Robust Verbs – KFury

Posted on November 16, 2024 by KFury205

Original Paragraph:

There is a huge problem in Vancouver with heroin addicts committing crimes to support their habits. The “free heroin for addicts” program is doing everything they can to stop the addicts. The problem is that there is a large crime rate due to the addicts. It is obvious that addicts have a hard time getting through their day to day lives. Daily activities such as jobs, interactions, and relationships are hard to maintain because of the fact that they are using. By heroin users being addicted, they will do whatever they have to do to get their hands on the drug. The types of crimes committed are those of breaking and entering as well as stealing. There are no limits to where they will go to retrieve this drug so that they can feed their addiction. The problem with this program is that it won’t help to ween these addicts off using heroin. It is only trying to save the city from rising crime rates that they’re up to. By providing the drug, these addicts will be off the streets, which in turn will prevent them from committing minor street crimes. This will also keep the heroin users out of the hospital. It is pointless that the hospitals have to deal with people who want to use bad drugs or unsanitary needles and find themselves being unable to afford hospital bills and hard to cope without the drug. This program gives people free heroin in the cleanest way possible. This will in turn fix the city  but not the addiction that these people face.

Revised Paragraph: 

A situation involving Heroin-related crimes has been rising in Vancouver for some time as addicts steal to feed their habits. The “free heroin for addicts” program aims to curb this crime wave, but it misses the mark by failing to address the root cause: addiction itself. Heroin use disrupts every aspect of an addict’s life, from holding down a job to maintaining relationships. Desperate for their next fix, users resort to breaking and entering, theft, and other crimes. The program may reduce street crime by giving addicts clean heroin, but it only shifts the problem it doesn’t solve it. Hospitals are overwhelmed with users who inject unsanitary needles, rack up costly bills, and struggle to break free from their addiction. The program may alleviate immediate concerns, but it offers no long-term solution for the addiction that drives the criminal behavior.

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Robust Verbs – imaginary.persona RETRY

Posted on November 15, 2024 by imaginary.persona

Vancouver has a huge problem with heroin addicts committing crimes to support their habits. The “free heroin for addicts” program does everything they can to stop the addicts, the crime rate is still large though they’re doing their best. Addicts have a hard time getting through their day to day lives; daily activities such as jobs, interactions, and relationships are hard to maintain. Heroin users being addicted causes them to do whatever they have to do to get their hands on the drug, such as breaking and entering and stealing. The program won’t help ween addicts from heroin, instead it helps with the crime rates. Since providing the drug to the addicts, these addicts will be off the streets and also keep the users out of the hospital. This program gives people free heroin in the cleanest way possible.

Posted in imaginary.persona, Robust Verbs | 2 Comments

Summaries – Bruinbird

Posted on November 14, 2024 by Bruinbird

It seems counterintuitive that we doubt the ethicality of an image and story such as that of Fabienne Cherisma when the methods and taking of such images are why we can learn about these stories in the first place. January 10th, 2010, Haiti was affected by a 7.1 magnitude earthquake and from the destruction rose a sense of lawlessness, looters, and death. In the case of the photograph of Cherisma, there is debate whether or not her death was intentional on the part of police forces, who had come in to put a stop to the looting. Happening roughly nine days after the initial earthquake, this shooting brought along with it attention towards the country, and whether her family liked it or not, the end of Cherisma’s life. While some may say that this story, and the photos surrounding  it take attention away from the  recovery of the Hatians, it is more likely that people who read and hear about it will be pointed to the causes behind it. Thus granting them greater publicity, and hopefully, more aid to assist in their recovery beyond the initial destruction.

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Causal Argument – Mongoose449

Posted on November 13, 2024 by Mongoose449

Living in caves helped prevent radiation leakage

To Prehistoric humans, a natural cave ticked every box to their survivalist brains. It kept them sheltered against the elements, it had a natural choke-point to fend off predators or opposing tribes, was difficult to enter, and had insulation against temperature fluctuations.

A cave is a natural fortress, practically impossible to destroy through conventional means, with multiple feet of solid stone between the inside and the outside. Throughout history caves and dug outs serve as either homes, or storage simply due to the sheer fact that it is a cave, and the inherent sturdiness that comes with it.

