Pressure about body perception impacts well-being, and adopting holistic wellness promotes lasting health. The purpose of this study was to explore how body perceptions relate to holistic wellness by modeling a holistic wellness mirror based on the human triad of the body, mind, and spirit. The survey research method and convenient sampling were used, yielding 317 respondents from college classes and social media platforms. The survey was a combination of body perception scales and questions about holistic wellness: healthy eating, happiness, and religiosity. Analysis of variance results indicate that body appreciation and neutrality are significantly higher for individuals with higher healthy eating, happiness, and religiosity than those with low. Through structural equation modeling, body functionality emerges as a key perception attribute that contributes to holistic wellness. This study recommends that, since body perceptions are linked to holistic wellness, they should be nurtured together.
Affective computing algorithms are becoming increasingly prevalent in devices and services with which we interact daily. Despite positive intentions behind the development of this technology, its impact on our society is still unclear. This paper describes four art performances using an affective algorithm designed to infer emotions based on facial expressions. These performances propose alternative scenarios which imagine possible entanglements with this technology. One performance invites people to consider how their bodies are seen through the lens of an affective algorithm. Another performance displays a dystopian scenario in which this algorithm is deployed as an instrument of the law. The third artwork invites participants to reclaim their agency when confronted with such algorithms. The fourth artwork considers a utopian scenario in which a symbiotic relationship between humans and emotional AI yields higher capacities for both. The purpose of these artworks is to encourage a critical discussion regarding the possible futures of our engagement with affective algorithms.
“Humanity: From Survival to Revival” (“Dystopia to Utopia”) is a participatory survival game and audiovisual performance work that depicts the transformation of the dystopian state of humanity to utopianism in both the visual and sonic realms. Audience members are invited to participate in humanity's interactive survival games and to contribute their photographic facial outlines as visual content for the performance. This paper explores the theoretical framework behind designing audience participation and interaction by reflecting on the notion of dystopia as related to the COVID-19 pandemic, while also reflecting on this event's outcomes and challenges. In doing so, this study showcases the process of visual transformation, depicting the transition from dystopian to utopian paradigms via audience participation and musical performance.
Transformative learning is essential to most companies, owing to its characteristics of “personality and adaptability,” which are core features for future success in the industrial world. However, less is known about how design students embrace transformative learning. Therefore, the authors aimed to explore the dynamics of transformative learning in the meaning-making process of fashion design graduates in their work environment. A narrative research approach was adopted, and 31 participants were used. The data-gathering tool was an interview guide. The findings unveiled that the learning environment, the readiness of students to learn, the design challenge, fellow student collaborations, and lecturer coaching or mentorship are the pillars of transformative learning. The mentorship served as the foundation on which the students built their experiences for collaboration. Theoretical findings pointed to the shift from a learning activities survey to a learning activities narrative, which embraces the full spectrum of student experiences
The Wedding Chamber fresco, also known as Camera Picta, or La Camera Degli Sposi, painted by Andrea Mantegna at the dawn of the Renaissance, epitomizes the most outstanding expression of personal creativity and innovation from an artist that transformed the boundaries of representation and narrative inside the architectural space, to mix illusion and reality. He utilized the trompe l'oeil effect, the Oculus, and cinematic painted imaging on the walls, to reveal a world of fictional and symbolic situations combined with classical mythology. However, Andrea Mantegna playfully organized these compositional components, inaugurating a proto-technological system of visualization that transforms the viewer's perception in an immersive experience that goes beyond the mere effect of illusion. The research and the development of the installation described and explained with deconstruction of what Mantegna expressed masterfully at the end of the 15th century in the Saint Giorgio Castle in Mantua, Italy.
“Humanity: From Survival to Revival” (“Dystopia to Utopia”) is a participatory survival game and audiovisual performance work that depicts the transformation of the dystopian state of humanity to utopianism in both the visual and sonic realms. Audience members are invited to participate in humanity's interactive survival games and to contribute their photographic facial outlines as visual content for the performance. This paper explores the theoretical framework behind designing audience participation and interaction by reflecting on the notion of dystopia as related to the COVID-19 pandemic, while also reflecting on this event's outcomes and challenges. In doing so, this study showcases the process of visual transformation, depicting the transition from dystopian to utopian paradigms via audience participation and musical performance.
