Category: 2024

I combined my responses for Lateral Thinking and Art & Fear.

I enjoyed reading about the art & fear chapter. It feels like a handbook for young artists that is intended to guide you through your career, or in general for everyone who are interested in creating without consuming yourself. Some of my take-away can be found below:

1. Do not equate the product of your art as your whole person
2. “learning to accept yourself, which makes your work personal, and in following your own voice, which makes your work distinctive.”
3. For makers, process matters, for viewers, result matters

Art comes from pain, politics, and struggles. In an ideal society (regardless of the regime), do we still have art? The arts that stay in my mind are always somehow related to tragedy, even the most loving and wholesome piece of art has an underlying tone of the fear of losing, social oppression, or emptiness. 

Value the process = being effective and not being right 

Sometimes it’s harder to hold it back than to let it flow. Delay in judgment is a tool to help you hold. It’s like eating slower helps you digesting better or walking slower may leads you to discover new things. Pacing yourself off can lead to better creations. I find the part on ‘practical application’ particularly helpful.

I feel like both the readings kind of shift away from the traditional definition of art-making. I’m not saying that they are not about art, rather, everything they talk about can be apply to the way people see the world in general. Maybe that’s why art therapy is so popular. 

How do you solve a difficult engineering problem?

Break into steps:

1. Understanding the problem
2. Thinking of a solution
3. Debunking the solution
4. Thinking of another solution
5. Not being able to implement solution
6. Asking for help to solve the problem 
7. Implementing solution 
8. Solution doesn’t work 
9. Altering the implementation method
10. Still doesn’t work 
11. Giving up on problem 
12. Maybe finding a solution online or asking chatgpt 

Abstract:

1. Knowing what’s going through the problems mind, what’s bothering it. 
2. Building a path out of the problem using a series of thoughts put together.
3. Get lost inside the problem, the path is going in circles.
4. Noticing you saw the same tree twice and marking it.
5. Going towards a lighthouse.
6. Realizing it was a very bright firefly 
7. Pulling the drain on the ocean

Analogy: Looking for a solution to an engineering problem is like finding your way out of a forest, then realizing you were in the middle of the ocean.

Idea: A sound collage representation of the analogy

Implementation:

Using Audacity, sampled sounds from freesound.org were added together so that it sounded like someone was walking through a forest, that slowly turned into the ocean and then a drain was pulled so that the water goes through. The samples added were forest, walking, ocean and drain sounds. Then the sequence went so that it was the forest sounds first then the ocean and then the drain. The sounds faded towards the end to give a smoother transition and amplitude and frequency were adjusted to highlight certain sounds at certain moments of the audio.

Sources: All sounds from Freesound.org

1. HeavyFootStompsInForest2.wav by GaryBran — https://freesound.org/s/75264/ — License: Creative Commons 0
2. pine forest  winterday 130 pm 240125_0644 by klankbeeld — https://freesound.org/s/726529/ — License: Attribution 4.0
3. small-forest-stream-in-mountains-surround-sound-rear by CRAFTCREST.com — https://freesound.org/s/204903/ — License: Attribution 4.0
4. Skoke – Magic forest.wav by dibko — https://freesound.org/s/697052/ — License: Attribution 4.0
5. BGSaSc Water Beach Ocean Waves Constant Splashing Rocks Many Small Waves Greece 16 by Profispiesser — https://freesound.org/s/550915/ — License: Creative Commons 0
6. Pacific Ocean.flac by tim.kahn — https://freesound.org/s/174763/ — License: Attribution 4.0
7. OceanWaves.wav by darren1979 — https://freesound.org/s/58416/ — License: Sampling+
8. Drain glug.wav by majorasflask — https://freesound.org/s/137028/ — License: Creative Commons 0
9. WaterDownTheDrain.flac by qubodup — https://freesound.org/s/188728/ — License: Creative Commons 0
10. Drain by RobinDavidsen — https://freesound.org/s/437209/ — License: Creative Commons 0

Final Result:

Ming’s performances were more focused on the audience and although he does not guide the audience to feel a certain way, the reactions and feelings of the audience is an important part of the artwork. This is different from all the other artists who visited us because, although they were also more focused on the process of creating that art than the final result, they didn’t seem to include a certain message or feeling that they were trying to convey with their work. When I asked Merche if she wanted to make the audience feel a certain way while she was improvising, she said that she wasn’t consciously making decisions on the next sound to play, but was more in a flow state, and the artists before said something similar during their performances. This makes me curious if Ming becomes more creative in a similar state of mind or if he is always actively making decisions, since his performances are based a lot on the audience’s response and their interactions, which isn’t the same as interacting with an unusual instrument for example.

The fear of being wrong often leads us to dismiss ideas that could potentially lead to correct or innovative outcomes. This fear also prevents us from challenging the frameworks within which we evaluate these ideas. However, if we can overcome the fear of being wrong and allow ourselves to explore incomplete ideas or creative works, we may discover results that exceed our expectations.