Across history caves have served as shelter, with them serving as a reference point to how we ourselves dig underground, and how we use that underground space. Root cellars are dug out pits, dark, cool and dry that keeps food preserved for long periods of time. Basements in houses are safe places when there are natural disaster.

When someone is trying to keep something safe, or even hide it from someone, they bury it underground, under layers of stone and soil. By the time of the first world war, the majority of nations use bunkers and trenches to protect their borders, using concrete and dirt to form impenetrable fortresses dug into the earth. These held large stores of food, water, ammunition, and more.

Fortresses dug into the earth are practically impenetrable by conventional means. During the battle of Verdun, the French Fort Vaux withstood alone for over a week against prolonged German attack and bombardment, only being captured due to ammunition and water completely running out. It’s concrete walls withheld another six months of combat, and after it’s recapture by the French was the fort repaired to pre-battle conditions.

To engineers and radiation workers, they needed a place to store highly volatile radioactive waste, and they turned to underground storage. Cave systems solve many of the problems with storing radioactive waste long term, they are difficult to enter, meaning very little chance of people stumbling upon the waste. Stone is also very dense, absorbing radioactive particles and x-rays before they can endanger someone. They are also extremely sturdy, with very little chance of a containment breach when surrounded by solid rock and reinforced concrete.

Radioactive particles do not travel far in very dense substances, often being stored in thick concrete or deep water pools. Water is very good at cooling off radioactive substances, but is not ideal for long term storage with it’s overall temperature requiring specific conditions to stay as a liquid. Concrete on the other hand, similar to stone, is very dense, and will not change based on the temperature or condition it is in.

A waste facility serves the same purpose as a cave does, just now for a different, more volatile occupant. It keeps radiation from leaking into the outside world, prevents anyone from easily reaching it, and keeps consistent temperature to let the radioactive material rest in peace.

References:

https://www.stumpcrosscaverns.co.uk/how-our-ancient-ancestors-used-caves

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_dweller

https://www.cheminsdememoire.gouv.fr/en/fort-de-vaux

https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/nuclear-waste/storage-and-disposal-of-radioactive-waste

Posted in Causal Draft, Mongoose | 1 Comment

Causal Rewrite – pineapple488

Posted on November 13, 2024 by pineapple488

How Early Music Education Shapes
Musical Success and Develops Perfect Pitch

Early exposure to music education is widely recognized for its numerous benefits, but what people don’t often consider is that a child’s music potential benefits significantly from an experiential rather than theoretical approach to learning. Specifically, teaching children to compose and perform by ear, rather than focusing on music theory, greatly enhances their long-term musical success. Audiation plays an important role in this process. Children who develop strong audiation skills through early music education are more likely to experience greater creativity, musical fluency, and even the rare ability of perfect pitch. Early ear-based training, combined with a strong foundation in audiation, improves a child’s development as a musician and contrasts with the less than optimal outcomes of children who are taught only through music theory from an early age.

Audiation allows children to mentally retain, manipulate, and anticipate sounds, forming the foundation for composing, improvising, and engaging with music creatively. When children undergo ear training, they learn to identify, recall, and reproduce music they hear without written notation. This ability to audiate helps them internalize music, making it easier to engage with it at an intuitive level. Research consistently indicates that children who develop audiation skills through ear training are more likely to achieve musical success. They can reproduce and create melodies, harmonies, and rhythms on their own, unconstrained by rigid structures of written notation. This fosters expressive, spontaneous musical performances, especially for young composers. Instead of merely interpreting or memorizing notation, these children create music from the sounds they have internalized.

The immersive process of ear training and audiation plays a direct role in enhancing a child’s ability to internalize music, build musical instincts, and develop a deep sense of musicality. Through this process, children learn to think about music beyond the technicalities of written notation. The ability to connect with music on a deeper, more internalized level directly leads to their success as musicians.

One extraordinary outcome of early music education is the development of perfect pitch. This ability is most often observed in those exposed to music education early, particularly when training emphasizes ear-based skills. The critical period for developing perfect pitch occurs in early childhood when the brain is most capable of absorbing complex auditory information. Studies consistently show that children who begin music education before age 6 are significantly more likely to develop perfect pitch than those who start later. Dr. Diana Deutsch’s study at the University of California, San Diego, found that intensive ear training during early years of music education dramatically increased the likelihood of developing perfect pitch.

