Creation (Fatima & Mariam):
We were tasked with creating something that brings people together. Initially, we brainstormed common and realistic methods, such as dating apps, movies, and family events. However, we then employed the “why” method to explore deeper reasons for people coming together. By asking why people need to connect in the first place, we concluded that the goal was to help individuals connect with strangers they might have more in common with than they realize. This led us to the idea of “Stranger Confessions,” where strangers come together to answer five prompts or questions, fostering a deeper connection through shared responses.
Flow; Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly Response:
I really resonated with Csikszentmihalyi’s concepts around achieving flow states. His examples of how activities like games, art, and rituals tap into our core desire for enjoyment and growth by letting us push our skills and take on bigger challenges – that just clicked for me. The way he illustrated that cycle of mastering skills, then craving greater complexities to regain that optimal experience was an eye-opener.
His take on how religions originally facilitated those meaningful, flow-inducing connections, while a lot of modern pursuits fall short on that front, definitely made me think. Even if contemporary flow activities seem more pleasure-seeking on the surface, his point about them being the truest expressions of a culture’s character and pursuit of happiness rang true.
Thoughts on Robert Seidel
I thought Robert Seidel’s art was really interesting, especially how he used AI to integrate and elevate his work which made it look so artistic and innovative.
Even though his art is impressive, a more energetic presentation would have made it more interesting to watch.