Basic OlymPus Tutorial - Irish Edition

As promised our very strange video for replayable viewing pleasure.

By Shaun Housden and Dylan Pineo

Senses and Sensorium Assignment

Senses Assignment

            For this assignment, I chose a location that has always left me uneasy. It was approximately two years ago, and my family and I travelled to New York City to see family and experience one of the most popular cities in the world. From the beginning of the trip, I had envisioned a huge, busy, fasted-paced atmosphere that had an abundance of activities to take part in and things to purchase. I wasn’t wrong, but I never accounted for the unethical and shady aspect of the city as I should have done. Now, every city has its good parts and bad parts, but being on a trip to a place with so much hype, I did not really incorporate negative thoughts in my preconceived idea of New York City. My dad, brother, and I decided to check out a small little music shop near where we were staying. It was a chilly, rainy,  May afternoon and we wanted something to do before the evening plans. As we approached the shop, the smell of rain and the brisk cold wind already began to agitate us as we approached the entrance. We walked into the shop which had one red sign above the window that read “MUSIC” in red, bold letters. As soon as we walked into the store, one of the salesmen pounced on the opportunity to try and sell us some items before I could even gain a first impression of the place. As he tried to hoax my dad into making a purchase, I soon realized that the store must have been going out of business due to the extreme amount of sales and the disorderly fashion in which the music equipment was placed. In the same way, the shop did not smell as bad as the organization of their product, but it did not smell good either. It smelt unkempt and musty. The salesman then told my dad a lie about their product so that he could possibly entice him to make a purchase. My dad, being an accomplished guitar player, immediately called him out on his false information and walked away from the conversation. At this point, I realized that we may have been leaving early. As we were leaving, however, I saw a sale on capos on the counter for extremely cheap, and I knew that the salesman knew we were not happy with him or his shop. So I bargained him down from the cheap price and purchased a capo for a tiny fraction of its actual cost. We left the store disappointed, but still gained something from the experience. After that, I realized that being naïve in a city like New York can leave you with a sour taste in your mouth. We still use the capo to this day, but we definitely will not return to the “MUSIC” shop again.

Senses and Sensorium post

 The most important part of this weeks reading to me addressed: the five senses (each being separate from each other) structured in a hierarchy by their importance to knowledge. I found this concept extremely thought provoking as a human with fully functionality of my five senses I realize how I take it for granted. Below I have included a picture of a sloppy joe sandwich. My reasoning for this choice is how the senses play different roles in the perception of the foods we evaluate through smell, touch, sight, hearing. Initially, when trying new foods we rely on the perceptions of others to decide whether we like the food or not. For example, we listen to other people's opinions and experiences with food. Then we look at pictures on a menu with our eyes to see if it looks appealing, which sloppy joe sandwiches look messy and the feeling of it in your hands dips often and is a turn off. Yet if we are able to make it past the previous rejection of our senses in the initial stages then the taste is extremely satisfying to our tastebuds. In conclusion, the reading and my selected image show how different hierarchies of senses can change in relation to the situation that occurs, sight isn't always the first sense to be used or most important unlike the reading.

*BELOW ARE MY TWO IMAGES FROM MY OTHER POST ON MY PLACE TO NEVER RETURN*

(Taken item) 

(senses image)

(the place I'll never return)

Senses Assignment - Reading

More than just tree lights

"Consideration of eye is not enough"

Personally, I would be more in line with the Russian philosophy, "we ascertain data about the world by means of the body, hand, or fingers coming into contact with physical matters". We don't just 'see', we touch, feel, observe, breathe in and make a part of ourselves, the environment. It's holistic. I feel what I see and think upon Serres' words, "The skin is where the body meets itself and everything else."  I often used the expression, 'felt like my skin was off' when feeling exposed/vulnerable, as if all my senses were hyper-tuned and now wonder if Serres' explanation above explains why that is how it seemed to me. I have always felt the body is the conduit of the senses, and as was discussed in the article by some of the 'thinkers' we cannot really separate or break apart our senses. For example: smell influences your taste buds. Try burning a scented candle and have it next to your meal, while eating...it will flavour whatever foods you are eating. You will not be able to taste your food independently of the smell of the candle---smell affected taste. I am always taking photos of what affects me, not just for the visuals, but for my senses. This lighted Christmas tree is an example. I was in the dark, and my eye was appreciated the fibre optics, and different colour ranges. There was also a calm I was feeling, and an appreciation of colour. I wanted the blues in this shot... so took the time to pick them out of the variety that came up. There is movement here, nothing static, and a coolness of the colours, and the lines.The blurriness provides an affect of movement and combined with the blocked-in effect of blackness provides mystery and an experience for my senses and thoughts. For these reasons, I feel this shot is a really good example of what Paul Duncum was saying as he brought out the different thoughts of philosophers on our multiple senses and how senses are intertwined and cannot be separate. In conclusion, when it comes to art, Duncum alludes to the conclusion of the matter with his statement, "Approaching art not as a primarily visual phenomenon but as a sensory phenomenon, with the visual more or less regarded as engaged on a work-by-work basis, reinforces the efforts of art educators concerned with performance installations, women's, and indigenous art."

