Image Poll #2
Image Poll #2 – Aesthetic Preference and Preference Modification Experiment (Further Exploration)
The Facebook Experiment – Image Poll #2
Following the results of the initial Facebook experiment (Image Poll #1), where respondents predominantly remained with their initial image choices, the aim of this experiment was to create a more thought-provoking post. The goal was to determine the factors that might lead respondents to reconsider or change their image preferences.
For this experiment, controversial figures from modern history and individuals with criminal records who were involved in creating or had created art were identified. Building on the success of the first Facebook poll, which garnered 47 responses, Facebook Image Poll #2 below was conducted. It is a similar poll, however, this time, the artworks were intentionally selected for the notoriety of their creators.
Below, are the images used in the poll along with the vote shares from 46 respondents. In the first part of the experiment just as in Image Poll #1 non of the respondents were initially given the name or any background information of the artists.
The creators of the images below are as follows:
- Wayne Lo – He shot and killed a teacher and fellow student. His image received 6 votes (13%)
- Reggie Kray of the Kray twins notoriety. His image received 9 votes (20%)
- Adolf Hitler mass murderer and one of the most evil men of our time. His painting received 15 votes (33%)
- Olive Wharry a Suffragette jailed for acts of terrorism and protest. Her painting was the most popular receiving 16 votes (35%)
The poll images
The Next Step
Now that initial choices had been made in Image Poll #2 just as with Image Poll #1 respondents were again invited to revise their image choices based on the additional information provided namely the criminal record and notoriety of each artist. Please note that the figures given to respondents in the text below has slightly changed as more results came in. The aim of this step again was to determine whether additional information could sway respondents from their initial choices.
“What I really want to know is how many of you would now like to switch your preference once you know who created each artwork. Only one person wanted to switch last time. Please put in the comments what your choice was and what number you now prefer. It’s also okay to stick to your original choice if you want to as these were anonymous images – just write stick if your choice is staying the same. Once I have enough respondents I will tell you what I think is so desperately sad about a couple of these artworks.
Here goes – the breakdown is as follows – out of a total of 43 the Winning Image was image 4 and is called ‘Devon Village Lane by a Ford’ by Olive Wharry.
Wharry became deeply involved in women’s suffrage and was jailed in 1912 with other suffragettes in a window-breaking demonstration. She was only released following a hunger strike. Prison doctors dubbed her mentally unstable, but her prison notebooks suggest otherwise as they were full of “delightful drawings of prison life.”Along with Lilian Lenton, Wharry embarked on a series of terrorist acts, including the arson of a tea pavilion in Kew Gardens for which she was arrested again. This painting took 37% of the vote
Shocker!
Second place goes to a watercolour painting titled: Neuschwanstein Castle by Adolf Hitler. This painting sold for £71,500 in 2015 this image namely image 3 took 30% of the vote.
Image 2 lags somewhat behind and takes third place with 19% of the votes. Image 2 was painted by Reggie Kray of the Kray twins fame. Their artworks continue to sell for around £20,000 each at auction.
Last but not least but in last place is image one which took 14% of the vote. This is by Wayne Lo – His conservative views did not mix well with the boarding community of his new school. He was deemed racist, homophobic, and anti-Semitic by other students. In 1992, a spurned Lo perpetrated a shooting at his school, killing a professor and a student and wounding countless others. His trial resulted in two life sentences without the chance of parole.
PLEASE TELL IF ME HAS THIS MADE YOU WANT TO SWITCH YOUR CHOICE AND IF SO TO WHAT? Please comment STICK, CHANGE TO (insert your new choice) in the comments below. Thanks for helping me out with this. And I’ll tell you the sad stories about a couple of them once results are in.”
The Results
Out of 46 initial respondents a total of 23 people replied to the follow up post. It is again unknown why so many did not come back and comment and impossible to second guess their feelings. There are possibly multiple reasons why people did not respond and some of it could be down to the Facebook algorithm and them not seeing the follow up Facebook post. However of the 23 people that did respond. The results and conversations are listed below.
Comments by Participants Image Poll #2
- At the end of the day its a picture that sparks an emotional reaction in your own mind and what is good to your own minds eye, never about the price so I’ll stick with my choice xx
- I am happy with my choice of picture No.4 Karyn because that was the one that I found more appealing to my nature! At the end of the day for me it’s about the painting regardless of its market value. xx 🥰 It was purely based on the colour, texture and how it made me feel when looking at it – peace and calm. xxx 🥰🦋🌹☺️
- I’ll stick with number 2 because I like the colours and the Krays were Londoners (I think) like me! But I probably wouldn’t have chosen the image had I known who painted it.
- I’m sticking even though the artist was a wrong un 😂 I like the textures x
- Stick
- I didn’t like any of them, but will stick with my original choice of No.1
- I’d like to exchange the Krays for Hitler please, I thought 2 was Degas, but I love this castle picture. I would love it hanging in my home if only to be able to say who painted it. Beauty well executed and sensitivity at the hands of a psychotic monster. – so yep an exchange for me.
- Still like 4, a worthy cause if not somewhat misguided
- I’ll stick with my choice One.