Audiation plays a key role in this process. By mentally retaining the sounds they hear, children better distinguish and recall specific pitches. This heightened sensitivity strengthens over time, leading to perfect pitch development. It is directly related to early exposure to music education, particularly ear training and audiation. These experiences provide necessary auditory stimulation that primes the brain for pitch recognition. Without early training, the brain’s ability to internalize pitch so it can be immediately recalled is much less likely to develop.

While ear-based training clearly benefits musical intuition and creativity, music theory can also have advantages, especially as children progress to more complex musical structures. However, placing too much emphasis on music theory, especially when introduced too early, can have unintended consequences that hinder a child’s natural musical development. Children who focus primarily on theory tend to have a disconnect between technical knowledge and musical intuition, causing slower music development. Music theory teaches children how to read sheet music, understand scales, chords, and notation, but it may fail to foster an innate understanding of how music feels or sounds internally. Focusing on theory too early might cause proficiency at reading music but a struggle to connect abstract concepts.

For example, a child who learns to read sheet music may perform a complex piece but fail to compose or improvise. Conversely, children who learn to play music by ear develop an intuitive grasp of musical structure, often without written notation. They internalize melodies and harmonies by listening and are more likely to express themselves freely and creatively in their musical pursuits. Thus, while theory-based learning provides valuable technical skills, it can lead to rigid, less flexible musicality when it overshadows ear training. Ear-based learning, on the other hand, enables children to access a more organic, instinctive understanding of music, leading to better outcomes in both performance and composition.

The effectiveness of early music education is also rooted in the brain’s inherent plasticity during early childhood. Neuroscientific research has shown that young children’s brains are highly adaptable, capable of forming new connections quickly in response to auditory stimuli. The earlier a child is exposed to music and ear-based training, the more readily their brain absorbs and processes sound in ways that adults cannot. This plasticity allows children to develop a greater sensitivity to sound and a deeper connection to music, creating ideal conditions for developing advanced skills like perfect pitch or becoming more adaptable musicians. Early music exposure, particularly when it emphasizes listening, imitation, and internalization of sound, shapes neural pathways that enhance musical performance and creativity. The remote cause of musical success, then, is the developmental timing of music education, which capitalizes on the brain’s capacity for rapid auditory learning and long-term skill-building.

In conclusion, the success of early music education is shaped by a causal chain of ear-based learning, audiation, and perfect pitch development. Early exposure primes the brain, allowing it to develop rare abilities like perfect pitch. Audiation, developed through ear-based training, provides a foundation for creativity, expression, and fluency. While music theory is important, focusing too much on it at an early age can limit a child’s ability to engage with music intuitively and prevent the benefits of early ear-based training. By taking a different approach to music education and prioritizing ear-based education and audiation, rather than relying solely on theory, we can set children on a path to becoming more successful, creative, and expressive musicians. Early childhood is the ideal time to foster these skills, given the brain’s adaptability and its capacity to absorb musical information.

References

Deutsch, D. (n.d.). 5 absolute pitch – Diana Deutsch. https://deutsch.ucsd.edu/pdf/PsyMus_3_Ch5_Absolute_Pitch.pdf 

Gordon, E., E. (2013). Music learning theory for newborn and young children E. Edwin Gordon. G.I.A. publications. 

Hargreaves, D. (2021, May 4). Musical Development and Learning: The international perspective. British Journal of Music Education. https://www.academia.edu/48275238/Musical_development_and_learning_The_international_perspective 

Schellenberg, E. G. (n.d.). Music and Cognitive Abilities. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1111/j.0963-7214.2005.00389.x

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Definition Rewrite – pineapple488

Posted on November 13, 2024 by pineapple488

The Power of Early Music Education: 
Cultivating Creativity Through Audiation

Many music education systems prioritize theoretical knowledge; the formal rules, structures, and concepts behind music; rather than experiential learning; the direct experience of making or listening to music. However, this approach actually hinders a child’s ability to succeed as a musician. Experiential learning emphasizes active, hands-on engagement with music in ways that develop intuitive, aural, and creative skills. Ear training allows children to cultivate the auditory skills necessary to experience these engagements, ultimately strengthening their perception of music and their potential to develop outstanding abilities such as perfect pitch. All children have the aptitude to become musical geniuses, so long as they are immersed in environments that foster an active and meaningful engagement with sound early on in their development, and these skills are brought out heavily through music experience and audiation more so than the study of music theory.

