Theseus’ Paradox
Inquiry by Design
A Visual Investigation of Image Differentiation
HGK Basel Summer Design Workshop 2011
Matthew Wizinsky
Introduction
Subject of Inquiry
Objectives
The Ship of Theseus, also known as Theseus’ paradox is a paradox that raises the question of whether an object which has had all its component parts replaced remains fundamentally the same object.
Theseus’ paradox is the starting point for a body of research into the material, iconic, and trace components of an image. By exploring two distinct images, my investigation seeks to discover what constitutes one image’s differentiation as well as potential methods for blending two images into a new representation that retains the identity of both originals.
According to Greek legend as reported by Plutarch, The ship wherein Theseus and the youth of Athens returned [from Crete] had thirty oars, and was preserved by the Athenians down even to the time of Demetrius Phalereus, for they took away the old planks as they decayed, putting in new and stronger timber in their place, insomuch that this ship became a standing example among the philosophers, for the logical question of things that grow; one side holding that the ship remained the same, and the other contending that it was not the same. Plutarch, Theseus 1 Plutarch thus questions whether the ship would remain the same if it were entirely replaced, piece by piece. Centuries later, the philosopher Thomas Hobbes introduced a further puzzle, wondering: what would happen if £the original planks were gathered up after they were replaced, and used to build a second ship.2 Which ship, if either, is the original Ship of Theseus? 3 1 Plutarch. “Theseus”. The Internet Classics Archive. 2 Chisholm, Roderick M. The Ship of Theseus, Person and Object:
A Metaphysical Study,
Through doing so, the differentiating elements of each image are assessed and applied toward new symbolic representations of each. This process of abstraction moves from the photographic, through the visually symoblic, and arrives at the doorstep of language—without ever employing the use of letter forms. For this investigation, I have employed two photographs of distinct places: Chicago, my home, and Basel, the place where these studies are taking place. My purpose in this selection is to further explore what constitutes the identity of a city through those visual elements of differentiation. What this research reveals is to be considered in relationship to the differentiational aspect of language— specifically, the written word. The visual qualities inherent an images appear to have great durability in retaining signification, even as the elements are reduced, simplified, and manipulated. As the end results of this study should testify, this durability of the image’s signification—despite shifting connotations—can even go so far as to suggest language (each city’s name), so long as both image and word are familiar.
3 Wikipedia. The Ship of Theseus.
Inquiry by Design
HGK Basel Summer Design Workshop 2011
Matthew Wizinsky
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Original Images
Inquiry by Design
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Material Manipulation
Inquiry by Design
Blur
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Material Manipulation
Inquiry by Design
Halftone
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Material Manipulation
Inquiry by Design
Area Color by Circle
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Material Manipulation
Inquiry by Design
Area Color by Square
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Material Manipulation
Inquiry by Design
Area Color by Isometric Triangle
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Segmentation
Inquiry by Design
Hoizontal
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Segmentation
Inquiry by Design
Vertical
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Trace
Area by Color & Contrast
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Trace
Area by Contrast & Manipulation
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Trace
Skyline
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Trace
Skyline
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Icon
Image Reduction
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Icon
Image Reduction
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Merge
Segmentation
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Merge
Segmentation
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Merge
Segmentation
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Merge
Material Manipulation
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Merge
Trace & Icon
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Merge
Trace & Icon
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Merge
Trace & Icon
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Merge
Trace & Icon
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Merge
Material Manipulation, Trace & Icon
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Transition
Toward the Symbolic
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Transition
Toward the Symbolic
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Transition
Toward the Symbolic
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Transition
Toward the Symbolic
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Result
New Differentiated Symbols
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Result
Poster with Merged Elements
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