kate spade, new york, a one-time visit...

I chose to go to kate spade-new york, a high-end women's boutique store.  This store was at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Outlet Stores, which was also a first visit for me. I chose a high-end boutique store because it's not my normal habitat...used-store shopping is. I've always wanted to go to one, and experience what it feels like, and even be a consumer in one. It was almost like going to a party. As soon as I walked in, the vibrant colours assaulted my senses, and loud, upbeat music was playing. Initially I was the only customer in the store. The Sales Clerk was very inviting, providing good vibes, eye contact but gave me space and freedom to just meander. I felt safe.  I enjoyed the 'bling' and how the lights displayed on the jewelry. You could almost taste the opulence. It seemed like a scent free place, although there were whiffs of perfumes from incoming customers. I loved the vibrant colours and mirrors that reflected the displays. Red was used as an accent against the turquoise blue, with splashes of lime green and orange. White was used as an offset colour. Being a very tactile person, I touched the fabrics, enjoying the feel of the silks, wools, satins, taffetas and materials I didn't recognize. I loved the weaves of some of the fabrics, and softness of others. It was very sensual. The massive collection of purses was almost too much to take in, all this 'eye-candy' displayed on walls and racks. I would have loved to bring one of them home, but even with 40% and sometimes an added 30% sale price, the prices were exorbitant...and the items remained where they were. I felt pleasure in visualizing, touching, feeling and enjoying the environment, listening to the music, hearing the background chatter of incoming customers and the greetings of the sales staff.

Eventually, I was able to pick something out that was appealing and that I would use, some eye candy to remember this moment. Experiencing the purchasing had a warmth to it as my item was wrapped carefully while friendly chatter was going on, sales slip discretely slipped into the bag, and the Sales Clerk walked around the counter and handed the bag to me personally, like a friend passing along a gift. As I walked out, I felt the cool on my face of the winter afternoon and breathed in the fresh air. As I heard the theme song from "Friends" with the words, "I'll be there for you..." on the outdoor speakers, this became a serendipitous moment. I had a grin on my face, and felt a bit like what Carrie Bradshaw must have felt like on "Sex in the City", with a special purchase in a bright, pink and white bag, just kind of dangling in my hand and swishing to-and-fro as I walked. My step was lighter, and although I don't feel the need to go  back, it was fun to experience being a part of an environment that isn't my own.

The place I'll never return to

Last friday night my roommates and I went to this house party for a girl named Taylor near Johnny Rocco's. My housemate invited myself and the others to spend the night together and bond since we never really do things together. This connects to the assignment because I've always wanted to have opportunities to meet new people and expand my friend group. Additionally, I have obviously never been here before but I knew some of my friends would be there and what's worse than sitting at home alone on a friday night and in bed by 8pm. The duration of the night lasted between 10pm till 1am. When I entered this house I immediately smelled the abundance of beer and sugary girly drinks everywhere I went with hints of perfume and cologne. One of my best friends I spent my time with constantly smelled like maple and later I asked what I smelt and he responded with maple whisky and root beer you have to try it, explains everything! I drank cider that night so i constantly tasted cold apple beverages. My eyes saw new people that I've never before and I couldn't care to see anyways along with the other end of the spectrum I saw two of my favourite guy friends(Zsolt and Darby). I saw drinking games and drunk actions mostly. Everywhere I touched or walked I left the stickiness of the floor on my shoes and the puddles of split alcohol on my hands as I touch the table. Lastly, I hear loud music and whispers of conversations and occasional screams from drunk girls for no reason. The one object I choose to bring back with me was the bootle I was drinking. I chose this for a specific reason and I left out of place so I removed any evidence of me being in this place to erase the memory. I agree to never return as I have no reason to and I didn't have the experience I initially intended for.