Music theory refers to the study of the fundamental elements and guidelines used by musicians to put interpretations and meaning to what they hear. It encompasses a wide range of topics, including the understanding of scales, chords, rhythm, melody, harmony, form, and notation. Although knowledge of music theory can provide valuable insights into understanding music structure, it emphasizes abstract concepts that may not resonate with young learners and therefore fail to set them up for success as they build upon their education. For many children, the complexity of music theory can overshadow the joy of musical expression, making it seem like a chore rather than a creative outlet.

Music educator Edwin Gordon coined the term audiation, which describes the ability to hear and understand music in one’s mind without physical sound being present. It is essentially the process of mentally playing music and making sense of it and is fundamental to developing musical skills. Though similar, audiation is not the same as aural perception. Aural perception occurs simultaneously as a sound is being heard, while audiation happens after the sound is no longer audible. The Gordon Institute for Music Learning said, “Audiation is the musical equivalent of thinking in language. When we listen to someone speak we must retain in memory their vocal sounds long enough to recognize and give meaning to the words the sounds represent. Likewise, when listening to music we are at any given moment organizing in audiation sounds that were recently heard.” Audiation also involves being able to make predictions about what comes next in music based on the rhythm and tone. Ear training, a closely related concept, involves exercises that help students identify, comprehend, and reproduce music by listening. This method encourages students to engage with music in an instinctual way, allowing them to internalize musical patterns and sounds. By focusing on audiation and ear training, children can develop a more intuitive grasp of music, fostering creativity and expression.

The more children are exposed to music early on and taught how to audiate, the more likely they are to develop the amazing ability known as perfect pitch, or absolute pitch. Perfect pitch is the very rare talent that allows an individual to identify or recreate a musical note without any sort of reference tone. For instance, a person with perfect pitch can hear a sound and instantly recognize it as an “A” or an “E-flat.” It also enables a person to distinguish whether two notes are exactly one octave apart or slightly more or less. The development of perfect pitch is closely linked to early and consistent exposure to music, particularly through ear training exercises that help children build a finely tuned sense of pitch. Though perfect pitch is often considered an innate ability, studies show that it can be cultivated through early musical education, especially when a child is immersed in an environment that encourages them to listen closely and learn music by ear.

A laboratory investigation at Hamilton University revealed that perfect pitch can in fact be learned through intense training. Participants of the study were given two tests to measure their ability to correctly identify notes after hearing them, once before and once after 36 training sessions where they practiced identifying notes and differentiating between half steps. All participants showed significant improvement, and two of them were able to develop perfect pitch. Although it can be learned at any stage in life, people who have this ability have typically had it since they were very young. A child’s brain is much more flexible and absorbent of new information than the brain of an adult. Therefore, children exposed to music education at a young age are more likely to develop perfect pitch, particularly when they engage in ear training that emphasizes listening and placing pitches in various contexts.

A person’s natural ability or talent in a specific area is referred to as aptitude. In the context of music, aptitude encompasses a range of factors, including a child’s sensitivity to sound, rhythm, and musical patterns. While some children may have an innate musical aptitude, it is crucial to recognize that all children can develop musical skills with the right guidance and environment. Early exposure to music, particularly through engaging methods such as ear training, can unlock potential that might otherwise remain dormant. Musical ability is a broader term that encompasses a range of skills, including performance, composition, improvisation, and the ability to understand and analyze music. Musical success is not solely defined by technical proficiency. It also includes creativity, expression, and the ability to communicate emotions through music. By emphasizing ear training and experiential learning, children can develop a great sense of musicality that enhances their overall musical success.

