Traditional Thai Shapes in the Context of Buddhist Art and Sculpture - Literature review Example

? 2. Research aims objectives and/or questions Please list the aims, objectives, and/or research questions of the proposed investigation. My aim in this project is to explore traditional Thai shapes, lines, and curves, and forms within the context of Buddhist art and sculpture, and establish the connection between them and human emotional response. The research will investigate the Thai forms in the context of jewelry, particularly, how the forms provoke an ongoing emotional response in the user ultimately creating feelings of calmness and tranquility. In effect, the main aim of this project is to embody Thai identity within pieces of jewelry, as an identity that will become engaging to people across the world. Although the study will primarily focus on the Thai frame of mind and its connection to jewelry, the findings will be reflected in diverse social and scientific fields relating to tactility and emotional responses. Main research questions for my project: a) How can different materials, techniques, and designs in jewelry making enhance positive emotional responses? Testing with images of the Thai Sukhothai Buddha statue. Testing with shapes/forms, sizes, finished surfaces, in 2 & 3 dimensions and different colors. Testing with the design of finished pieces, together with and without its functional use within the piece itself. Figure 1 Practical-based research: table shows samples, which will be investigated through these testing b) How can Thai forms in the context of jewelry positively affect the emotions of the user (positive emotion)? “Positive emotions” are ways that broaden habitual modes of thinking or acting which are represented by various thought-action tendencies from their own well being i.e. to optimize, to play, or to explore and to appreciate. c) To define the relevant terms of understanding the linkages and relationships between Thai artistic experience and jewelry design in a contemporary world. “Thai artistic experience”: knowledge within the Culture of Thailand in terms of culture and art. ‘Linkage’ in this context implies a situation where one thing affects the other in human interaction platforms such as profession, religion, or social intercourse. 3. Relationship of your proposed research to previous research Please explain how your research will build on or add to previous research and how it will make an original contribution to knowledge. (approx. 500 words) Whereas this research work seeks to establish the relationship between Thai forms/jewelry and positive human emotional response, most of the previous research work has been done on cultural meaning of Thai forms. However, some researchers such as Donald Norman and Professor Semir Zeki have done profound research within the context of my study. Zeki has primarily focused on establishing the neurasthenic effect of forms. Other researchers such as Patry Leidy, Betty Gosling, Promsak Jermsawatd, among others have tried to explore the subject within the historic, contemporary, and cultural context (Gosling, 2004, P.38-44). According to the above stated researchers, among others, Buddhism lays the basis for Thai cultures. Arts of different types act as tools to guide and persuade people to think and take action in a ‘righteous’ way. Therefore, art forms are an obvious tool to teach and direct the way people think. This research involved an experiment on the effect of various forms upon myself and found that indeed, there exist neuro-aesthetic feelings when I engage the meaning of the forms deeply (Jermsawatdi, 1979, P. 59-60). Originality of this work stems from the fact that it portrays combinations of concepts and related traditional Thai art components shown through the interplay of shapes that interact with my emotion to being still and at peace. As a jewelry wearer and designer, I am mostly interested in traditional Thai culture and the search for forms, shapes and lines, which will bring positive and better emotions to wearers (Stratton, 2004, P. 38). Resembling to what Donald Norman believes, is that appeal for self-image or pride is a significant component of emotional design. With this claim, it is possible that there is something in emotional design that enables a person to attach oneself to it, which includes not only the functionality of a certain thing or the design itself. According to him, design should be highly associated with occasion, context, and above all the artist’s mood. This work borrows this fundamental idea and develops it further to establish a clear connection between traditional Thai shapes, lines, and curves, and forms within the context of Buddhist art and sculpture and positive human emotional response. A wearer of jewellery is more concerned with the effects that the jewellery has on the third party (Wallace, 2007, p. 4). According to Wallace, a person chooses jewellery according to the strength of its influence on the third party. In his thesis presented at Sheffield University, Wallace explores the effects of integrating digital technology with jewellery. The author acknowledges that jewellery have significant effect on individuals emotions. Wallace bases his research on the physical characteristic of jewellery as perceived from a third party. His research coincides with the findings of his predecessors concerning the effects or influence of jewellery. According