Sensorium

              There is a little store on Hartzel Road with ailments printed all over the windows, in what 

looks to be window writers (Remember those?). A bold and confident “We can help” suggests they have thee remedy for you. I’ve speculated for months as to what this place is, and I was just about to find out.

Late monday afternoon I arrived at this curious place. As I walked up to the door I was met by an older man, who proceeded to skeptically unlock the door and ask “Have you been here before?”. Now even more inquisitive I replied “No, I haven’t”. He walked me into what looked like some sort of clubhouse/apothecary. I was immediately hit with a pungent wall of marijuana with a subtle aroma of Doritos, or maybe it was just the feet of the old man reading a newspaper on one of the divine pleather couches provided. I didn’t ask. Anyway, I now knew I was in a place that you can hangout and get high in, cool. I presumed correctly. The music was vomit-inducing and obvious top 40 bangers, but hey, to each there own. It was very dry in there. If I was prone to nosebleeds, it would of happened within a few minutes of my entrance. The lights were fluorescent and would have made the devil himself sweat. Did I taste salt? not sure what that was. I was requested by the man who let me in, to fill out a quick form and pay 5 dollars for a “membership fee”. Ah there it is, the loop-hole. The form required me to fill in a few blanks; my age, emergency contact, e-mail, phone number, and any ailments I have. I filled it out quickly, exaggerating some of what plagues me— early onset arthritis, why not. After filling out the form I walked fully inside and took in the beauty that surrounded me. Viridian green pool tables, The likely smelly old man, and behold, the “weed bar”. It was truly and utterly breathtaking. Did I really agree to never return? I walked over to the bar, it had an extensive menu featuring a plethora of weed foods. Not only did this place let you smoke inside, but they actually provided you with a good hearty high. What a diamond in the rough. I felt like the Christopher Colombus of pot-- minus the destruction, greed, and genocide. The woman standing behind the counter couldn’t look more apathetic if she was to get her taxes done. I asked what her favourite food was on the menu and she replied with “I don’t know, I don’t like sweet things. The macaroni and cheese is good.” Are you shitting me lady? Macaroni and cheese seasoned with weed. Never mind, moving on. I decided to opt out of the weed food for this visit, seeing as it wouldn’t be an appropriate souvenir to bring for show and tell. I instead chose a pack of good ol’ trusty Randy’s, the age old favourite of the wired paper variety. The combination of the music, Dorito feet, and stale are  was so off-putting, I decided it was time to leave. I turned as I left and bid my new friends; macaroni weed lady, smelly feet pete, and that other guy farewell.

Sensorium Reading

When reading through the essay all I could think about is a photo of a concert that I went to back in October. It brought back the memories of the concert and it was all that was on my mind. It brought back the thought of sitting in the seat and waiting for my first ever concert to begin. It being my first ever concert made me extremely excited and when looking back at the photos tehy reminded me of just that. When the author said that images are multisensory, I whole heartedly agree. The photo of the concert made me feel like I was there again. It reminded me of smell of beer from the girls that were sitting next to me, the lights that were flashing on stage and from the lightsticks that some of the fans where, the wet feeling of sweat from my palms (since I was so excited and sweat from wearing a sweater), the sound of the music that I’ve always listen to on a computer but now hearing live and it even reminds me of the taste of the gum that I was chewing (bubblegum mint). It was an experience that was brought up again just by looking at a digital image. So we should definitely consider more than just sight, even when looking at images because other senses are bound to come up.

