In this assignment, I have to consider a topic and question its original intuitive logic through the lateral purpose of “why”. The intention of this kind of “why” is to create discomfort with any explanation or established assumptions through vertical thinking. The result of this chain of why’s should be counterintuitive from the starting logic.
When I was returning to the dorm passing through the Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer, this topic suddenly flashed into my mind:
Physical Borders
- Why do countries have physical borders? To completely separate different kinds of people and control their flow.
- Why do they want to completely separate them? They want to control the mixing and interaction between people.
- Why do they want to control this? Because different countries have different laws and regulations.
- Why they have different laws and regulations? Because their societies are formed with different cultures, social norms, ideologies, values, and histories.
- Why is different cultures, social norms and stuff a problem? Because these are difficult to change which make people put barriers without thinking but just assuming the negative effects of difference.
- Why do people tends to avoid the negative effects of difference? Because firstly-perceived differences are often superficial and stereotypical. They just represents tendencies.
- Why are firstly-perceived differences superficial and stereotypical? Because direct interaction between the two sides are limited.
At this level of questioning, since the two sides of such physical borders are usually limited in interactions, which gives rise to a vicious circle pointing back to points 5 and 6, instead of creating a drastic line separating the two, why don’t we create a wide area of conversation, tolerance, and exhibition between the two while still maintaining some control? We can see the effects of the lateral purpose of “why” here. We started from physical borders but went down to human interaction. Moreover The facilitating nature of this structure is counterintuitive from the separation nature of traditional physical borders people would assume.Using BrickLink studio, a virtual LEGO designing software that can produce real-looking images, I can render my idea generally using this LEGO model.
The gradually mixing color of the tiles symbolizes the communication between the two. The red and white LEGO flags are used to represent country flags. The walls are made of glass and glass doors are placed densely, providing easy means of seeing through and passing the border. I used trees, houses and chairs to symbolize the facilities that can be established in between this space. Between the walls, people of either sides can engage in recreational activities, relaxing, commerce, reading, concerts, public events, speeches, sports and so much more…Especially events that are both competing and uniting like sports, an inspiration I got from the border volleyball between US and Mexico border residents.
I wish that someday in the future, when the gigantic metal and concrete cage walls between countries that are interested in establishing these jarring structures all come down, the world can unite and celebrate its diversity under the leaves, roofs, and cheer of these redesigned borders, and all of us can play volleyball with our friends on the other side, across the long-gone walls replaced by only markings or volleyball nets just like what the Berlin Wall is now.