Negative dip, distortion and the afterimage
Bibliography
Visual Notes
This sub-topic aims to reflect on the possibility to introduce the doubled or mirrored image as an operative tool.
The negative dip or Kimmfläche (named by Lutz Hasse and Biot)[1] - and one of the factors of green rays - is the capacity to observe a mirrored object which lies under the line of objective view. The incredible potential of either refraction and mirage promotes, let’s say, result in fictionized observations. Therefore, the quest in play is the one of appearance, rather than a restricted apprehension of objective forms. The horizon is even scientifically named in such cases the apparent horizon[1], once it is composed by a trembling appearance. The green ray operates in-between the instant image and the afterimage. an afterimage is the persistence of a retinal impression after the removal of a visual stimulus, caused by the continuity of the photochemical activity in the retina. It is named positive, when the color or brightness corresponds to the original image or negative, also known as counter-image, when the brightness intensity changes or the colors become complementary to the original (Swan, 1883)[2]. Reasons why Flammarion recalls the habit of the horizon as a criterium to observe the green ray. These fluctuations in objectivity differentiates traditional scientific methodologies, as it demands an abstract or imaginary thinking of the source.
An afterimage is the persistence of a retinal impression after the removal of a visual [GS1] stimulus, caused by the continuity of the photochemical activity in the retina. It is named positive, when the color or brightness corresponds to the original image or negative, also known as counter-image, when the brightness intensity changes or the colors become complementary to the original (Swan, 1883)[1]. As an example, after a prolonged view of a bright magenta stimulus, it will appear green, as soon as the exposure to the original has ceased.
The persistence of an afterimage for approximately one sixteenth of a second on the retina, explains why the black spaces, that appear between each movie frame on a film stripe (technological basis of Cinema), are not perceived and the appearance of continuous movements is achieved. It is also through this lack of conscious perception that subliminal images are intended – the exposure to quick visual stimuli, i.e. a flash with the duration of 16.7 milliseconds, may unconsciously influence the observer, once they happen bellow an individual’s threshold for conscious perception. This measure of detection, known as absolute threshold, is very subjective as it corresponds to the smallest amount of stimulus that a person can detect half of the time, having several influential factors like scale, distance, intensity, and psychological conditions, functioning as variants of those measurements.[2]
To induce afterimages, counter-images or negative dips as a method, one should magnify or invert perception. Such experiences result in the assumption of the obsoletism of the real, even though it is associated to psychologic lucidity and responsive materializations.
The fact that anaesthetic drugs are healthwise prejudicable and that mental illnesses provoke unreal visions, might inflect such prejorative associations against indiscernible matters. However, it is of my understanding, that by stressing out such technics one could provide a beneficial alternative for such non-classificable knowledge.
Such wider perceptions of the real are, in western societies, marginally employed to deviate from fixed social structures.
To rethink what is marginal or peripheral is of great importance for this research.
[1] Swan, W. (1883) Green sunlight. Nature, 29, p. 76
[2] Biot, J. B. (1839) “Sur les réfractions astronomiques,” Additions a la Connaissance des Temps, pp. 3–114
[1] Swan, W. (1883) Green sunlight. Nature, 29, p. 76
[2] Reingold, E. M. and Merikle, P. M. (1988) "Direct and indirect measures to study perceptions without awareness". Perception and Psychophysics. 44 (6), pp. 563–575
[2] Biot, J. B. (1839) “Sur les réfractions astronomiques,” Additions a la Connaissance des Temps, pp. 3–114
[1] Swan, W. (1883) Green sunlight. Nature, 29, p. 76
[2] Reingold, E. M. and Merikle, P. M. (1988) "Direct and indirect measures to study perceptions without awareness". Perception and Psychophysics. 44 (6), pp. 563–575