Dank Adventures

These experiences are not my own but what a friend has shared with me:

“I have never bought drugs before and have always wanted to.  Through a mutual friend, I went to a house a couple blocks away and met with the dealer. He was polite and friendly.  He went to his room and I followed him, quietly taking a picture without him noticing.  In my time there I paid as much attention to my senses as I could.  In this instance, sight is probably the least interesting of what I experienced.  Rap music – Wiz Khalifa to be precise – boomed from the speakers in the living room.  The guy’s hands were soft and clammy when I shook them.  His messy room and frat house style kitchen and living room were the only parts of the house I could see.  Through all this, the dank smell of weed permeated through everything present.  It clung to my nostrils and back of my throat.  I figured that he must be completely oblivious to it since he lives here, but it was impossible to ignore to my virgin nose.  The taste of victory was on my lips once I paid for my product and returned safely home.  This however, was not my souvenir.  I took his printed off quote of Bob Marley and now I will never return there.”

Sensorium Essay Response

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JnD3DK-3co&feature=youtu.be

At first I disagreed with the article simply from reading the abstract.  The notion that there were more than five senses struck a discord with me.  However, as I read more, my feelings towards this idea of a sensorium opened up more and indeed, I find myself relating this paper to a sensorium in itself.  As I tried to think of a suitable image to upload, I realized that last semester I had succeeded in creating a sensorium experiment without even realizing it.  The link takes you to a video of an art installation I made for a class last semester.  The art installation features classroom that has been repurposed as a surveillance room.  As viewers walk around the class, they realize that they too are being filmed and watched in a voyeuristic way.  White noise that I made myself plays through the speakers in the room. I believe this relates because one of the main points of my project was to give an eerie feeling that you are being watched.  I find it enlightening to know that while this is something that can be sensed, it does not directly fall under any of our traditional five senses.

Sense assignmemt

Dylan’s room

I chose Dylan’s room because I feel as if I do not know him very well. We are mutual friends but I thought I would use this project to understand Dyan more.

The first thing I noticed was how clean Dylan's room was. This tells me that he cares about making his bed in the mornings and keeping organized. This could relate to his upbringing where his parents would have made sure he cleaned up after himself. Although I have passed by it, I pictured it to be a lot darker and a different size. Looking around, you see a double bed across from an axe that has a detachable knife on the end.  At the edge of the bed you see an extremely large desktop computer with a bunch of lights. His closet was closed but I'm sure if I opened it, I would find the same jersey that Dyan always likes to wear.

There was a feint humming sound from the computer and I could also hear my boyfriends heavy breathing and Dylan talking to him.

While entering this project I was very aware of the requirement to speak about taste therefore I had mint gum in my mouth. Looking back, I feel as if that isn't the point of the assignment.

When you walk into Dylan's room, you smell two things very strongly. The first is men's deodorant. Whether or not that was the source of the smell, I'm.sure all of us know cologne smell of men's scents. The second smell was the smell of crushed dreams, probably because of the soles he beats on his video games. Although it is not a physical smell, it lingers as the idea of it when you see his gaming setup.

Since I did not stay in Dylan's room very long, there were only a couple of textures I noticed. The first was the hard wall on my back as I leaned on it. It was very cold on the wall and I found myself moving around to make it more comfortable. The opposite of the wall was felt next when I sat on my boyfriend’s lap as he talked to Dylan about who-knows-what. Léo is one of those people who is always really warm so it was a nice change from the wall. Léo is however very lankey so he is not the most comfortable seat. It is for this reason, as well as Léo moving me, that I sat at the edge of the bed. How I would describe it would be like Goldey Locks where it was fluffy and nice.

Dylan wouldn't let me take his axe or knife therefore I had to take something that is not very exciting. I took one of his readings because in my mind this is the person who Dylan is. It might be because I don't know him very well but he seems like a very smart guy who takes his school very seriously

Senses assignment

There are times where I like to think that I’m still new to St. Catharines, but the truth is that I have actually been here for about three years now and you would think that I would have travelled around. Truth is… I haven’t. So this assignment really helped me explore a little. Now at first I was going to go to the café Rise Above, which I thought would be a little too easy because it’s just down the street from the school, so I talked to a friend and she said that she would take me somewhere but she didn’t tell me where. Having no idea where I was going made it a little more interesting and the place that she was Victoria Lawn Cemetery. At first I was a little sceptical but when we got there we got to this open area with tombstones to the right and left of it, but the centre led to some kind of monument with stairs surrounding it. It was quiet (except for a random car horn that sounded like a clown car horn) and it just left you with your thoughts. The air seemed to smell clean but with a hint of animal poo and there was nothing to taste except for whatever was in my mouth from before (probably gum) and I guess you could say everything felt cold and a lifeless (it being a cemetery and being winter). It definitely was an experience, being around such a beautiful open area but  with bodies surrounding you, having the sun block out the clouds, making it a little creepy, and then having little statues of cherubims spread throughout the sides of the monument. Overall it was a really interesting experience and a really interesting place but I’d be happy not to go back to it.

Now thing I brought back was a little stone that seemed to have been coming off of the stairs of the monument. I really didn't want to take anything because everything seemed so sacred and looked like it was meant to be there. So I opted for something that looked like it wouldn't be missed.

Intro and Senses and Sensorium

Hey all!! I haven’t posted an introduction yet so I’m just going to add it to our first assignment. My name is Samantha Cline and I have just switched fully in to studio art this year, which is also my third year here at Brock. I really enjoyed the equivalent to this class last year with a bunch of friends so I am really excited to be in this one with Irene again and I hope everyone else has an equal amount of fun expressing themselves this semester in this course. I’m probably going into teaching after next year, but for now I am focusing on developing my art skills and I am so happy to have this new facility to do it in because this is what I really enjoy doing with my time and I love to just come here and get messy so I apologize in advance for any of my paint stained attire, but I secretly love it. P.S. I chose this picture of myself because I’m not a fan of the duckface.  

For the first part of the senses assignment I chose to go with Emily to a bar down the street from my house that I have not yet been to in the almost 2 years that I have lived in Thorold. I have never been to this bar (Cracker Jacks) because it did not look too appealing, as bars go, on the outside and the crowd around it always seemed to be older people getting away from their wives and children at the end of a long work day. Although this does not sound all too appealing to the average 20 year old I was still curious since it is only a couple minute walk from where I live. It was a surprise to Emily and I when first walking in on an early Saturday night that the inside had a much different vibe than the outside and was actually pretty welcoming. The space was well lit and decorated to attract sports fans with a side for a family to grab a quick bite to eat as well as a side to have a few beers with friends. There weren’t just older men sitting around, but a family and some groups of younger men watching the football game that was playing on all of the surrounding televisions. Emily and I sat down at a booth to grab a quick bite to eat and of course a beer to go along with it and again to my surprise the food was quite good for a bar. There wasn’t much to notice about touch other than the glossy wooden table beneath my elbows or the green leather seat I was in. The smell wasn’t too noticeable either other than we were in a bar so it smelled like beer and when that is involved then there is usually a lot of yelling, laughing and cheering to go along with it as everyone in the space started to relax a bit more every minute. The object I decided to take at the end of the night was a napkin folded into my purse with a phone number on it. Being two beautiful young women at a bar usually attracts attention and sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad, and sometimes it’s pretty damn funny to remember later on, which I guess is what this one ended up being after I (VERY NICELY) turned the man away. Emily being in her true “I am so funny” form, waited for me to not be prying attention, slipped him a napkin and her lipstick to write down his number anyways and somehow managed to get it into my purse for me to find later on. It is a good thing I usually take her “I am so funny” form as actually funny and it made this project pretty fun in the end, so I have that great memory to leave myself with seeing as I will not be able to return. I guess that makes the memory of that place even better since I can now never have any bad ones there. 

While reading the text for part two of this assignment I was constantly reminded of an assignment I did for the class similar to this last year and I went looking for the images taken that day when I got the class to come up and paint me while blind folded. It was such an interesting experience and made me realize how much we rely on our eyesight, but also how heightened our other senses become once our eyesight is taken away. The article had me jumping back and forth wondering whether these senses are working at the same time or not and whether one is actually better than the other. Thinking back to this assignment I don’t remember being able to feel each sense separately, but when focusing on one sense you associate that sense with another one and they just constantly remind you of another making it seem like everything at once. Each of them is equally as important, but once you take one away, the others seem to go into an overdrive in order to make up for that missing sense. When the sight was gone in this assignment, everyone talking and their movement became louder, and when the paint brushes were to touch me I was a lot more sensitive to them, but when the blindfold was off and I saw the marks I could associate what I was seeing with what I had been feeling or hearing a couple minute before. I was also reminded in this article of the fact that the senses we are feeling and the environment we are in have a huge impact on the art that we experience and some people might have a bigger impact on a certain piece because they have other memories that are being remembered that no one else has experienced to create these waves of emotion. By remembering these senses separately we can pick and choose certain combinations that allow us to have a totally different experience than the person next to us seeing and overall feeling the same thing, they just have a different reaction.  