to Astfalk, jewelleries have different meanings attached to them according to their owner. The researcher argues that different people have a particular interpretation for different pieces of jewellery. The researcher conducted a qualitative research to ascertain the different properties that people attach to the jewellery that they wear. From the study, he was able to classify different attitudes that people have towards jewellery on three basic classes. However, his classification has a direct correlation with economic and social status that people have in their community. For instance, community leaders were found to prefer a particular design while wealthy members of the society had their own preference. Although artistic craft are valued for their aesthetic purpose, most people associate old and beauty. From a realistic perspective, the relationship between beauty and age is a contradiction (Carley, 1997, p. 22). The author explores the reasons why artists prefer outdated designs and forms. On the other hand, people prefer art forms such as jewelry that describes the culture of the people. This is a contradiction since people are inclined towards new things and modern designs. This explains why people are always looking for the latest models of gadgets such as phones. The main limitation of article is its lack of concern for future changes in trends and preference. This is because people may change their attitude towards art forms and their designs. Although culture plays a significance role in determining the choice of jewellery, personal intentions play a bigger role. According to Clynes & Kline (1996, p. 32) people have personal interest that determines their choice for jewelry and art forms. The study is based on psychology theories where the author explores psychological impacts that art forms have on different individuals. The author established that visual impacts have a significant role in determining the preference of an individual for art forms. It is in this reason that studying the emotional effect of shapes on human mind would make sense knowing the fact that Norman’s conceptual idea about emotional design is highly relevant. His idea is also associated with formulating or creating certain types of human emotions and is not only created through daily interactions, communications or so, but including non-verbal activities such as the formulation of arts and designs. Just like Norman’s research, this study will investigate the belief that everyone who has the affinity for appreciating arts, particularly on designs, and shapes is a naturally born artist. Just as Norman would try to emphasize it, design would reflect on emotions in the same way, as aesthetic beauty of an artist’s subject would convey appreciation from both the artist’s point of view and its spectators. Thus, the whole point of this study would totally make sense knowing the fact that it would potentially add up new ideas to what Norman, and other researchers, already have. This research will confidently uncover new ideas along the way to add to the current understanding on the effect of design on emotions (Taylor, 2008, p. 37-40). Below are samples of my earlier work, which will be used as my first investigation to collect information in order to produce newer ideas for a new body of work for the future. Figure 2 Shapes and Forms: Porcelain and Bone China were my choices for material, as they give a lightweight feeling. The emotional-aesthetic effect of shapes in any context of study would be meaningless without a profound understanding and presentation of the connection between the shapes and the brain. Therefore, an appreciable part of the study will be based primarily on neuroaesthetics. Among many researchers in this particular field, the work on neuroaesthetics conducted by Professor Semir Zeki will be drawn upon form rather than tactility. Jewelleries in the past and even in the present are considered special items that are closely linked in both the body and mind of the wearer. Jewelleries are therefore much more than a merely decorative item, but are rather indicative of entities such as love, belief, or even memories. Jewellery can be wearable and non- wearable but the most important thing is, it should be something valuable towards the owner or wearer. This is because jewellery is something, which is close to the body and mind. It is one’s pleasure and self- uniqueness. Although jewellery is not part of basic needs, they are objects capable of generating one’s fulfilments and regarded as important to one’s mind, thus an influence on one’s living. The aim of this research is to broaden the above designs to be more effective and relevant. For people to be receptive to the idea, this will bring a deeper and fresher perspective to the wearing of jewelry as well as, hopefully, encouraging 'new' people to wear jewelry. This study will also center on educating others within the jewelry industry in Thailand to develop successful new ideas and approaches, without losing touch with traditional design fundamentals. More importantly, the study will realize new dimensions of personal connection with jewelry, even for those people who have been using it without discovering its full emotional potential. Besides generating personal appreciation of jewelry and other shapes/forms and designs, this study may bring a new insight to the marketing world. Articulation of design shapes and