- Sticking with my choice of picture 4. Again, this more organic painting speaks to me at a level the others don’t. 3 was a close second in my opinion and I don’t think knowing Hitler painted it changes this but it lost out because it is too precise and fastidious in a way 4 isn’t
- Stick. I don’t understand abstract art, I was drawn to number 4 as it was pleasing on my eye. The castle looks too perfect, something that detailed would look better focused on a smaller area. The kray painting was ok, but I was drawn straight away to 4. Hope that helps xx
- Karyn Easton I’m sticking to my choice xx
- I’ll stick with 4 😊
- I chose 3 before but was toying between 3 & 4 so will change to 4
- still 4, I just like the picture…
- Karyn Easton yes I’ll stick with 4 x
- Stick with choice 3
- Stick
- no. no change
- So there’s artistry even in the devil’s spawn but in terms of my favourite picture it’s still the castle.
- I will stick with my choice, #2, because of its subject matter and human connection. The hollow black eyes are a bit disturbing giving me a suggestion that what is being seen by the viewer is just a mask and that the reality is darker and unknown. Still, the message and subject seems very complex. and the execution is sophisticated. I don’t know who the Kray twins were/are. I’m supposing they were criminals of some sort?
- In light of the fact that my dad escaped Hitlers wrath where most of our relatives were murdered by that sick monster, I absolutely change my selection to # 1. The lesser of the evils and one that I can look at and not get creeped out. Karyn, wonderful experiment!! I’d love to know how or if others changed their selection. 🥰 (I obviously at first, selected #3) I see most kept their selection. I feel I might have, had my family and the world not been so deeply affected by this particular “artist”. The evil of evil. Karyn Easton So glad my answer can help. Just yesterday I had a reunion with a family member who planted a tree in honor of so many of our ancestors who suffered at the hands of Hitler. Stones with their names under the tree with a metal plaque. My dad as a young boy had to hide in Marseille, France pretending to be a Christian. He made it to America on the last freight ship that was allowed in. Other freight ships after that were turned away and they all perished at the hands of Hitlers orders. I recently put together a family tree and was horrified to see how many of my grandparents siblings died in the holocaust. You can see why I’m so affected and even horrified that I selected #3. I’d love to know your final findings after you complete the experiment. 🥰
- The same. Just prefer the colours. Stick. Karyn Easton the kray, Hitler etc one. Should have said I did a puzzle of that castle.
People Who Swapped Their Choice
There were only 3 respondents in total that changed their preference. One respondent actually wanted to choose the image by Hitler as the notoriety and historical value appealed to him. One respondent that was torn between 3 and four and the notoriety factor of Hitler ‘tipped the balance’ so they settled on image 4. Finally one particular respondent’s family had been affected by Hitler and the Nazi regime so they immediately swapped their choice and were horrified that they could have chosen it in the first place. However, interestingly they also commented that they too might have kept their original choice too had it not been for Hitler’s direct impact on their family.
Insights From Image Poll #2
Based on the responses above it was possible to draw the following conclusions:
- Artistic Appeal Transcends Prejudice: Despite the criminal backgrounds of the artists, respondents initially selected their preferred artworks based solely on visual appeal and emotional connection. This suggests that viewers can appreciate art independently of the artist’s personal history or reputation.
- Olive Wharry’s Artistic Talent: Olive Wharry’s artwork emerged as the favorite among respondents when they were unaware of the artists’ identities. This indicates that Wharry’s artistic skill and the visual qualities of her artwork strongly resonate with viewers.
- Hitler’s Art and Historical Context: Adolf Hitler’s artwork garnered significant interest even before the artist’s identity was revealed. This may be due to the historical context and curiosity surrounding the artwork of such a notorious figure. It’s essential to acknowledge that this fascination might not necessarily reflect approval of Hitler’s actions but rather a curiosity about the art of a historical figure.
- Minimal Impact of Artist’s Criminal Record: When respondents were informed of the artists’ criminal records, very few wanted to change their image preference. This suggests that, in some cases, the public’s perception of art remains distinct from their judgment of an artist’s character or actions.
- Diverse Art Preferences: The fact that respondents had varying preferences even when unaware of the artists’ identities highlights the diverse nature of art appreciation. Different people connect with different styles, subjects, and artistic expressions.
- Complex Relationship Between Art and Artist: The research underscores the intricate relationship between art and the artist’s identity. While some individuals may separate the two, others may find it challenging to dissociate an artist’s personal history from their art.
Art Perception and Complexity: Insights from Image Polls
These findings underscore the intricate nature of art perception and the dynamic interplay between artistic expression and the artist’s background. Understanding these complexities is crucial when examining the influence of artists’ biographies on art reception and appreciation.
Furthermore, the results highlight the potent and autonomous impact of art on viewers. Both Image Poll #1 and this experiment namely Image Poll #2, demonstrated that art has the potential to transcend biases associated with an artist’s past when presented anonymously and with limited information. However, it’s important to acknowledge that anonymity may not always be feasible or even ethical.
In light of these considerations, we initiated further investigations through Image Polls #3 and #4. These polls aimed to explore the role of empathy, embodied by a humanoid robot with a poignant backstory, in the presentation and reception of AI-generated art. This exploration became necessary as AI art faces significant negative bias, prompting us to seek innovative ways to mitigate it.
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3d 21 Day Challenge Abstract Art ai Animation Artists Augmented Reality Books Collaborations Culture Disasters Drawings Evaluations Exhibitions Experimentation Film Production Final Major Project Final Outcomes Food for Thought Galleries Ideas Lectures Little Wins Low Residency Materials Mentions My Learning my work opportunities Patterns Photography Problem Solving Reflection Research Research Paper Journey Risk Taking threats Timelapse Tutorials Unit 2 Blogs Unit 3 Blogs Videos Workshops Zentangles Zoom Meetings