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Initial research:
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New ideas and feedback:
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Continuing research:
Shadows and light – literally:
Light exists naturally from the sun, stars, and auroras, but can also be manufactured by humans, such as creating fire, lightbulbs, sparks etc. Shadows are created when light interacts with physical objects, the object blocking anything behind it from hitting the light, therefore casting a shadow. Shadows are separate from darkness, they cannot exist without a light source, as that is what creates them.
Natural shadows vary throughout the day, following the cyclical pattern of the sun. Shadows change in length due to the position of the sun in the sky. At noon, the sun hits the earth directly, shortening shadows due to an objects greater exposure to sunlight. At the beginning and end of the day, the sun is lower in the sky, causing longer shadows behind objects the light hits. Shadows also change position, moving as the sun moves from east to west, and are affected by the time of year.
Sundials take advantage of the change of shadow length and position to tell time. When a shadow is long and sits to the west, it means it is the morning. People in the past were able to study the change in shadows so significantly that most sundials are able to measure the time accurate to ten minutes, though they must be installed properly to work.
Other practical uses of shadows:
Shadows also serve lots of purposes in science, art, and entertainment. In astronomy, shadows can be cast by astronomical objects, commonly referred to by the names umbra, penumbra and antumbra. An astronomical object must have an apparent magnitude equal to or lower than -4 to be visible to humans. The sun, moon, and sometimes Venus and Jupiter are the only astronomical objects able to project visible shadows onto the earth. Lunar eclipses are a result of the earth casting a shadow onto the moon, and a solar eclipse is caused by the moon casting a shadow onto earth.
Fog, mist or dust can used to reveal the 3D structure of volumetric patterns in light and shadow, which is not usually visible otherwise. Coloured light can generate more complex, multi-coloured shadows. Shadows cast by sunlight often have a blue tinge. The ambient blue light from the sky is scattered more affectively, causing shadows to appear blue. This phenomenon is the result of Raleigh scattering, Which also causes blue skies.
In entertainment, fog and light are often used in theatre to enhance melodrama and engage audiences in a more physical experience of their artwork. Shadow puppets, made by contorting hands to cast a shadow that resembles an animal or person, are often used to entertain children. Shadow can also be used in art, the artist casting a shadow of something they’d like to recreate, and then tracing it to achieve a more accurate portrayal of that thing.
Many artists over the ages have taken advantage of shadows in their work, to create strong aesthetics, and work around on potential limitations of the time. For example, during the black and white film era, shadows and Chiaroscuro, the strong contrast between light and dark, were used to enhance a films visuals, aesthetics and messaging. Concept artists often work in black and white before creating a finished render of their work. This allows them to mark where elements of the composition may sit in the depth of the drawing, what parts will sit in shadow or light, and what parts may use lighter or darker colours.
In photography, the words “highlights” and “shadows” are used to describe the brightest and darkest parts of a photo. The photographer must take extra care when adjusting the cameras exposure to record accurate highlights and shadows, unless they desire a more unique look. Adjusting the exposure allows for the gradients of light and shadow to be better recorded, without all the light and dark shades lumping together as one mass.
Yin and Yang – the philosophical approach:
Yin and Yang is a Chinese philosophical concept that states opposite but complementary forces exist, and interact with and support one another. Both forces in tangent form a dynamic system in which the whole is greater than the interdependent components, both being essential for the cohesion of the whole. The concept of yin and yang is derived from Chinese creation theory, in which the universe developed from a primary chaos of material energy, organised as yin and yang, form and matter separate to force and motion.
The force of Yin is often associated with darkness, femininity and passivity, and Yang associated with light, masculinity and activity. Each side works in unison, with a small part of one existing within the other. This contrast can be identified in nature, such as in seasonal cycles – the death and rebirth of life.
Originally, yin was depicted as the shaded side of a hill, and yang as the sunlit side. Both a side of the same hill, yet different in their form. Now it is depicted as a circle of two parts, one light and one dark, with a small part of one within the other, showcasing their dual nature and co-dependence.
To understand yin and yang it is important to understand the concept of dualism – the moral or belief that two fundamental concepts exist, which often oppose each other. While dualism can take many forms, the dualistic concept yin and yang represents is a reciprocal interaction seen throughout nature, where opposing forces, such as life and death, do not oppose one another, but instead work together to promote stabilization. Many natural dualities are thought of as physical manifestations of the duality symbolized by yin and yang.
The concept of the unity of opposites has guided Chinese science, technology, philosophy, medicine, martial arts and exercise throughout the ages.
