Experience the World with Archetypal Symbols: A New Form of Aesthetics

Abstract

Abstract. According to the theories of symbolic interactionism, phenomenology of perception and archetypes, we argue that symbols play the key role in translating the information from the physical world to the human experience, and archetypes are the universal knowledge of cognition that generates the background of human experience (the life-world). Therefore, we propose a conceptual framework that depicts how people experience the world with symbols, and how archetypes relate the deepest level of human experience. This framework indicates a new direction of research on memory and emotion, and also suggests that archetypal symbolism can be a new resource of aesthetic experience design.

Symbols analysis in generating insights. A small analytical group case study.

“…The symbol analysis support Chang et al (2013) idea that symbolization capabilities could help in management of traumatic experiences and identify the internal trends of falsification of reality or phantasms activities. The participants not only recollect painful memories or associate elements of negative mental patterns, but find a way to recovery the positive side of it.…”

“…Simultaneously, symbols provide a "notation" system allowing two forms of relations: with external reality and with internal needs, mediating the adaptation processes. Therefore, symbolization capabilities are involved in managing trauma experiences and internal trends of falsification of reality (Chang et al 2013). From this standpoint, symbolic activity acts as an associative binder of experiences at emotional core creating in this way the meaning of experience.…”

Unspoken Emotions in Movies

“…In this way, archetypes are similar to other sensory and cognitive models, e.g., receptive fields of the retina are not consciously perceived but determine the structure of visual perception [11]. People interpret the world through archetypes but without any awareness of their existence [12]. These theories created a basic framework that explains the connection between myths and human minds and moreover became the theoretical basis for analytical psychology and Jungian psychotherapy.…”

Enacting archetypes in movies: grounding the unconscious mind in emotion-driven media

“…receptive fields of the retina are not consciously perceived, but determine the structure of visual perception (Perlovsky 2007). Some researchers consider archetypes as a universal knowledge that is rooted in our unconsciousness (Chang et al 2013a). Humans interpret the world with archetypes, though they are unaware of the existence of these archetypes.…”