Just Anger | Zine by Kseniia Osetrova

Basic emotions are universal and innate

These emotions are hardwired, etched into our neural circuitry by our genes as a part of our basic mental design. The list of basic emotions includes joy, distress, anger, fear, surprise and disgust

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In all mammals, anger is mediated by a set of neural structures known as the limbic system. These include the hippocampus, the cingulate gyrus, the anterior thalamus, and the amygdala. They are configured in the central part of the brain, under the neocortex, the outer layer of neural tissue.

What do we know about anger?

The word ‘anger’ covers different experiences. The strength of anger varies from slight annoyance to rage, or different kinds of anger such as indignation (self-righteous anger), sulking (passive anger), or even revenge. Anger alerts others of trouble. Just like other emotions, it can be expressed through both face and voice.

While anger is considered the most dangerous emotion, it remains a vital part of our lives. Whether it’s defending oneself by controlling personal boundaries or disagreeing with injustice, anger acts as a powerful marker which highlights the areas where change is necessary to happen.

Anger always finds its way out!

There are different names for people who express anger - “slow-burner”, “short-fused”, “explosive”, “hothead”, “cool”, etc. For some, it results in projecting all the frustration externally onto others at extreme levels through fights, verbal, or even physical abuse. Other people project their anger internally which negatively affects mental health, raising the chances of depression, anxiety. Some people may turn to self-harm as a coping mechanism. Both ways are destructive for individuals and their surroundings.

Because of the stigma surrounding anger, a person might experience social pressure to avoid releasing the emotion. Fear of ruining relationships and regret that comes afterwards plays a major part in stigmatisation of anger. Boys and girls are taught to express anger differently. Girls are being taught to conceal their anger, while boys are encouraged to express it. Suppressing anger can lead to very dangerous consequences in the long run.

Even though men are encouraged to show anger, any other emotions, such as sadness are considered to be a weakness from the patriarchal point of view. Toxic masculinity is as harmful, because men who are unable to differentiate and process emotions tend to unravel them through anger - the only socially acceptable and familiar option. Learning how to cope with anger positively impacts one’s wellbeing.

The new studies have revealed that the entire brain is activated when listening to music

Auditory cortex processes pitch and loudness of music, visual cortex activates when reading music or watching it, motor cortex when you start to move the parts of the body to the rhythm. Hippocampus gets activated when the brain starts to recognise familiar sounds. Cerebellum creates emotional response to the sound. Mirror neurones motivate us to repeat the rhythm and imitate sounds, but also sympathise to emotions expressed in the songs.

Some people feel extreme emotions and even frisson when listening to music, as parts of the composition can trigger the fear response and cause goosebumps, making the hairs on the skin stand on end. Interestingly, after the moment of such tension the person can experience pleasure from recognising that there’s no threat, similarly to going on a rollercoaster. In other words, when listen to music people experience danger without any negative consequences.

Music reduces stress by lowering cortisol and brings pleasure. The feeling of loneliness can be reduced by listening to music because it bonds people together as they form communities. In the instances where language has its limits, music unites people all over the world and helps processing the deepest emotions,

Let’s talk Rock

Rock is seen as an ‘angry’ type of music, but the term itself as very vague. It may mean a rebellion in musical form, but it covers more than a single style of musical performance. Over the past few decades the definition of rock has shifted, but the overall idea of rock involves a rejection of the aspects of soft, safe and trivial mass-distributed ‘pop’ music.

In the 50s the post-war generation who entered their teenage years needed a new form of music. Although there’s no defined time of the birth of rock and roll, the early 50s is considered the rise of the genre which swiftly took over the market. As years went by, rock has become more diverse, from heavy metal of Led Zeppelin and Kiss, glitter rock of David Bowie to the progressive rock of Pink Floyd in the 70s.

As rock became more predictable, the punk-rock movement bright rebellion back to the genre. In the 80s music industry became a capitalist machine hungry for new consumers. With the rise of MTV in the early 80s, music videos became even more accessible on TV screens and record albums have switched to CDs. In the 90s grunge rock has gained its popularity with Nirvana, Pearl Jam and many others.

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Rock is always placed within social & cultural contexts, as its style changes along with society

The production of rock remains industrial, but musicians seek opportunities to break free of commercial constraints and expectations, taking control in forming new meanings. The musicians not just sell their technical and creative skills, but also able to gather and represent the need of a certain audience.

The immediate communication with the audience happens because rock musicians are ‘authentic’ and bury a deep personal purpose in music. ‘Rock music is the object of an active cultural use which is socially very diverse and which at the same time includes those everyday objects which lend themselves to the often pithy and witty expression of particular meaning… (p. 81)

Rockheads might be perceived as intimidating and marginal people. However, these communities openly discuss serious issues which are relevant up to this day. Rock groups and singers have used their platforms to speak against wars and injustice. System of a Down raised awareness about the genocide of Armenian people and highlighted the problematic prison system, twisted Hollywood industry and the obsession with militarism of USA. Nirvana has spoken multiple times against toxic masculinity, homophobia, sexism and racism. Three Days Grace amongst many other groups dedicate their music to the problems of mental health.

Designing ALT FUME

Music, like visual art can affect our emotions by changing our mood. It is designed to affect our perception and bring a sense of pleasure. Based on the raw and emotional visual aesthetics of rock, I’ll design a practical tool that’ll help people to safely dispose of anger without the feeling of guilt.