symbol of fertility; and in Christianity, it is associated with resurrection. The “gold leaf mask” worn by Beuys during the performance also derived such interpretations, such as gold symbolizes the power of the sun, wisdom, and purity, while honey is a symbol of rebirth in Germanic culture.

 

Q: What impact?

A: This piece is meant to remind humans of their limitations.

 

Q: Did the artist identify a public or create a counterpublic?

A: Public. This piece is meant to remind humans of their limitations.

 

 

Analysis for final project about nightmare

Topic:

Nightmare

 

Question:

How to stop or transfer a nightmare?

 

Multidimensional thinking: 

Are nightmares bad for everyone?

How to correctly evaluate the various effects of nightmares on people, whether positive or negative?‘’

Are nightmares more of a psychological or physical problem? Or is it really a problem?

 

Map:

Daily Practice – Day1 migration map of migratory birds

My research topic is: Residence
Every move is a hassle for me. Once I was dragging four or five trolley suitcases on the way to move house, and I happened to see free birds flying in the sky. I suddenly feel very envious, they can go wherever and whenever they want, without being restricted by houses and luggage. I was thinking, human beings used to be very, very free. Why has this freedom been lost with the development of human civilization? I occasionally wonder when human beings can return to this freedom. So I hope to study the possible way of human habitation in the future
On the first day, I studied the migration map of migratory birds. The life of them flying freely around the world makes me yearn very much

 

Final reflection for topic 1

What did you learn?
This is the first time I have done such deep critical thinking. I think it has helped me profoundly. First, critical thinking helps me to be innovative in work and life. 1. Critical thinking helps me find problems and discuss the way and method of my life in another way. 2. Critical thinking helps me come up with multiple solutions, and divergent thinking, such as brainstorming. 3. Critical thinking helps me make changes and adjustments properly.

 

 

What feedback did you receive? Any reflections on the critique itself?

I am very grateful to my classmates for their suggestions to my guide, and I have made appropriate revisions according to their suggestions. I think my problem is that I am usually a little shy. If I can discuss it with them after class before the final, my progress will be much faster, and the final output will definitely be better. In the next project, I will supervise myself not to be shy and communicate more with my classmates.

 

 

What might you do differently in terms of process or content?
I think I have two main problems.
The first is that views are too fragmented. I listed more than a dozen cosmetic-related metaphors, each of which is covered but not in depth. I should delve into one or two of the best points in more detail.
Second, I have a big problem with typography. My plan was to make a magazine, but it really didn’t look like a magazine. I hope to improve my ability to design layouts in the future

 

What was inspiring? What parts?

I think metaphors are very inspiring. It helps us summarize many seemingly different but essentially the same things, saving us the time to analyze and judge each thing. Metaphors help us to compare, generalize, and summarize so that we can understand the world more systematically.

 

Revisit the assignment prompts: how did your project relate to the original prompts, in terms of critical lens, audience, tone, etc…
I think my work is based on the original book and the basic requirements of the homework. But in the next stage, I hope to achieve a bolder breakthrough

 

 

How did you balance research and experimentation? Which is easier for you? How can you focus more on the areas that you shy away from

Research is a gradual process, but not always smooth. Maybe after a certain smooth period, thinking will suddenly fall into some kind of bottleneck. It may also be enlightened after experiencing a bottleneck. I think the ups and downs, the good and the bad in the research process are its charms.

In contrast, with the theoretical basis provided by the research as the support, the practice will be much smoother.

Everything is cosmetic

My interest in the topic of cosmetics is that I think that everything is cosmetics.

Cities are made up under the guidance of urban planners, public opinion is made up under the whitewashing of politicians, and history books are made up under the corruption of the rulers of all dynasties…

I decided to make a magazine that allows the audience to watch the makeup effects of cities, history, public opinion, and food just like before and after makeup.

 

The magazine page: