INTELLECTUAL GROWTH
A Theoretical Ceramics Project
INTELLECTUAL GROWTH
Ceramics and 3-D Concepts, Fall 2021
Brainstorm and research a theoretical ceramics project of your choice. Sketch what the final product would look like and how it would be displayed.
IDEATION
My theoretical ceramic sculpture, entitled "Intellectual Growth," would depict a brain with flowers emerging from it. The flowers would correspond to the different parts of the brain they are located on, whether through floriography interpretations or through connections I have established.
I selected this project as an exploration of the intersection between floriography, the study of the symbolic meanings of flowers, and the field of neuroanatomy. The sculpture, entitled 'Intellectual Growth', aims to visually convey the complex study of the brain and its functions through a creative and artistic medium, combining my personal interests in both psychology and floriography.
HISTORY OF FLORIOGRAPHY
Floriography, also known as the language of flowers, is a symbolic language that uses flowers and plants to convey hidden meanings and emotions. The origins of floriography can be traced back to ancient cultures such as the Greeks, Persians, and Victorians. The ancient Greeks, for example, associated flowers with gods and goddesses and used them in religious ceremonies. The Persians, on the other hand, used flowers as a way of conveying secret messages during times of war.
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During the Victorian era, floriography became highly popular, as it was seen as a refined and elegant way of expressing emotions without the need for words. The Victorians created dictionaries and guides that outlined the meanings of different flowers, and the practice of sending flowers as a way of conveying a message became widespread.
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During this period, flowers were chosen carefully and arranged in a specific way to convey a certain meaning. For example, a red rose symbolized love and passion, while a yellow rose symbolized friendship. The popularity of floriography during the Victorian era was also influenced by the fact that the industrial revolution made it easier to produce and distribute flowers, and the rise of the middle class made it more accessible to the general public.
However, floriography declined in popularity after the Victorian era, but it has seen a resurgence in recent years as people have become more interested in traditional forms of communication and symbolism. Today, the practice of floriography is still used in various forms, from flower arrangements and bouquets to tattoos and other forms of visual art.
HISTORY OF NEUROANATOMY
The origins of neuroanatomy can be traced back to ancient civilizations, where the study of the brain and nervous system was often intertwined with religious and spiritual beliefs. The ancient Egyptians, for example, believed that the brain was not important and instead focused on the heart as the center of thought and emotion. The ancient Greeks, on the other hand, made significant contributions to the study of neuroanatomy. The physician Hippocrates, who lived in the 5th century BCE, wrote extensively on the brain and its functions, and the Greek physician Galen, who lived in the 2nd century CE, made significant contributions to the understanding of the brain's structure.
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During the Middle Ages, the study of neuroanatomy largely declined due to the dominance of the Catholic Church, which discouraged the dissection of human bodies. It wasn't until the Renaissance that the study of neuroanatomy began to flourish again. The anatomist Andreas Vesalius, who lived in the 16th century, made significant contributions to the understanding of the brain's structure and function through his dissections and illustrations of the brain.
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In the 17th and 18th centuries, neuroanatomy continued to advance with the work of scientists such as Thomas Willis, who described the brain's blood vessels, and Franz Gall, who developed the theory of phrenology, which attempted to link specific areas of the brain to different personality traits.
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In the 19th and 20th centuries, neuroanatomy progressed significantly with the development of new technologies such as the microscope and staining techniques, which allowed for more detailed study of the brain's structure. The advent of neuroimaging technologies such as CT and MRI scans in the 20th century has further advanced the study of neuroanatomy, allowing for non-invasive examination of the brain. Today, neuroanatomy is a highly interdisciplinary field, with contributions from scientists in fields such as neuroscience, neurology, and psychiatry.
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1. Visual Cortex/Occipital Lobe: Sight
2. Association Area/Temporal Lobe: Short-term Memory
3. Motor Function Area: Voluntary Muscle Movement
4. Insular Cortex: Taste
5. Auditory Area: Hearing
6. Emotional Area: Feelings
7. Olfactory Area: Smell
8. Sensory Area: Touch and Sensation from Muscles
9. Somatosensory Association Area: Evaluation of Temperature
10. Wernicke's Area: Written and Spoken Language
11. Motor Function Area: Eye Movement
12. Higher Mental Functions Area: Concentration, Creativity, Judgement
13. Cerebellum: Balance and Coordination
14. Brain Stem: Autonomic Functions/Breathing
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FINAL ILLUSTRATION
1. Visual Cortex/Occipital Lobe
- Marigolds contain carotenoids that help vision
2. Association Area/Temporal Lobe
- Forget-Me-Nots symbolize remembrance
3. Motor Function Area
- Sensitive/Humble Plant responds to being touched by closing its leaves
4. Insular Cortex
- Pansies taste sweet
5. Auditory Area
- Balloon Flowers make a popping sound when they bloom
6. Emotional Area: Feelings
- Sunflowers symbolize joy
- Petunias symbolize anger
- Lilies symbolize sorrow
- Orchids symbolize love
- Aconite symbolizes hatred
7. Olfactory Area
- Freesias are very fragrant flowers
8. Sensory Area
- Wooly Thyme's leaves are fuzzy and soft
9. Somatosensory Association Area
- Siberian Irises can withstand temperatures as low as -25 F
- Cosmos cannot grow unless the temperature is above 60 F
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10. Wernicke's Area
- Yucca pulp can be used to make paper
11. Motor Function Area: Eye Movement
- Bunchberry Dogwoods are the “fastest moving plant in the world;” its stamens are like miniature catapults that eject pollen to 10 times the height of the plant at 22 feet/second; they also look like the white of eyes with pupils
12. Higher Mental Functions Area:
- Gardenias symbolize creativity
13. Cerebellum: Balance and Coordination
- Dahlias symbolize balance in life
14. Brain Stem: Autonomic Functions/Breathing
- Baby's Breath because breathing
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