Critical Context Part 3

1. What findings have you made about the proposition you started from?

According to "On Human Nature" by Edward O. Wilson, in Chapter 5: Aggression, Wilson goes on to examine a particular aspect of human aggression associated with territorial behaviour. He finds that, if humans inhabit an arid land where game and plant food are poor, society will remain nomadic. No bands or villages form. No concept of land ownership develops. Territorial aggression is absent. The Western Shoshoni living in the Great Basin is an example of this. In contrast, however, the Owens Valley Paiute occupied a fertile land full of game and plant food. Here, the territory is worth defending, and the people living here organized into villages and bands. Social and religious sanctions rose up to justify territorial aggression.

Wilson finds that, although the genes encode aggression, the conscious mind never experiences the raw biological process. In territorial aggression, for example, the conscious mind does not process interference competition, density dependence, or human and animal demography. The raw biological process, however, manifests itself through the creation of social and religious customs which justify the raw biological drive of aggression.

From here, we can see that ones there a contrast of "something is better", there will be conflict between human who wants to possess it. Hence, undesirable human attitudes and behaviours are inherent in human nature, often employed as tactics or strategies to gain personal benefits or advantages in relationships or situations. They can also function as extreme self-protective mechanisms. Individuals primarily prioritise their own well-being and welfare, often at the expense of others. Consequently, it is inevitable that we will encounter such individuals at some point in our lives. Although frustrating, these encounters provide valuable life experiences that contribute to personal growth and development.

Many of these negative attitudes and behaviours stem from human greediness and self-righteousness. To illustrate this point, we can reflect on the Greek myth of Pandora's Box. In the myth, Pandora, a woman, curiously opens a forbidden box containing the evils bestowed by the gods and goddesses, thereby unleashing various miseries and evils upon humanity. Only hope remains trapped inside the box.

The crucial question is how we interpret this myth. Is the confinement of hope within the box/jar a benefit or a further curse for humanity? If hope is considered another evil, then we should be thankful that it was withheld. The idea behind this perspective is that by hoping for or expecting a good life that is unattainable, we perpetuate our suffering. Therefore, living without hope is deemed better, and it is fortunate that hope remained trapped in the jar. However, if hope is considered a positive force, then its imprisonment makes life even more bleak and unbearable.

In my interpretation, hope can be seen as deceptive expectations that we impose upon ourselves. For example, hoping for a better life, hoping to purchase tickets for a Taylor Swift concert, or hoping for a life of leisure with endless income. These seemingly "good" situations actually prolong our torment, obscuring the existence of obstacles and challenges that we must overcome to achieve our desires. Consequently, on many occasions, these unexpected obstacles and challenges catch us off guard because we did not anticipate their presence.

2. How has your understanding of the idea changed? Are there any amendments/ corrections that you decide to make on your initial proposition? How your research/practice has developed through critical reflection?

My original proposition remains largely unchanged, although I have incorporated the inspiration of the Greek myth of Pandora's Box as the central theme of my project. By incorporating relevant quotes, which might help to elevate the level of discourse within the project. This project primarily focuses on self-reflection, as the concept of "Evils" is rooted in my personal experiences dealing with the frustrations caused by these undesirable attitudes and behaviours.

Furthermore, I have employed the symbolism of pirated game packaging to illustrate how our well-being and welfare are stolen by these negative human attitudes and behaviours. This analogy draws parallels to the infringement of intellectual property, where one's creations are unlawfully distributed by others. Although piracy is commonly regarded as illegal, some individuals perceive it as the more affordable option compared to purchasing the original product. Similarly, despite the fact that the actions of these individuals cause trouble for others, they persist in their behaviour because they believe it benefits them, provides advantages, or satisfies their personal desires.

Reflecting on my encounters with these "Evils," I have developed a copywriting piece that would be suitable for the back cover of a game. Through this process, I have discovered significant personal growth. Previously, I was deeply affected by the frustrations caused by these individuals, often dwelling on thoughts of how I should have responded or expressed myself in those moments. However, I now understand that our survival mechanism, the fight-or-flight response, often prevents us from reacting or saying the right things in such situations. This realisation has allowed me to let go of regret and the constant replaying of these situations in my mind, as I recognize the limitations imposed by our innate responses.

3. Give an indicative bibliography of at least 10 key items of reference material you intend to consult; identify any sources (museum collections, archives, people you want to interview, etc.) This material should be presented in APA format. It should include a range of material including books and journals/magazines, and the expectation is that you do not limit your investigation to the internet!

Anderson, G., & Heller, S. (2016). The Graphic Design Idea Book: Inspiration from 50 Masters. Laurence King Publishing.

Chazelle, D. (Director). (2014). Whiplash [Film]. Sony Pictures Classics. (2014). Bold Films, Blumhouse Productions & Right of Way Films.

Eskilson, S. (2012). Graphic Design: A New History, Second Edition. Yale University Press.

Kantor, D. (2007). Graphic design and religion: A call for renewal. GIA Publications.

Kaufman, S. B., & Gregoire, C. (2015). Wired to Create: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Creative Mind. Perigee Books.

Klanten, R., Ehmann, S., & Schulze, F. (Eds.). (2011). Visual Storytelling: Inspiring a New Visual Language. Gestalten.

Tavris, C. (2017). Anger: The Misunderstood Emotion. Touchstone.

Watt Smith, T. (2016). The Book of Human Emotions: An Encyclopedia of Feeling from Anger to Wanderlust. Profile Books.

Wilson, E. O. (2004). On human nature. Springer Berlin Heidelberg.

Yang, J.-S., & Hung, H. V. (2014). Emotions as Constraining and Facilitating Factors for Creativity: Companionate Love and Anger. Creativity and Innovation Management, 24(2), 217–230. doi:10.1111/caim.12089