The two assigned readings, while not addressing the same concept directly, both encourage a similar mindset. One focuses on art specifically, and the other on general thinking processes. Despite this difference, both readings advocate for bravery in pursuing unexpected or unintended paths. They suggest that by allowing ourselves to experiment and take risks, we increase our chances of reaching unexpected and desirable outcomes.

I feel this section of the book is rather conflicting than our previous readings. In the discussion of being right versus being effective, the author states that “being effective means being right only at the end.” Does this not mean that being right equates to being effective? If being right “means being right all the time”, shouldn’t that be the most effective method? Whether we are being right or we are being effective, our end goal is to be right.

The author refutes this argument by suggesting that an obsession with being right stifles creativity, which leads him to advocate for “delaying judgement.” However, the concept itself seems fundamentally flawed. If we delay judgement on whether an idea is right, we either perform a bunch of unnecessary steps until we eventually conclude that the idea was right to begin with, imply that the idea is wrong, or eventually becomes wrong.  However, should we not also delay the judgement that an idea is wrong? In the book’s example, we could have created a path from C to B (which we are perfectly capable of doing) thus dismissing the idea that C is the incorrect path.

Another issue with delaying judgement is that we do not know when, or if, we will arrive at the final answer. Consider looking up the meaning of a word in a dictionary, then having to look up the meaning of every word within the definition of the original word. One of two things would happen: (1) you would eventually be stuck in a loop of a subset of all the words in the dictionary, ending up with only a vague idea of the original word’s meaning, or (2) you would have to go through every single word in the dictionary to understand the meaning of one word. In such a case, does the end justify the means?

Reading Response 5: Art & Fear

The one line that resonates with me the most from this reading, especially in the context of this class, is the inevitable gap between what we intend to do and what we end up doing. More often than not, I find myself unsatisfied with the final product of the Making assignments because, in my head, I had envisioned something quite different. This dissatisfaction does not stem from a flaw in the concept itself but rather from my lack of editing skills. Sometimes, it is also difficult to convey the exact meaning of what I’m trying to depict since often, the audience have their own interpretation of the work. Even when I attempt to explain my intentions, my efforts can be inadequate, and thus, the meaning is lost in translation. This is also true when reflecting on the readings. I wonder how much I of what I am trying to say am I able to explain in the responses, and how much you, the one reading it, are able to understand.

Impressions of Ming Poon

It was a very calming and relaxed session. I was intrigued by his concept of choreography, that it does not have to be about extravagant movements but can also be as simple as two strangers swaying together in unison. His concepts were very broad and unconventional, yet at the same time, very realistic and focused. I think my favorite part about his presentation was when he talked about dying. He mentioned that where there is death, there is life (bacteria in dead bodies). It is such a simple yet such an overlooked concept, and I am thankful he reminded me of it.

This was a really interesting guest visit. FIrst of all, I really liked the design of his logo and color scheme. I think it was really smart of him to make the character Ming so abstract that I can’t recognize the character but can instantly see it as soon as he mentions it. This really made sense when he talked about being an exoticsized as an Asian person.

I like how his stance on “dancing to express oneself” is “nah.” Ming’s a very sincere person and I really appreciate that.

I really like this specific thing he said, “I don’t come up with ideas, these are all things that are part of my life.” Decolonisation are things he’s lived to experience, so is everything he talks about: queerness, vulnerability, loneliness.

I love the way Ming defines choreography. I think it’s such an interesting idea to take choreography beyond dance, to apply it to things like how a classroom is arranged and how people move around obstacles or react to stimuli. It made me think about the study of wayfinding and how Ming’s work could be relevant in how people physically maneuver in the public space using signage, etc.

Last thing I noted was his methodical approach to convincing the audience to approach the stage and how he says a performance where the audience is too hesitant to approach the stage is also a performance in of itself.

Reversal method:

1. Books open new worlds.
2. Worlds open through books.
3. Books offer endless adventures.
4. Adventures provide great memories.
5. Memories shape our lives.

Lateral Thinking – response

These ideas about suspending judgment and delaying evaluation feel very counterintuitive to how I’ve been taught to think. Throughout school, we’re constantly pushed to analyze things critically, poke holes in arguments, and discard anything that doesn’t seem airtight and logically coherent. The notion of intentionally entertaining and exploring ideas that seem outright wrong goes against everything I’ve learned about rigorous thinking.

At the same time, I can see the author’s point that this judgment-first mindset can easily shut down creative paths too early before they have a chance to lead somewhere unexpected. Groundbreaking ideas often do start from strange places. I think about how even some of history’s greatest thinkers had wacky theories that turned out to be Wrong but sparked insights that ultimately proved revolutionary. There’s wisdom in being willing to “go down the rabbit hole” with ideas, even seemingly ridiculous ones, just to see where they lead.