 

Senses and Sensorium

Senses:        
        One place I have always wanted to venture to was DeCew Falls and this assignment was the perfect opportunity. Also doubling as an outing for my girlfriend and I, we headed out on a little adventure and made our way to the falls. It was a cold and crisp walk and the frost was nipping at our faces during our journey. Once we arrived we spent time taking in the scenic view and appreciating the beauty. Everything was cold to the touch, paining your fingers if you held on for to long. The air was filled with a heavy chill which would tingle your nose and dry your mouth out if you inhaled. The area was quiet, barely being able to hear cars or people and instead was filled with the silent roar of nature and the movement of water.

       The climb down to the falls was too dangerous for me to attempt in the current weather and my girlfriend wasn't about to let me try. So I instead spent time taking in the view from above and all it had to offer. Soon after I barely spotted a small rock almost completely covered by the earth. The rock was frozen into the ground and cold to the touch, it was only after prying it from the ground that I realized how rough the rock actually was. I thought this was the perfect object to take back from my experience since it embodied the chill and harshness of my journey and the falls.




Sensorium:
       The one thing that stuck with me in the reading is the idea of the commercial world exploiting senses for commercial gain, Everyday we see advertisements or commercials that show us how things could be like if we had a certain product. These ads want us to see or feel these products with our senses, allowing us to feel connected or a part of something bigger. Take the Fiji water company for example, when purchasing or drinking their product they want you to feel as if you're in Fiji. Drinking fresh water right from Fiji itself and making you feel you could actually be there. The ad below is a perfect representation of the commercial world attempting to capitalize on our sense as a way to make us want a particular product.

Jake's Sensium Assignment

Senses Assignment

For my sensorium assignment I decided to go to the quaint little waterfall behind Brock that I had so much about from my friends, because it was the only place in St. Catharines that I had been meaning to go. It was hard to experience all the the senses because mostly everything was overwhelmed with the winters notion of it being so cold. However with a little concentration and help from my girlfriend who accompanied me, I was able to manage. Firstly I will start with the obvious sense of sight. It was very bright and white, I remember how the waterfall had of course frozen over and I could see the glare of the sun reflecting off the ice, it was a very beautiful sight which seemed so untouched. The next sense that stood out was the sound of the water trickling over the waterfall down onto the earth below. My sense of smell was heavily detained due to the cold and stuffy noses that the cold brings with it, but when I went to hold my girlfriend I do remember smelling her perfume, I believe it's called "cozy up". As far as taste goes I was chewing on gum that tasted like Swedish Berries. Lastly my sense of touch was experienced when I slipped on the way back up from taking the picture and fell in the snow. The sense was cold. Very cold.

I chose to bring back an acorn because of the scenery the waterfall was placed, and one of the things we noticed on our journey were all the squirrels running around everywhere. It took a lot of work to find an acorn in the snow that hadn't been devoured by the little furry natives of the residence. I also chose the acorn because it filled me with the hope of spring and the idea of all the snow melting making way for the growth of new life and new beginnings.

Reading Assignment

At first I did not at all understand or take interest in the essay for the reading part of this assignment. However after reading it and while I was looking through my photography photo's to find something to correlate to, my eyes got fixed onto a picture of palm trees that I took November 2014 when I went on vacation to Punta Cana. Suddenly I understood how the idea that perception and experience extracts data from all of our senses and makes the correlate, so as to say that our brain does not compute them separately. It sounds cheesy, I know, but when I looked at the photo my sight triggered my memory which activated my perceptual senses and I could literally feel the warm breeze down by the beach and hear the palms brushing in sequence with the waves. The only senses I cannot recall are taste and smell. This makes me wonder if I had had a stronger memory of that time perhaps I would have had a stronger activation of my perceptual senses. In any case I would most definitely agree with Socrates that there are senses beyond the 5 basic ones that tie to emotions and correlate with one another to create feelings that are less simple to describe, or even detect.