forms, for marketers, may generate desired response from target market if the emotional connection between design shapes and customers is well understood. Although I have made a profound study of, and conducted research work on jewelry as it applies to Thais and Buddhism, this work remains fundamental to this part of my PhD. It offers an ideological and interpretive framework in which my PhD work will be founded. The PhD will be a profound extension and development of the current understanding on the emotional effect of shapes on human mind. A synergistic approach consisting of theoretical research on the ideologies of people who have worked on the same field, or related fields, which include neuroaesthetics, as well as practical study, will be considered for this PhD. 4. Research Design and Methods Please explain how you will conduct the research. Depending on your particular research, you might explain the: a) Study or research design; b) Theoretical, conceptual or epistemological framework(s); c) Sampling frame(s) selection criteria and sample size(s) for primary and secondary data (where relevant); d) Research instruments, measurement techniques and data collection tools (where relevant); Also, if your research is practice-based, please indicate if you will be submitting artifacts with your thesis. (Approx 1000 words) This will be a practice-based thesis, where the artefacts integrate part of the tactician. http://www.creativityandcognition.com/research/practice-based-research/ The focuses of the study are based both in Thailand and in the UK. A series of projects seeking to determine effect of jewellery on visual-tactility and sensory experience will be looked at. In addition, identification of the emotions that the jewellery would seek to communicate will be undertaken to explore people’s responses when handling the object. As this study is involved on how and what people think, qualitative research and analysis is the most suitable for data collection using various methods such as interview, focus group using semi-structured interview, together with blind testing. Initial research will be done through reading, literature review, and experimental practice of making jewelry, discussion, and analysis will be engaged fully to foster in-depth understanding of: a) How emotions can be, and have been, carried through into jewelry design/creation, b) How designs, shapes and materials, especially in a religious/philosophical context such as that of Buddhism, can affect people and their emotions, c) The different cultural, emotional, and social context within which people choose and wear jewelry. d) How designs and shapes, utilizing different materials, and combinations of materials, old and new, weight, sizes, dimensions or even senses from parts of our body can provoke an on-going emotional response, e) How new ideas, technology and designs are researched, invented, developed, tested, promoted and implemented within the jewelry industry, The second stage, partly concurrent with the research above, is to develop and translate different ideas into actual pieces of jewelry. This will involve not only designing but also experimentation with different materials and processes to enhance and extend the emotional impact of the pieces to the visual-tactility and sensory experience of this research subjects with an aim of mirroring the results to the general population. “Qualitative research interview is most appropriate where a study focuses on the meaning of particular phenomena to the participant” Real World Research (King, 1994). While doing the research, interview would be one of the most useful methods to take into account in terms of flexibility and simplicity to obtain appropriate results through conversations. However, during time of questioning, perception of non-verbal cues will be crucial in providing clues that can to help in understanding the verbal response. Purposely, unique responses within a group will be considered fully. Where there are a large numbers of people in a group, one might reflect distinctively among the crowd but showing the opposite towards the crowd. The non-verbal cues such as face or hand can be used as an indirect answer to the research questions. In spite of this, the drawback of such method can be time-consuming and interviews require good preparation as such arrangements of confirmation or to visit, which this research will take into account. A semi-structured interview is one of the primary tools for data collection in this project. Questions are predetermined although the order can be modified, which depending on the interview situation. Interviews will be conducted in three groups. The first group might be a test group to see how good the questions are, as well as time viability. During the session, testing will involve not only design but also experimentation with different materials and processes to enhance and extend the emotional impact of the pieces on other people using actual examples of pieces of jewelry. Testing will be through direct question and answer sessions as well as discussion groups in combination with the use of video/photograph recording observation and 'mini exhibitions', to individuals and at times to the entire group. This will be undertaken partly in one to one meetings, partly with small groups of invitees, partly at fashion shows and similar events, and partly through attending social events. Testing will