I want to open my post by saying: using historical data as a trend (conclusion) of growth on geographical or economical issues has already been done for many years – and sometimes become an ultimate answer of the situation. I am fascinated by Richter scale report that can measure pre and post seismic trend. Coming from the country where volcanic eruption and quakes becoming part of life, the Richter scale is also become a lingo. Studying economics for 6 years also thought me to use historical data of inflation to predict the interest as well as supply and demand. Fascinating!
Back on my university days, I was asked by my friend’s sister who studies at Faculty of Psychology to be the subject of her paper of psychological (aptitude) test. I’ve got no idea of the test, but she said it’s called Binet Test. So I said yes, knowing it’s only an aptitude test.
The result of the test was quite remarkable (I am being sarcastic). She said that my strong point is in linguistics and art, AND from scale 1 to 10 I was only score 6 in the numerical aspect (Math) – means a “meh” achievement.
I was in despair considering I knew that I was really good at Calculus and Statistic subject. I start to believe that I will be doomed to fail in Math. It was horrible feeling that I had for one semester until I found that she didn’t pass the subject. I never spoke to her ever since.
However, I could not deny the fact, that as much as I have certain rejection of measurement in an intangible product, there must be a way to do so. Otherwise, why would Kinsey’s rating gains popularity? Still though, as a mental note, if the existence of this kind of test really matter, I am just afraid of the potential to turn the result into moral and value judgement.
But let’s not go there this time. I believe there has been a lot of development in psychology study and those paragraphs are only my effort to illustrate the difference and the difficulties to measure and quantify between tangible and intangible things.
But...Art is about emotion. So I come up with this following idea in re-interpreting human emotion. (Please note that I use the words “re-interpreting” instead of “measuring” or “interpreting).”
I envision creating a work in a form of interactive media installation where the audience can see the analysis and advice in a form of visual poetry with regards to their emotional level. That visual poetry is projected in a wall of tunnel shape where the subject is standing inside of it and can read and/or feel it.
How that visual poetry is produced? It is from the result of the data that is produced via trampoline floor that was built inside the tunnel. Extending the Richter scale idea (look above), a (seismic) censor device was plant under the trampoline, so that can capture the pressure of the subject that is walking, or jumping. The data then has to be analysed and compared with probability scale where a numbers of words in database represent the level of emotion that have already been set.
, Gaylord.