Dissonance as a design effect
Dexin Chen
This study aims to discover a more explicit or accessible way to interpret and navigate inconsistencies and “wrongness” in the creation of meaning. I look at the arrangement and editing of questions, and the balance between spontaneous execution and constructive consideration, to consider dissonance in the field of communication design. In researching cultural perceptions on the topic, I have learned that there is a long history of embracing dissonance to evolve new structures and deconstruct conventional forms. This study will dismantle binary oppositions as it relates to perceiving and interpreting, order and chaos, dynamic and stillness, opening and closing to explore the space between.
Real-time Capture
“Real-Time Capture” is a project that is constructed by 60 days of recording, that includes any soundtrack from the real life event, which represents a collection of sounds that are seemingly chaotic or ordered, conveying the impression of consonance and dissonance, respectively. Furthermore, having listened to the recording, I played and depicted my reactions and responses in visual form spontaneously, without preparing any plan or thinking about the structure beforehand.
Project “Variance” - image documentation
This project focuses on the indivisible qualities of dissonance and consonance. The process of establishing the “framework,” is the shaping of clay, representing harmony. And the choice of the Shadow Chamber series by Roger Ballen that provides disturbing feelings demonstrates dissonance. It emphasizes the union of the complementing and contrasting elements,and different ways of interpreting the ultimate form based on how the audience views the texture, shape, form, image, or any way they prefer.
“The living analog” - Thesis capstone documentation
“The living analog” is an installation project that includes a sound installation, 12 sounds audios and photography documentation of each piece being displayed in various scenes. In this, I wish to capture the forming of conversation between the sounds themselves, in which they are being seen and heard by each other. It is mainly their fusion, separation, communication, and capacity that I am concerned with, which I tend to treat as a means and process of expression, a message, an unforeseen meeting.