Introduction

I am Donna Phelps, by day an Administrative Assistant, by any other time a student, mom, grandmother, entrepreuner, photographer, and musician. I am a third year IASC student, and as of this year, joined the digital expression stream. I am enjoying the classes although at times feel a bit out in left field as so much is new to me---and I was trained in a very scribal, non-technological way. I mean, I learned to type on a manual typewriter that didn't even have the letters on it! [Even before the Selectric!] AND, you had to push the return bar each time you were done with a line of type! It has been a long road to arrive at this point in my studies, and I can only use the word, EXCITED!!! to be on track again with my studies and I truly enjoy both the students who's path I cross, and instructors. It's been a real treat and I look forward to this class on Intermedia, despite knowing I'll hit a few 'blank moments' along the way! :)

Senses/Sensorium - Marc

Senses

For this assignment, I visited Cairns Complex. I've been at Brock before this thing even existed so I witnessed the stages of development and construction in its entirety. I've always thought it looked cool but I never had any reason to go there, so I took a look.

Sight: The building is very modern. All the walls are made of glass and the architecture is very metallic in theme. It doesn't look or feel like any other building at Brock. The glass make the place look like something out of a sci-fi movie.
Sound: Unlike with sight, the sound was very similar to other places at Brock; namely the hustle and bustle of student life and coffee procuring.
Taste: The air was very thick and muggy, possibly due to the weather. I could taste the vapor in the air.
Smell: The place smelled of window cleaner; reason should be quite obvious. I also smelled coffee as a small coffee place is located near the main entrance.
Touch: The doors and railings are all metallic and have a very smooth sensation. I didn't feel like looking like a weirdo touching the walls and such so I kept my touching to a minimum.

For my souvenir, I took one of these research participant slips. I will try to find time to participate in the experiment and my memory of it will serve as a souvenir.












Sensorium




I was raised in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. The sensorium reading made me think about how images cannot fully express a feeling by itself. It requires the other senses to fully understand. In other words, it requires you to be there. I clearly remember the feeling of standing alongside these cliffs and overlooking the massive ocean. Back then, it meant very little to me as I spent 16 years of my life there. But having lived in a city for the past 6 years, I start to remember it fondly. The sight is somewhat expressed in the above image but somewhat pales in comparison. The vast scale of nature around you is quite overwhelming in person. The smell is fresh. I can't put it any other way. It's completely untainted by humans. The feeling of breeze and mist passing through you like you don't even exist. The smell of the Atlantic Ocean is quite unique as well. The smell of pine and seaweed. The ever-looming feeling of dread when approaching the cliff edge - that feeling of wanting to move closer and closer. Looking at this image you probably won't even have a passing thought. The internet is too littered with such scenery that it becomes nothing special. Being there is a little different.

Senses and Sensorium Assignment

Part 1 of Project:

For this Sensorium assignment I decided to go to the lowenberger brock building. I wasn’t sure what I would take as a souvenir but I passed an open door.  It was a door that led to the custodial room. It had a long Hallway that bent to the right at the end. This room was lit up with a few ceiling lights so I was a not in the dark. it smelled like cleaning supplies. I looked around for something small and not worth too much. I found some aprons but they looked pricey, I also found a red ceramic boot but that looked expensive as well. I found a small box and within it was my souvenir. It is a long paper cut out for displaying candy on a shelf. The space I took this from was very quiet since I was thankfully the only person in it. I don’t know how it tastes because I’m not licking it.

Part 2 of Project:

The Senses of Pizza

When reading this article I was think of ways that an art piece can captivate you, question your reasoning, has some performance to it, and that it is something that everyone can connect to with their senses. Then the thought of pizza came to mind since it is the best representation of all these senses and types of art. You have the way the pizza feels in your hand and the warmth it gives off as you devour it. You have the taste which is a beautiful combination of whichever topping you chose and that wonderful cheese holding it all together. Now for the sight of this art work just seeing it makes you want it or at least makes you want some form of it, there is some form of pizza for everyone. The smell is captivating and iconic, you know when you smell pizza you want it even more. The sound for this isn’t the one the pizza makes but it is the sounds of the people talking while enjoying this delicious item. Pizza brings people together. Pizza is something no matter what gender or age you are you still feel all these things about all the senses that are there. It’s a Gender neutral food no one is going to judge you because everyone loves it. It captivates people no matter what form of media it is in whether its in a commercial or just words on a page it is a food that can grab any persons attention and make them want it, it is truly magical.