By focusing on these concepts, it becomes clear that traditional music education, which heavily emphasizes music theory, may not be the most effective approach for young learners. Instead, integrating audiation and ear training into the curriculum can provide children with a more meaningful and engaging musical experience. When children learn to recognize and create music by ear, they develop a deeper connection to sound and a greater sense of autonomy in their musical journey. Immersing children in music early on also helps develop their confidence and fosters a sense of belonging. As they explore sounds and experiment with composing music, they are more likely to express their individuality and creativity. This freedom encourages them to take risks and discover their unique musical voices, further enhancing their potential for success.

In conclusion, nurturing a child’s musical potential through early exposure and ear training can lead to remarkable cognitive and emotional benefits. By prioritizing experiential learning over theoretical knowledge, we can create an environment where all children have the opportunity to thrive as musicians. The ability to develop perfect pitch, a strong sense of musical aptitude, and the skills necessary for musical success are within reach for every child, provided they are given the right tools and experiences.

References

Audiation. GIML The Gordon Institute for Music Learning. (n.d.). https://giml.org/mlt/audiation/ 

Can Perfect Pitch Be Learned?. Lundin, R. W. (1963). Music Educators Journal. https://doi.org/10.2307/3389949 

Music Theory: Basics and Fundamental Concepts. Avid. (n.d.). https://www.avid.com/resource-center/music-theory 

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Causal Rewrite- Lobsterman

Posted on November 13, 2024 by lobsterman

Our New God
Part Two: The Horsemen

AI wouldn’t have been integrated into society so quickly if it weren’t for the rapid use of smartphones and social media before it.  AI has been in development for a long time but you can’t tell an algorithm to paint on a canvas if there isn’t a canvas.  The society wide take over of smartphones with social media capabilities created a landscape that AI could really take advantage of.  The early 2000’s saw the creation of facebook and the iphone within two years of each other.  This has given people nearly twenty years to get used to the rapid growth of technology and has given AI a ridiculous amount of information to play with.

When discussing AI and its dark capabilities like exponentially removing humans from workspaces, replacing artists, and reshaping society into a place where human connection or expression just isn’t valued anymore; I’d like to shine light on the technologies that may have begun influencing this.  NPR’s article “The truth about teens, social media, and the mental health crisis”, states that since 1976 the amount teens would go out with friends was basically the same until the 2010s, where it completely plummeted.  2009 was the last year that teenagers would view social media as an occasional habit with 50% using it daily, 10 years later that skyrocketed to 95%.  This is the only reason AI was able to be integrated so quickly, the last twenty years has completely reshaped how we (and especially the younger generation) think.  It took no time at all for social media to begin replacing human interaction, even in the earliest days of the smartphone era.  

Social media has obvious negative side effects that have been contributing to social isolation and addictive behavior.  Columbia University Irving Medical Center’s article “Just how harmful is social media?” states that “social media can provide platforms for bullying and exclusion, unrealistic expectations about body image and sources of popularity, normalization of risk-taking behaviors, and can be detrimental to mental health.”  Sounds like a nightmare to me, but I can’t blame people that are being harmed by social media when a lot of them have had to grow up with it.  That’s what happens when a new technology we know very little about is integrated into our society, schools, and homes without any foresight of where it could lead.  

Even if the companies developing AI saw a possible threat to the user, I don’t think we could trust them to reveal that to us.  The Guardian’s article “Facebook aware of Instagram’s harmful effect on teenage girls,”dives into a Facebook employee’s admission that their site’s algorithm is harmful to the mental health of their users, especially young girls who find themselves more concerned with their body image from constant exposure to unrealistic beauty standards.  If there’s money to be made, who’s to say what developers would be open about with AI.  Social media apps like Instagram and Facebook clearly have the screen time of the user as a priority, not their well being.  Developers of AI may very well be aware of the drastic effects it could have on our society long term, and do it anyway.

All this to say that AI in its current form is only here because large corporations have found profit in reshaping the human experience. It’s not so far fetched to believe AI could begin replacing functions of ourselves and our society when previous technology has already shown its ability to do that.  It’s hard to come by parking meters in modern cities now, many of them opt for green signs with QR codes linking to instructions, that then require someone to create an account, and link their debit card to pay for parking.  Imagine a 70 year old trying to do that.  Many old people can’t keep up with this constant technological evolution, and many others find it unnecessary.  Unfortunately we don’t get a vote for this kind of thing, once someone in silicon valley realizes they can do something, they do it regardless of how it might affect us. 