The examples about accidental discoveries happening precisely because people chose to pursue wrong assumptions are really compelling to me. It does make me question whether my default stance of quickly dismissing anything that doesn’t immediately make sense is stunting my creative potential. Maybe I’m cutting myself off from stumbling upon insights precisely because I’m unwilling to entertain approaches that seem off-base at first.

That said, I can also see problems with completely throwing out judgment and evaluation. It seems like a balance is needed – a willingness to be wrong temporarily while still maintaining some standard of eventual validity. After all, you can’t just believe any random nonsense indefinitely. But overall, I’m surprisingly persuaded that stepping outside my comfort zone of only logic-gating “right” ideas could unlock fertile new thinking. It’s an uncomfortable perspective shift, but one I may need to embrace if I want to reach my full creative potential.

Art & Fear – response

Wow, this really captures the constant self-doubt I feel when working on art projects. The idea that the vision in my head never quite matches the reality of what I create is so true and frustrating. I’m always scared the final piece will be a disappointment compared to what I imagined.

The point about materials having their own resistances also rings true. Whether it’s paint not behaving how I want, the clay being difficult to shape, or my expertise with a medium holding me back, the materials themselves provide challenges beyond just the concept. Overcoming those tends to be an unexpected struggle.

I can definitely relate to the underlying uncertainty about whether my work is any good or how it will be received. As much as I try to be confident, I can never fully shake the fear that others will think it’s bad or just not “get” what I was going for. That existential doubt plagues me constantly.

While it’s discouraging that these fears are inescapable, there’s also some comfort in knowing all artists face the same core uncertainties. At least I’m not alone in feeling this way! Recognizing these fears as inherent to the process rather than just personal failings could actually be weirdly motivating and empowering.

Thoughts on Ming Poon

Ming Poon is by far one of the most interesting artists I’ve encountered, and he’s quickly become my favorite. As I mentioned in class, I relate to him a lot. I love how he creates a safe space for his audience, where he simply presents his ideas and lets the audience take over. They become the show; they are the movement. It’s amazing how he gets people to connect and collaborate without even saying a word. His honesty in his work is really inspiring, and his views on death and life are so intriguing. It’s like he’s not afraid—he accepts fear and lets it go, just like he does with his art. This approach makes his work incredibly profound and moving.

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The Differences Between a Custodian & a Prime Broker

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Prime Brokerages vs. Discount Brokers vs. Day Trading Brokers

• Long trades involve buying a stock to sell at a higher price for a profit….
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• Finally, custody fees are charges for holding and safeguarding clients’ securities and other assets.
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Additional Prime Broker Services

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In these volatile markets, it’s prudent for traders to have the capacity to play both directions of a stock’s price move – up and down. Long trades involve buying a stock to sell at a higher price for a profit…. A clearing fee is a fee charged on transactions as a way to compensate the clearinghouse for completing the transaction.

Prime brokers are generally part of larger financial institutions with expanded services, such as securities lending, cash management, custodial services, leveraged trade execution and other related activities. The service is offered by investment banks such as Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs. Notably, famous investment banks, including JPMorgan Chase & Co, Morgan Stanley, and Goldman Sachs Group Inc, are the most significant market players in this industry. Furthermore, traditional and crypto prime brokerage services include cash management, securities lending, custodian services, and settlement services.

Custody fees are more often calculated on a periodic basis, such as monthly or annually. They may also be calculated as a percentage of the total value of assets under custody. Clearing brokers not only handle orders to buy and sell securities but also maintain custody of an account holder’s securities and other assets (such as cash in the account). Because they have custody of customer assets, carrying firms must maintain higher levels of net capital than introducing firms—and they are responsible for segregating the customer funds and securities in their custody.

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After a few musicians we finally got to something different, a new field to explore and new types of artists to meet. Today we had a visit from Mr. Ming who really intrigued me but not for the reason you would think. Although I must say his performances are actually very nice and impressive, and I fully vibe with the, let’s just take a risk and see what happens, what really got me interested is the psychology and the thought process which Mr. Ming goes through. He was very passionate about showing us his works and I really liked the little talk he gave us about embracing failiure and taking chances. Overall a very very valuable visit!

Merche was cool….like really cool. Again she is an experimental artist, I will admit that type of music really doesn’t interest me (it’s not really music for cooking haha) but the artists behind it are always so so creative. On that note I really liked some of Merche’s projects, specifically the one she did back home. It really embraced different cultures while at the same time adding a personal experimental touch to it. At the same time I think that the way she designs her experimental instruments is actually wild. Like so much thought and time go into it it is actually very impressive. I remember her telling us about these circles that she put spikes on to hurt her because that is how she get’s into her act. WILD!