Lake Nights and some Critical Thinking

Part 1:

My expectations for the critical thinking workshop were that we would be given situations and have to determine the best way to solve them, challenge-like. I was pleasantly surprised that we engaged in games and group activities that encouraged us to build off of one another’s thoughts and ideas. After the workshop, I am looking forward to the creativity workshop in a few weeks because as discussed the combination or mastery of both skills is important for innovation.

Something new that I learned was to look at art, and anything abstract for that matter, for a good amount of time before giving up and reading the blurb or deciding I am can’t uncover the meaning of the artwork. I liked that we were encouraged to think for a while before talking because in life, there is often a pressure to be the first one to speak or that contemplating something for a while is a fault and not a mark of a good critical thinker.

I am realizing that critical thinking is a valuable skill to develop in BLF because strong leaders must be able to think on their feet but also work in groups to grow and improve ideas that others begin.

Applying what I learned at the Columbus Art Museum to real life would allow me to think before speaking and be more confident in my daily activities. I think that this workshop also focused on a group dynamic and thus will help in future BLF challenges. Learning to understand and listen and then interpret what a teammate says is extremely important in team settings.

Part 2:

After observing the photograph, I see dark background with lots of small lights. It seems clear that it is of a lake and that lights are reflecting off the water. There is also a building in the background, which is not easily distinguishable. The picture has a stark contrast between the light objects and the darker setting.

Interpreting this picture is interesting because I have recently studied Gestalt’s theories of object-ground rules. One of the theories is that lighter objects and objects that seem to be surrounded appear to be the objects. I think that is interesting because some of the “objects” are not easily distinguished and light eliminates a branch or post but the rest of the tree of fence remains in the dark. This vagueness encourages the viewer to make connections in their mind without know the full story or setting of the image. I also really like how there are three places on this picture that especially draw my attention; the three brightest lights are strong but each fade slowly into the background. I think this compares to the Christmas lights that seem dimmer, however there are more of them so they have the same potential to be someone’s focal point.

Most Ohio State students would probably venture a guess that this is Mirror Lake, and although it is correct, I think it could be any lake. I like how this picture does not capture any defining details of the setting, rather makes someone wonder where this is.