AI art and other AI generated media is the next evolution for the social media age.  It’s easier and faster to produce social media content with AI.  This cheapens the user’s experience and further isolates them from the world.  Social media was never perfectly healthy but at the very least it consisted of real people with real thoughts and real voices.  AI generated social media content consists of AI narrated text to speech, AI generated faces, and AI generated scripts.  On many videos, there will be comments left by entirely AI run profiles.  Social media editor was another creative job, now anyone can make social media videos in a matter of seconds.  AI art isn’t really being looked at like art but it’s image generation is already taking over spaces where some amount of human creativity was required.  Again, the human element slowly but steadily bleeds out of the equation.  

Before social media, I don’t think as many people would be impressed by AI, but in a world where you are predisposed to looking at your phone and seeing whatever it has to offer, suddenly AI can be very attractive to a lot of people.  The pipeline from the release of the iphone to wherever the hell we are going, is tragic.  Before any of this, people went out with friends, talked face to face, gathered the courage to ask for someone’s number, they could even go to sleep without consuming a hundred tik tok videos beforehand.  That world is no longer here, we had too much autonomy and that’s just not profitable enough anymore.  Apparently we didn’t give enough attention to what people were doing when we weren’t there, what our favorite celebrities were up to, what it means if our ex is on vacation, we didn’t watch enough ads, or pay enough subscriptions. We didn’t give so much of ourselves to something that keeps taking. We could stop for a while, think for a while, and be okay for a while.

I was born in 2004, my mother was smart enough to raise me without the internet until 2017, when my school required it.  My memories of that life are fading away, but i remember how quiet it was back then, I miss how quiet it was.

References

Doucleff, Michaeleen. “The Truth about Teens, Social Media and the Mental Health Crisis.” NPR, NPR, 25 Apr. 2023, www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/04/25/1171773181/social-media-teens-mental-health. 

“Just How Harmful Is Social Media? Our Experts Weigh-In.” Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 14 Mar. 2023, www.publichealth.columbia.edu/news/just-how-harmful-social-media-our-experts-weigh. 


“Facebook Aware of Instagram’s Harmful Effect on Teenage Girls, Leak Reveals.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 14 Sept. 2021, www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/14/facebook-aware-instagram-harmful-effect-teenage-girls-leak-reveals.

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Robust Verb- Goat81

Posted on November 13, 2024 by GOAT81

Heroin addicts in Vancouver are a major problem and it makes sense if supported by such data. This free heroin for addicts scheme will be targeted towards addressing ever rising crime rates associated with addiction. Addicts often find it impossible to do the things that most of us can take for granted each day like going to work, meeting friends, or sustaining relationships without the drug in their system. Crackheads, in need of a fix they are willing to do almost anything from breaking and entering to robbery finding anyone who might supply them with what they crave. But this program fails to address the most important concept of getting those addicted off their addictions. Rather, it aims to cut crime by dispensing measured quantities of heroin, limiting addicts’ street time and ER visits. This relieves the pressure on hospitals saturated by consumers using dirty drugs or contaminated needles. While the program provides a less dirty/safer means of drug taking, it addresses symptoms in the city and not the cause.

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Casual Argument – Who’s On First?

Posted on November 13, 2024 by Who'sOnFirst?

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causal rewrite- lil.sapph

Posted on November 12, 2024 by lil.sapph

Minimalism Prevents Creativity

Minimalist design has been celebrated for its simplicity, clean lines, and peaceful environment, but the very features that make it appealing also hold back creativity. We have evolved to live in repeated rectangular prisms out of simple convenience. Wired to think creatively, explore, and to break boundaries, our minds crave stimulation, complexity, and unpredictability. While minimalist spaces are calming and organized, they do little to foster innovative thinking as they lack the very things creativity needs. 

