Dissonance

How do we face disconnect within each other, when we experience it within ourselves? Through the use of color, motif, and both physical and digital manipulation, I strive to address this issue that is arising in this world running on technology. 

My question has led me to study how people connect with the people near them, in physical spaces. Taking the Psychology Capstone this year has made me especially curious why so many people may feel so disconnected to people that are so near them. I thought about topics such as deindividuation, cognitive dissonance, social expectations, and more. 

I started my process by addressing the first part of my question: how do we face disconnect within ourselves? Once I finished a shoot, I’d print out my favorite images and analyze them. I asked myself, “How does this relate to the idea of disconnection? What can I change or add to increase its relevance?”

I began using text in these images. Using digital manipulation to layer images to create transparant layers. Cutting up white pieces of paper. These three became a motif of sorts throughout these works. 

Sometimes I disliked where these techniques would bring me. Sometimes I disliked the photos I took. But I always pushed through and tried things regardless. I have found the works I ended up not loving taught me exactly what I loved about the ones I did. 

In the end, I want people to be able to see how similar we are to one another. Even if we are just sitting near one another, even if we don’t know eachother, we are inherently more connected than we are disconnected.