#visual metaphors

[ott3rlyadorable]

Idk where else to put this but I was looking at a picture Supernatural and just realized a very very interesting parallel to The Fallen Angel painting were Dean is in a very similar pose to Lucifer in the painting. I couldn't remember the context of the scene it was from so I had two theories as to why they chose this parallel.

The first being Dean is supposed to be God's favorite of the two brothers and is one one who I think rebels the hardest. He is the one who originally says they need to go against him and earn not only the right to chose their fate but to save the world as well.

The second being similar but instead of it being a comment on Dean's relationship with god it'sa comment on his relationship with John. "But oh Sam rebelled more" Yes and no. Sam was never supposed to be a hunter in same sense Dean was. Dean was Johns warrior, kill first ask questions later and then later on he starts to see the humanity in some of the monsters they were hunting and even chose to befriend one, something John would have never approved of.

I kinda dismissed it but then thought about how in Castaway theres a parallel in blocking thats easy to look over unless your actively trying.Anyways all this to say I think it's cool when you look closer at media and find something so clearly that you otherwise wouldn't have

[xwideopenideasx]

Some of the most important discoveries don’t start with a plan — they start with curiosity, patience, and the willingness to dig without knowing what you’ll find.

Why Basic Research Matters: Digging for the Gold of Human Progress

Basic research is the engine behind nearly every breakthrough we enjoy today — from life-saving medicines to transformative technologies…

[ann2dot]

this 2010 Volkswagen Polo ad, officially titled “Last Tango in Compton” is summed up in the tagline “Tough. Beautiful. Polo.”

it was directed by Jonathan Glazer, an award-winning director celebrated for visually impactful commercials, like Guinness Surfer and Levi’s Odyssey.

the dancers are Argentine Tango world champions: Gasper Godoy and Manuela Rossi, chosen for their elite skill and ability to convey both power and precision. their performance was specially choreographed for the ad and overseen by a professional choreographer, tailored to communicate emotional contrast.

a simultaneous multi-camera setup was used: more than 20 cameras captured the dancers’ every movement from different angles to create a dynamic, visceral visual flow.

the soundtrack is “Don’t Stop” by hip-hop artist Roc C, chosen deliberately to juxtapose the classical form of Argentine tango with a modern, powerful beat.

[flickringghosts]

[drageekeksi]

Imagine standing in a lush green field full of lovely tea shrubs scenting their aroma into the air. Ripe berries hang from blueberry bushes, and the prettiest dahlias sprout next to the walkway to your house.

Everyday you venture out to pick the best berries, find the best leaves for brewing tea, and cut fresh flowers. You put these lovingly chosen items in a box and send it of to your friend as a token of appreciation to their friendship.

And one day when your friend comes to visit they announce: "I couldn't open your last box as I do not have scissors that let me cut the tape. I have to buy scissors some time so I can enjoy your gifts."

Anyway my partner announced that they are considering making a tumblr account because the last meme I send them isn't available without an account. If that isnt true love I don't know what is.

I really want to help them set it up :>

On the other hand some things should happen organically.

[worksandmusings2]

An Attempted Cleansing

My words a bloody weapon.

And yours a gentle stream.

You try to wipe me clean.

Erasing who I am.

[yanfeichen]

CTS A | Week 11:

How do you understand the Critical Thinking Skills module? Explain your choice of visual metaphor. Do you personally have an alternative visual metaphor? 

Which was your favorite activity or session? Why? Which aspects of it were mentioned for you?

What is the value of working in a group?

What do you wish you did more of, or better?

For our group’s visual metaphor, we chose an apple tree because we felt it represented the process of critical thinking in a clear and meaningful way. The roots symbolise the foundational knowledge and personal experiences that shape our initial interpretations. Each branch extends outward in different directions, illustrating how ideas can grow, diverge, and connect to new perspectives, much like how we branched out our points during the activity.

The apples at the ends of the branches represented our three main points, showing the conclusions that emerge after careful reasoning. We also discussed how a tree continues to grow over time, which reflects the idea that critical thinking is an ongoing, evolving skill rather than a fixed ability. This concept aligns well with Dweck’s research on the growth mindset and the belief that abilities develop through effort and continuous learning (Dweck).

Out of all the CTS A sessions, this week’s activity was my favourite. Looking back at our previous lessons allowed us to reflect not only on what we had learned but also on how we could apply critical thinking across our other modules and in everyday situations. I realised that the value of group work goes beyond dividing tasks. Listening to my groupmates’ reasoning helped me identify gaps in my own thinking and encouraged me to evaluate my points more clearly and confidently. I personally feel that some things I could have done more of was to evaluate my points clearly. This supports Yeager and Dweck’s findings that collaboration and shared inquiry can strengthen understanding and resilience through constructive feedback (Yeager and Dweck).

Grammarly used to correct grammar and phrasing

(264 words)

References

Dweck, Carol S. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Random House, 2006.

Yeager, David S., and Carol S. Dweck. “Mindsets That Promote Resilience: When Students Believe That Personal Characteristics Can Be Developed.”

[hanaangelica]

CTS A | Summative Question 1

Before the first session of Critical Thinking, I thought of the usual essay writing with references. Although it was similar to what I expected, Critical Thinking brings me to keep reflecting on where my current skill capabilities maintain and improve throughout the semester, as well as keeping an open mind while actively participating in group activities/discussions during these sessions. I’m still adjusting to this module, exploring more design websites to use as references to support my reflection instead of relying on class activities alone.

Although I may come across some challenges during creative thinking, failure helps me to accept and convert it as a learning opportunity to explore new ideas, challenging myself to think differently and to accept imperfection in my work. This shows that the more students ‘play’ around, the less intimidating the fear of failure would be. According to Rudolph and Neal Ashley(2025), students certainly need to develop their curiosity and problem-solving skills, as well as accepting failure and play. This is further broken down to the importance of collaboration and ‘playing’. Collaborative skills expanding students’ knowledge to reform and create alternative ideas while keeping open-minded with their teammates. On the other hand, ‘Playing’ is when students are left with little inspiration, they would take a step back, give themselves personal design fundamentals to follow, and simply create ideas while using questions to test out their ideas, helping them to revise their thinking processes and further enhance them(A. Bamford). 

Working with my classmates teaches me to not only actively participate in the activities, but to also maintain a positive attitude to encourage my other teammates to contribute and give their best. Tekta AI(2018) explains that to have successful teamwork, each teammate must be able to contribute by giving a chance to speak in group discussions without personally targeting each other and keeping conversations sensible.

In conclusion, I learnt to embrace imperfection, explore with curiosity and foster a safe, positive team environment for shared goals.

(330 words)

References:

A. Bamford, ‘Design With Play: The thinking behind Falmouth University's new pedagogy’, creativeboom.com, 4 February 2025, https://www.creativeboom.com/insight/design-with-play-a-look-behind-the-curtain-at-falmouth-university-new-pedagogy/

“Secrets of Successful Teamwork: Insights from Google”. Youtube, Tekta AI, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHIikHJV9fI, Accessed 12 October 2018