The author has been exploring the efficacy of video installation art as a meritorious health promotion medium. The researcher first created an original award-winning video installation art project, “The Besiegement: Advocating Mental Health,” which was exhibited for different age groups in various venues around Zimbabwe from 2019 until April 2020. The project did not continue exhibiting until the end of 2020 as planned due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The author has been critically analysing recorded interviews, discussions, audience reception, and views on the installation art experience regarding its possibilities and challenges. The project outcome suggests its potential as an effective medium for empowerment and enlightenment on mental health issues. Thus, video installation art has potential as a commendable developmental communication tool.
Transformative learning is essential to most companies, owing to its characteristics of “personality and adaptability,” which are core features for future success in the industrial world. However, less is known about how design students embrace transformative learning. Therefore, the authors aimed to explore the dynamics of transformative learning in the meaning-making process of fashion design graduates in their work environment. A narrative research approach was adopted, and 31 participants were used. The data-gathering tool was an interview guide. The findings unveiled that the learning environment, the readiness of students to learn, the design challenge, fellow student collaborations, and lecturer coaching or mentorship are the pillars of transformative learning. The mentorship served as the foundation on which the students built their experiences for collaboration. Theoretical findings pointed to the shift from a learning activities survey to a learning activities narrative, which embraces the full spectrum of student experiences
Cardiorespiratory capacity is one of the most important components of our physical fitnes for the general population. How much this ability is required in dance depends on factors such as dance mode, duration and intensity of step sequences and choreographies, and even the hierarchical position that the dancer occupies within a company. Although far from the values found in athletes, the cardiorespiratory capacity of dancers is good compared to the general population. Although the theme is explored in the 1980s, there are many points that still need further investigation, such as the relationship between this capacity and the performance of a dancer? How to include in the routine of a dancer? Isolated workouts? Still, the evaluation of this ability in dancers seems not yet to happen in the dance routine, even with field tests, such as Dance Specific Aerobic Fitness Test (DAFT) already validated and presented in the literature, why? These are some of the issues addressed in this narrative review.
Dance has artistry and expression as its primary performance goals. In contrast with sports, measuring dancers' proficiency in the art form involves a subjective aesthetic component, rather more challenging to quantify and score. Qualitative measurement tools for assessing dance aesthetic performance have been previously proposed. This systematic review aims to examine the different test protocols that assessed aesthetic performance in modern or ballet dancers at vocational or professional levels in order to discuss methodological approaches for future development and application of dance aesthetic performance tools. The investigation followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines Eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Quality of evidence was moderate and methodological limitations in protocols were found. Accounting for genre-specificity and assessing for reliability, specificity and sensibility could further develop dance aesthetic tools in future studies.
The issue of web accessibility is prevalent in society. However, few studies have looked at social interactions on Twitter associated with the issue. Sentiment analysis and readability analysis were used to assess the emotions reflected in the tweets and to determine whether the tweets were easy to understand or not. In addition, the relationship between the features of the tweets and their readability was also assessed using statistical analysis techniques. A total of 11,483 tweets associated with web accessibility were extracted and analysed using sentiment and statistical analysis. For readability analysis, 200 randomly selected tweets from the dataset were used. Sentiment analysis highlighted that overall, the tweets reflected a positive sentiment, with ‘trust' being the highest-scoring emotion. The most common words and hashtags show a focus on technology and the inclusion of various users. Readability analysis showed that the 200 selected tweets had a level of reading difficulty associated with the readability level of college students.
This Krobo case study traces the history and looks into current trends in Ghana's bead industry in the jewelry sector and the reasons for the renewed interest in the usage of bead jewelry. It traces the historical and contemporary trends of the Krobo bead jewelry industry as well as the causes of the sudden renewed interest and enthusiasm for bead production and usage among the people of Ghana by studying responses from 20 select participants using a qualitative research approach. Exposure to the Western world, bead jewelry in schools, the introduction of new equipment and technology, and current fashion among men and women are all factors that contribute to modern trends and renewed interest in Ghana's bead jewelry industry. Furthermore, various foreign beads are becoming more widely available in Ghana, overtaking locally produced Krobo beads. As a result of the increased demand for assorted beads, measures are needed to prevent indigenous beads from disappearing from culture.