often be within the university premises. However, testing involving businesses and non-university insiders will often need to be at business premises, function rooms or even at people's homes. Most of the testing will be focused on Thailand. An element of the testing will be to identify responses by social strata, gender, religious persuasion, and cultural origin or background. None of these subdivisions will necessarily be easy to identify and approximation might be the only option in some cases, but the process will add to the usefulness of the work. 6. Timeframe Please provide a draft timetable for your proposed research. First Year: The project will be primarily practical and visual with examples of the designs and jewelry pieces, some of which are in progress and some of which are already completely produced. Using previous shapes/forms and materials, which were experimented on myself, people from various social strata, genders, age groups, religion, cultures, just to mention but a few, will be tested and information will be collected, in order to gain information to advance the work further towards new design. With perhaps new shapes/forms and materials, these will then be backed up by details, pictorial and textual, of the different steps undertaken, from inspiration, through development, experimentation, and testing. This process will also continue into the second year. “Primary Research” is research, which will start from scratch by collecting data from respondents and then analyzing the results, whereas secondary research data are made available through publications, newspapers, among others. Second Year: An ongoing process of jewelry production, will take place, along with the provision of explanations for any significant changes that may be made and what effect of such changes on the wearer. All this will be backed up with an overall analysis of the use of jewelry to produce emotional effect, the emotions are produced, and how emotional reactions differ between different social strata, genders, age groups, religion, cultures, etc. Data based on the responses to interviews, and other public information-gathering exercises will be used to back up the various hypotheses and conclusions. In addition, the research will involve working and experimenting at the hospital, in aspects that require using machines and equipment to measure brain activity. Final design and making of jewelry pieces will be completed. Third Year: Finishing of the jewelry making production will carry on. Definitive establishment of the final body of work, and writing up my dissertation with details of the practice-based research will take place. 8. Additional information/requirements Please provide details of any specific requirements related to your research project or any additional information, which you feel may be helpful. Below are additional specific details of the requirement and information related to the Research Project: I have two places to consider for this study. As stated earlier, this study will geographically focus in Thailand and UK. These two countries would be adequate to help address the significant goals or objectives of this research study. In Thailand, the proponent will be collecting information of a Historical Thai Culture. In order to achieve this successfully, a visit to the Sukhothai region, where the inspiration for the study found its inception will be necessary. A visit to the Silpakon University, both Bangkok and Nakhonprathom region campuses will also be initiated. Other areas that will require visiting will be Thailand National Museum, Museum of Siam, Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall, The Queen’s Gallery, National Art Gallery, Bangkok Art & Culture Centre and other places in Thailand where there a possibility of obtaining sufficient information to enhance better understanding or the relationship between jewelry, designs and emotions. In the UK, the proponent will be obliged to attend Jewelry and Ceramic Workshop, as this will be the main requirement by the University in the entire research as it is practical-based. Workshop will therefore, be the main activity to be initiated regarding this concern. All the above information should be included for this study and they should be applied, as it would be through implementing of these ideas that substantial information will finally be generated. In consideration, the proponent will need to have an approval in order to implement the actual project in fulfillment of the actual period stated in this study. Works Cited Astfalck J 2003, Jewellery is Life, review, Crafts. No. 180 pg 58 Carley M 1997, The pleasures of excess Metal smith, Summer 97. pg 22 Clynes M & Kline N 1960, Cyborgs and Space in Hables. Routledge, New York. Gosling B 2004, Origins of Thai art. River Books, London. Jermsawatdi P 1979, Thai Art With Indian Influences. Abhinav Publications, Delhi. King N 1994, “The Qualitative Interview” in Qualitative Methods in Organisation Research, eds. C. Cassell and G. Symon. Sage, London: Stratton C 2004. Buddhist Sculpture of Northern Thailand. Serindia Publications, Chicago. Taylor J 2008, Buddhism and Postmodern Imaginings in Thailand: The Religiosity of Urban Space. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., Farnham. Wallace J 2007, Emotionally charged: A practice- centered enquiry of digital jewellery and personal emotional significance. Sheffield University. Read More