Know Your Zone + Social Responsibility

1) Reflect on our visit with Tattfoo. What kind of thoughts does his visit leave you with? Are you inspired by his work? How did his presentation connect to the themes of our class?

Tattfoo’s lecture can be directly applied to my life and reminded me of the things my dad used to tell me to help me go through difficult times and obsessive thoughts. It was as if I were in a counseling room to consult my personal concerns, like with my tutors and previous professors. I found this class reassuring because not only could I get over all the struggles I had in mind through the visit with Tattfoo, but I also gained confidence to keep working on my hobbies; dreams do not necessarily have to be the job I will have in the future, but it can also be the plans for the future. The Enlightenment he recommended to let go of our concerns reminded me of Siddhartha, whereas the self inquiry, the reason for my existence, enabled me to think of my art teacher in high school, who helped me to stay on track when I was feeling exhausted during the college admission. Tattfoo’s artworks inspire me in a way that there are letters that explain what each picture means in terms of emotional state and how they move up and down. I realized that artists should also stay healthy not only because it can help achieve dreams, but also because it reduces the global warming and the Sixth Extinction due to meat consumers, which is connected to our theme, sustainability.

2) Post your second FBNK observation (make sure to hand-write this in your notebook, include a photo, and include a second location).

 

3) Visit and explore New York City’s Hurricane Preparation website and answer the following: 

– Which hurricane evacuation zone do you live within?

Seems like my place is not located in an evacuation zone

– What does feels like to learn what zone you inhabit?

While the skyscrapers of the city make it more challenging for me to realize, Manhattan and NYC are the coastal regions surrounded by water all over the place, which could be a huge threat in situations like hurricanes.

– How close is the next, nearest zone to your home?

The next nearest zone to my home is the evacuation zone 6.

– Which zone is Parsons located within?

Evacuation zone 6.

– Do you feel prepared for a hurricane in NYC?

As a freshman who is spending his first year in New York, I have not personally experienced the difficulties caused by the hurricanes in NYC. As a result, I do not think I am really prepared for a hurricane. I heard from my friends how they sometimes have to store food and water in advance in case of emergency.

– What are your thoughts on this website’s design (is it functional, aesthetic, easy to use etc.)? 

I believe the website’s design is functional and easy to use because the map manifestly indicates where the evacuation zones are and helps us find where we are living in. I like the colors that clearly differentiate each evacuation zone at each area.

4) Conduct independent research on Social Resiliency.

– How does social resiliency differ from infrastructural and urban resiliency?

While the infrastructural and urban resiliency refer to the physical systems that help increasing the capacity to survive against chronic stresses and acute shocks, such as hurricanes, the social resiliency is the ability of communities as a whole to adapt to the economic, environmental, social, and political changes. 

– How would you explain social resiliency to a friend or family member?

To simply put, they are my sources of social resiliency. However, the social resiliency is not just within the close relationship and trusted friends, but also among the other members of the society that sometimes referred to as the strangers.

– Why might social resilience be important in the context of climate change?

Because of the recent climate changes, the natural disasters have become more destructive and capable of causing greater damage. If people in the same community do not work together to overcome the hardships, it would result in even worse disasters where people cannot be united to restore back to regular lives before the crisis.

– How important do you think it is for artists/designers to consider and encourage resiliency among people in their work?

Through art, people who do not know each other can have special form of intimacy that can help establishing social resiliency. Also, art helps the community to resolve the conflicts in nonviolent ways, which reunites the communities even after they are damaged. 

– What is an experience you have had, or an object/design that you have, that you feel supports social resiliency in you?  (i.e. makes you feel stronger, connected to the earth or other people and prepared/capable of adapting to environmental change).

Whenever I consulted my dad about my personal concerns, he told me to accept both good and bad things instead of denying; without confronting the difficult issues, it would not be possible to overcome them. Sometimes disasters that are beyond my control can strike hard, and people might feel like they want to give up, but my dad’s words make me want to become stronger and more prepared for the changes. 

– How might creative people do this?

Creative people might do this by imagining how the current situation can be viewed from a different perspective. They use their creativity and courage to catch an aspect that has been overlooked by the general public, which could change the future for the next generation. They might notice actual crisis beforehand and warn others to be prepared.

5) Conduct independent research about what scientists are predicting New York City will be like (weather, infrastructure, architecture, population etc.) in the year 2050 due to the effects of climate change. How are these predictions different or similar to what you imagine the city will be like? What do you think can make a coastal city like New York more resilient? Include 2-3 citations of your research.

According to the scientists’ predictions, the average temperature of New York might rise 5 degrees Fahrenheit in 2050, resulting in a huge increase in the number of days that are higher than 90 degrees. Due to global warming such as melting glaciers, warmer summers, and heavier rain, the NYC will become more vulnerable towards the flood. For example, the level of the Atlantic Ocean will likely to rise about a foot and a half. Additionally, the rain precipitation over 2 inches in two days would become more frequent. Although I have not really made predictions about the year 2050, I do believe that it is getting hotter and wetter every year, which seems to align with the scientists’ predictions. To make a coastal city like New York more resilient, it would be necessary make a system where we can allocate resources more efficiently to reduce heat. For example, the roofs can be painted white so that it can reflect heat and avoid using too much air conditioner in buildings. Also, increasing the areas covered by the public transportation such as MTA would be able to help people to effectively evacuate in cases of disasters and reduce damages. 

Citations:

“A Stronger, More Resilient New York – Transportation Chapter.” A Stronger, More Resilient New York – Transportation Chapter | Adaptation Clearinghouse. June 11, 2013. Accessed April 04, 2019. https://www.adaptationclearinghouse.org/resources/a-stronger-more-resilient-new-york-transportation-chapter.html.

Nessen, Stephen. “Forecast Calls for More Rain Than We Can Handle | WNYC | New York  Public Radio, Podcasts, Live Streaming Radio, News.” WNYC. October 12, 2014. Accessed April 04, 2019. https://www.wnyc.org/story/nyc-2050-more-rain-harder-rains.

“New York City Could Get as Hot as Alabama in 2050 | WNYC | New York Public Radio, Podcasts, Live Streaming Radio, News.” WNYC. October 12, 2014. Accessed April 04, 2019. https://www.wnyc.org/story/nyc-2050-more-heat.

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