Black and white thinking:
Black and white thinking, also known as binary thinking or all-or-nothing thinking, is a thought pattern in which a person only views things in absolutes, rather than taking into account the complexities of reality. For example, if a person accidentally hurts someone’s feelings, they may only be able to think the worst of the situation, not taking into account the complex nature of social communication (how everyone makes small mistakes now and again), and that the problem often has a simple solution or a middle ground. Thoughts may include things like “I’m an awful person.” or “I make everything worse.”. This can also appear as the person believing their views are always right, and struggling to understand someone else’s perspective if it does not match their own.
While everyone experiences black and white thinking at some point in their life, certain people may struggle with it more than others. This includes people on the autism spectrum, people with borderline personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, schizophrenia, depression, and dissociative identity disorder.
Trigger Warning – eating disorders and self harm mentioned below.
Due to the extreme responses that black and white thinking can provoke, our relationships, education, career, diet, and overall mental wellbeing can be severely affected. We may make rash decisions about relationships, suddenly deciding someone is bad for us, or that we are not good enough for them. We may avoid conflict and subsequent resolution, in fear of doing wrong and due to an unawareness of how to solve issues. Believing we are already awful at something before we do it can prevent us from ever trying or learning more than we already know. Rigid thinking can also prevent us from aspiring in our career, either by thinking we can’t achieve better than where we are, or creating an inability to move outside of our pre-defined career roles. Black and white thinking can also be linked to eating disorders, where there may be a tendency to view ones body as not deserving food. This can lead to binge – purge cycles, where a person may feel extreme guilt over allowing themself to eat. Continuous rumination on our actions can lead to increased depression and anxiety symptoms. Some people may resort to self harm, as a punishment for their perceived wrongdoing, but also as a relief from their intense and internalised feelings.
There are some methods which can train our brains to challenge black and white thinking. Separating what we do from who we are can prevent us from viewing one mistake as defining our overall worth. Listing other options beyond right and wrong can help us navigate conflicts and expand our view on a situation. Taking time to remind ourselves of the reality of the situation and our ability to navigate it can help ground our emotions. Conversation can help clarify situations. By asking other peoples opinions calmly, we may come to understand them better, as well as receive support with our own thinking patterns.
Black and white thinking in autism:
Black and white thinking in autistic people can manifest in many ways. These include rigid routines, all-or-nothing self-evaluation, binary judgements of people and relationships, literal interpretation of rules and fairness, and difficulty with ambiguous communication. Black and white thinking can often amplify the challenges autistic people face, such as difficulty with unexpected changes – things not going the way they were supposed to, social challenges – misunderstandings and difficulties forming relationships, emotional regulation challenges – setbacks perceived as catastrophic and positives received with immense joy, and perfectionism – perceived complete failure when things don’t go as intended.
Black-and-white thinking in autism is often rooted in how the autistic brain handles information and uncertainty. Many autistic people struggle with an intolerance of uncertainty, cognitive rigidity, literal and concrete thinking, and social communication differences. In response to these challenges, autistic people may develop black and white thinking as a coping strategy for understanding and categorising the world, creating less uncertainty. It is also important to note that all autistic individuals experience life differently, and may not all face the same challenges or demonstrate the same behaviour.
However, black and white thinking isn’t all negative. Having the ability to categorise information rigidly can allow autistic individuals to focus intensely on specific interests or tasks, potentially leading to breakthroughs or achievements in those areas. Having a strong sense of justice can drive autistic individuals to be unwavering on their principles and what they believe is right, making them a powerful force for positive change. Black and white thinking can lead to direct communication, allowing straightforward and transparent discussion, avoiding confusion or ‘beating around the bush’.
The eternal battle of good vs evil:
The battle between good and evil is a tale as old as time. I decided to explore this topic due to the symbolic nature of light being treated as goodness and innocence, and dark as evil and wrongdoing. This representation can be seen throughout media, for example, the Rebel Alliance and the Sith in Star Wars.
This age old struggle has captivated our collective imagination throughout history, and continues to influence us today. The origins of the battle between good and evil can be traced back religious teachings, with God being supreme goodness, and Satan influencing evil. This is also reflected in the story of Cain and Abel, which is found in all three of the Abrahamic religions. Cain and Abel were brothers, and the sons of Adam and Eve. Cain murdered Abel after a disagreement, which many religious people view as the first murder committed in the history of humankind, leading to him being branded as the embodiment of evil. Some people believe that Cain receives part of the blame for all the murders committed in human history, as he was the first to demonstrate its possibility.
The history of war also bears witness to good and evil forces, such as in world war one, when the allies forces fought against the fascist Nazi power. And yes, while the Nazis were evil, were the allies really that great? Winston Churchill, the man credited from saving Britain from the Nazis, was a well known racist, once describing Indians as “the beastliest people in the world next to the Germans”. Even Britain itself relied on many people from it’s colonies to fight in the war, from countries they had taken over just because they had the power to, against their own will and often with violence. How many countries in the world struggle with unstable politics and poverty due to unnecessary and unhelpful western intervention? Likely too many to count.
References:
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