Monday, 25 November 2013

Mid stage assessment of Liminality

I've continued developing my ideas about using the synapse of a brain neurone as a possible target for a final work piece over the last few days.  My curiosity has been suitably triggered to challenge how I could represent it in a 3D model.  Currently, I'm of the opinion that in order to show liminality, I feel that each of the four attributes outlined by Gennep's definition, must be satisfied.  Therefore, if we are to apply this into an artistic concept (as opposed to an anthropological paradigm, from whence the application and usage of the word derives), then I can validate it through a neurone signal working it's way across the synapse as follows;

  1. Pre-liminal - The brain impulse travels in electrical form along the input to the neurone or cell.
  2. Liminal, the electrical impulse reaches the edge of the synaptic bridge. at this point, the cells of the synapse convert the electrical impulse into a chemical response, which it ejects into the synaptic gap.  Within this so called gap, there is a number of other "chemical solutions" as amino acids, hormones and proteins, peculiar to the brain in particular.  The most portentious combinations or solutions are more commonly known as hormones, and include, amongst others, Noradrenaline,  Serotonin and dopamine.  It is this synaptic gap that I consider as the ultimate liminal space.  The specific chemical response produced by the "transmitter" side of the synapse is dependent on a number of factors, which I would assume includes the strength of the electrical signal reaching the nerve ending. The resulting conversion to a chemical messenger suggests that there is liminality within the synaptic gap; The electrical impulse has been stripped away.  Unless the corresponding wall of the neurone to which the chemical message is intended (the receiver, or more correctly, the receptor) for is "set" to receive it, then the strength of the transfer will alter.  Not only is the transference affected by the state of the receptors being set in readiness, but they are also set to receive only certain types of the hormones described earlier.  The speed at which those chemical messengers are then re-absorbed back into the pool of the transmitter will also effect the vigour of the brain cell firing.  The way these chemical messengers affects the qualities of the brain impulse seem to relate to Dopamine being a "motivator" or an "Exciter", Serotonin being a "feel-good" or "happy" element, and Noradrenalyne seems to be related to the management of moods too. 
  3. So, once the impulse has reached the other side of the synapse and continues it's journey, the post liminal state has been satisfied.
  4. The "conductor" or MC for the synaptic event is the person to whom the neurone, and brain belong.
Therefore, all four of Genneps criteria have been satisfied.  Voila!... The perfect liminal space.

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