Altered Conscious

My original idea came from this idea of flow, which in a psycologists world is defined as a mental state of operation in which a person is fully immeresed in what he is doing by energized focus. I thought this was what we would all call, 3am in Ed hall. The components of this idea are clear goals, self consciousness, distorted sense of time, personal control, the list goes on. Then i ran into an idea of group flow, creating spatioial arraingments working parallel to eachother. I thought this was what our studio was supposed to be doing. As I dug deeper i came across enhanced creativity and imagination while in this state of altered consciousness. The knowledge obtained far exceeds that of a person in a normal state.

I began to piece together what would put someone in an altered state, i.e. drugs or meditation.

The drug aspect really goes into hallucinigenics such as LSD, arguing that under controlled amounts the mind is altered to think "clearer". I know thats hard to believe but what the drug does is force you to focus on something, and explore all outcomes or aspects of that idea. Meditation although not as fun, produces the same effect, it clears your mind and allows you to focus.

Deeper I go, I found these characteristics of an altered state of consciousness. Altered thoughts, disturbed time sense, loss of control, emotional extremes, changing in lifes meaning, and rejuvination.

These characteristics can relate back to Red Hook. How did I make that jump you may ask, allow me to share. The altered thoughts are describeds as one having a decrease in reflective awareness. Basically not thinking of the effects something will have on something else. While i feel this is key in the begining stages of the design process, this is not a good idea when making decisions that effect an entire community. The first example i can give is the community itself letting drugs and violence getting the best of them. Hindsight is 20/20 im sure community leaders can look back and see where the changes began. At the time though it may not have seemed like that lkarge of an issue. The other is the new IKEA. When IKEA was built it dug up asbestos, old war relics, and divided a community.

The disturbed sense of time. While large parts of brooklyn began to develop this sort of rebirth through the artists, Red Hook was left unto itself because if its seperation by the highway. The time aspect comes into play, because people seemed to have forgotton how grand Red Hook once was.

Loss of control. The drug problem, I would say being labeled the crack capital of american and one of the worst places to live, could define a loss of control.

Lets jump to rejuvination. The neighborhood has been rediscovered, artists are planting the seeds of reform. While business begins to move back into the area.

As for the museum. My first thoughts are of a museum that allows you to experience altered states of consciousness, without having to take drugs or meditate. Im thinking the use of materials, and development of certain sized spaces can evoke the same feelings. It would be my desire riht now to have this museum almost take you out of your "norm". Send you somewhere where ideas are clear, free thinking allows you to be more creative. My main argument with myself is whether to create this museum chaotically, because of the characteristics that occur, or should i create the perfect museum(which i cant do anyway) because during this altered state you are supposed to be able to think clearer, and hopefully design more effectively.