Color plays a massive role in how we experience the world, and it’s no different in interior design. Minimalist spaces primarily use muted, neutral colors like beige, white, and gray. Color theory proves that muted neutrals are not very stimulative, rather they have a calming effect. According to FZE in The Psychology of Color, “The retina focuses on colors as rays of light, which have varying lengths and degrees of refraction, reflection, and absorption depending on the hue. The eye’s sensing of each color induces fast reactions in the brain and autonomic nervous system.” Warm colors like red or orange have longer wavelengths which are attention grabbing and stimulate energy. In contrast, cooler colors like blue or green have shorter wavelengths that enter the eyes easier, resulting in a calming and relaxing effect.  Creativity needs more than a serene color palette. It requires stimulation achieved through vibrant colors and dynamic contrasts. A room with splashes of color or unique patterns force the brain to think differently, while the sterile neutrals of minimalism keep it stuck in place.

Image 1 on the right shows this wonderfully. The stone and beige tones bring out the peace of the room and there are no other colors in any decoration that would bring up any emotions other than serenity. The image on the left on the other hand is overflowing with color, vibrancy, and creativity. The color scheme is not chaotic, but harmonious. It gives a really complete look to the room, along with a bit of biophilic design as can be seen on the wall and the plants all along the room. The addition of this foliage allows an inspiration from nature to also seep into our wonderful minds.

Minimalist design is full of straight lines, rigid angles, and rectangular shapes. While these structures may be comfortable, they are incredibly limiting. Human beings love order, but too much order is a creativity killer. When everything is perfectly aligned, when all angles are predictable, the mind doesn’t feel challenged. There’s no complexity to engage with. This repetitive, predictable pattern in our carpentered world limits the brain’s ability to break out of its usual way of thinking. We don’t need a perfectly symmetrical room to feel comfortable, but we do need visual variety to keep our minds engaged. While our perspective changes and objects appear to be angled and somewhat trapezoidal, our eyes strictly believe it is still rectangular, showing us how it is always the same thing. This type of repetition embedded itself in our brains making any other type of structured environment out of the ordinary.

The straight lines and rigid shapes seen in image 2 are soothing , but uninspiring. The lack of complexity makes the room feel static. In contrast, the room in Image 1, with its complex ceiling and irregular angles, engages the brain in a different way. The mind is forced to process the unusual shapes and think beyond the obvious, which stimulates creativity. A room that challenges perception whether through unexpected angles or complex forms, pushes the boundaries of conventional thinking and opens the door for new ideas.

Minimalist spaces neglect a variety of textures in the space, using just smooth, polished surfaces with minimal designs like metal, glass, and stone. Giving a sleek and modern look isn’t enough to engage with one of the most important senses: touch. Touch is essential for creativity as different textures allow us to experience the world around us in more depth, providing the brain with sensory input that helps it think in new and inventive ways. Minimalist design’s emphasis on smooth, uniform materials creates a cold and uninspiring tactile environment. While these materials may look clean and modern, they don’t invite exploration or provoke deeper thoughts. On the other hand, spaces with different textures like wood and different fabrics engage the senses better. 

Like in the intricate ceiling design in image1 which makes the room more complex and engaging, as well as the intricacy in wood structure in image 2. In contrast, the minimalist design in image 1 and 2 has smooth stone and tile surfaces that lack texture, making it flat and uninspiring. 

Minimalism is built around the idea of removing distractions and focusing only on functionality. Creativity thrives in environments that challenge us, push us to think outside of the box, and offer variety in our surroundings which minimalism does not. It doesn’t offer the stimulation the mind needs to break out of its regular thought patterns when all of the complexity and flourishing elements are striped away.

Image 1

Image 2

 References 

FZE, B. B. C. (2024, September 20). The psychology of Color. UKEssays. https://www.ukessays.com/essays/arts/the-psychology-of-color.php

Kansal, S., & Rana, D. P. (n.d.). International Journal of Architecture and Infrastructure Planning. http://architecture.journalspub.info/index.php?journal=JAIP&page=index 

Mahmoud, H. M. (2023). (PDF) form and structure in Interior Architecture. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328256439_Form_and_Structure_in_Interior_Architecture  

Mahmoud, Dr. H.-T. H. (n.d.). Minimalism as concept in interior architecture design Case study North coast villa. https://jsos.journals.ekb.eg/article_225753_b862f35afd09da34e21df0f09c701d79.pdf 

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