Gestalt theory
Gestalt
theory basically follows 5 laws, which are proximity, similarity, common fate,
pregnantz, and closure. Max Wertheimer coined this theory in 1924; he suggested
that the whole is different to sum of its parts, to make it simple I will
explain it based roughly on Köffka’s research on an ape named sultan, in a
confined area, there was a stick, a chair and a banana hanging on the ceiling.
The ape tried to reach the banana by climbing on the chair, however it failed
to obtain it. Then it proceeds to reach it using the stick, and yet again it
failed. At the end, it realized that by combining the action of climbing on the
chair while swinging the stick can help it retrieve the banana. What the ape
did was discovering the interdependence of the context and creates wholeness of
the problem, hence gestalt.
This picture can help further
explain gestalt theory; there are no definite lines to show of what the image
should be depicted. Our brain works in a complex manner, it thrives to find and
fix and figure what is being displayed on the picture, although it is shown as
spots of black inks on a white background, our cognitive will create wholeness
and will eventually see a the picture of a dog.
The
first law of gestalt can be seen in this picture, which was proximity. The
smaller spots were positioned and group together which help to fixate our eyes
towards the area of where the dog was positioned in the picture. Moreover, the
law of similarity was also used, to create the lines and show the shape of the
dog, and lastly the law of closure, which is the generalization of the whole
image.
Schema also play an important
role on figuring out a picture, as mention by Minsky (1974) when we are come
across a new situation, we will recall from our past memory to create a
framework of the situation, by changing details of it to relate to the present
image. The purpose of schema within an image acts a trigger for the audience,
to help them instantly relate to the picture.
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