The paper introduces a hand-drawn 360º illustration designed for commercial purposes in the framework of the project titled Venice Original. It focuses on different aspects of the creation of the artwork: the commissioning, the drawing technique, the connection to the e-commerce platform, and the several modalities of interaction. Subsequently, it gives an overview of the reception of the 360º interactive illustration on the e-commerce platform by different audiences, thanks to web statistics and user comments on the social networks. Finally, it presents the installation shown at the “Contingency” exhibition in the framework of the congress ARTECH 2021 in Aveiro, Portugal. The physical modality of the installation consisted of the original equirectangular drawing and physical paper spheres; the virtual one offered a VR tour of the illustrated space. The opinions gathered from conference attendants shed new light on the artwork, suggesting possible improvements and further developments.
This study aims to culture (i.e., to cultivate and propagate) well-being via lighting installations that employ slow design, which promotes well-being by encouraging actions at the right time and right speed, helping users understand and reflect on their actions. The study involves three key ideas: first, establish the critical role of slow design in culturing well-being by deriving a framework for designing meaningful lighting installations; second, connect this framework to the physical characteristics of lighting installations by examining how meaningful interactions with these characteristics culture well-being; third, investigate how lighting installations culture well-being via the application of this framework. Lighting installations designed as part of the International Association of Lighting Designers' Light Workshops Series are qualitatively examined as case studies. The findings indicate that slow design indeed has the potential to culture well-being by strengthening the psychological attachment with lighting installations when applied with consideration.
An examination of the omnipresent relations of power within the art world, focused on marketing strategies and the process of identification and differentiation in the perception of Jeffs Koons's artworks, reveals a complex interest in Jeff Koons's personality. It shows the relationships of Koons artworks with the economy and identifies them as products of big-business transactions. It also explains how the art world produces brand equity. Such artwork is chosen to serve as a symbol of opulence and as the locus of capital. Identification, differentiation, the elite, and art commodification are the main themes explored. This is a reflection on the state of the contemporary art world.
The paper describes The Wizard without Shadow [6], an artwork proposal for Artech21 conference. The 16 minutes performance involves an actor and an operator in an easily deployable setup. After a description of its artistic and technical context and motivations, the five realization steps are detailed. The performance involves motion capture animations and achieves interactive dialogs with 8 avatars in a virtual shadow theater.
Rejeitorio is an interactive video installation mediated by digital technology that points to the urgency of preserving the São Francisco River, especially after the dam collapse in the city of Brumadinho (Brazil), which resulted in the contamination of one of its tributaries with toxic tailings. The video installation features 2D animations that alternate according to the presence or absence of the public within the demarcated space. This paper addresses its exhibition, reception by the public, and related works in aesthetic, media, or operational terms. This is an expanded version of a paper presented at the 10th International Conference on Digital and Interactive Arts (ARTECH 2021).
The issue of web accessibility is prevalent in society. However, few studies have looked at social interactions on Twitter associated with the issue. Sentiment analysis and readability analysis were used to assess the emotions reflected in the tweets and to determine whether the tweets were easy to understand or not. In addition, the relationship between the features of the tweets and their readability was also assessed using statistical analysis techniques. A total of 11,483 tweets associated with web accessibility were extracted and analysed using sentiment and statistical analysis. For readability analysis, 200 randomly selected tweets from the dataset were used. Sentiment analysis highlighted that overall, the tweets reflected a positive sentiment, with ‘trust' being the highest-scoring emotion. The most common words and hashtags show a focus on technology and the inclusion of various users. Readability analysis showed that the 200 selected tweets had a level of reading difficulty associated with the readability level of college students.
The performance “Assum Livre” integrates a sequence of artifacts first presented for a PhD thesis, “Backyard of Sounds: A Path to Sound Immersion.” It was recently recreated in a cyberspace event, hence its transcription as a cyberperformance. It consists of an artistic proposal that seeks to reflect on freedom and imprisonment, evoking a metaphor that recreates the experience of the lockdown in 2020–2021. The performance is based on streaming a video recorded with the author and singer performing part of Teixeira's and Gonzaga's song, “Assum Preto,” simultaneously with the live performance of the other stanzas of the song. These alternate with the presentation of the lyrics and the materialization of the performer. As a backdrop, the authors have a projection of natural scenery representing freedom, depicting the natural habitat threatened by human intervention, enhanced by the natural soundscapes, and integrating the hybridization of image, sound, and live performance. Discussion includes the main concepts, the description of the artifact, the developments made, and audience reflections.
