Emotional Space Research Articles

Laughing about It: Emotional and Affective Spaces of Humour in the Geopolitics of Migration

ABSTRACT Every day, migrants from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras risk their lives attempting to reach the US. Accordingly, accounts of migration from Central America are often framed by tragedy and violence, as migrants increasingly confront new security and border control practices in Mexico and the US, in addition to other forms of brutality on their journeys. Though accurate, these descriptions grounded in tragedy obscure other everyday experiences of migrants in transit, which, as I show here, are punctuated not only by brutality and violence but also by play and laughter. Drawing from ethnographic fieldwork in migrant shelters across Mexico and the US, I argue that humour represents a crucial, yet neglected, detail in the geopolitics of international migration. I develop the shared and collective aspects of joking and laughter in migrants’ journeys by detailing how Central American migrants deploy humour as a shared mechanism to cope with their vulnerability while generating spaces of collective solidarity, as they join together in making light of their illegality and immobility in transit. Ultimately, I assert, attention to humour in the study of the geopolitics of migration reveals the complexity of migrants’ experiences along their journeys, experiences that transcend overly simplistic accounts of brutality and violence to better understand migrants’ everyday lives in transit.

Rasifiering av kunskapsproduktion

The central aim of this article is to examine intersectional processes of racialisation within the academic communities: racialisation of knowledge producers and their produced knowledge. We explore what kinds of knowledge productions and knowing subject positions are rendered (im)possible in everyday academic interactions. We use our racialised scholarly experiences as a methodological entry point to contextualise the navigations and negotiations of shifting and intersecting power relations. Our analytical reasoning is presented through several steps. First, we discuss how academic habitus and affiliations maintained in various formal and informal forums are based on established, racialised norms. Second, we discuss how the presence or absence of epistemic entitlement within different academic settings and communities is established through racialised hierarchies. Thus the physical, social, intellectual and emotional spaces that we inhabit create comfort zones for some and discomfort zones for others. Third, we argue how managing the existing accent ceiling becomes a mode for navigating the conditioning norms of whiteness. In our conclusions, we reflect on the passivity, silences as well as (mis)use of the vocabulary of anti-racism and intersectionality as a form of ‘white’ capital for shoring their privileges further rather than undoing it.

An accurate emotion recognition system using ECG and GSR signals and matching pursuit method

BackgroundThe purpose of the current study was to examine the effectiveness of Matching Pursuit (MP) algorithm in emotion recognition. MethodsElectrocardiogram (ECG) and galvanic skin responses (GSR) of 11 healthy students were collected while subjects were listening to emotional music clips. Applying three dictionaries, including two wavelet packet dictionaries (Coiflet, and Daubechies) and discrete cosine transform, MP coefficients were extracted from ECG and GSR signals. Next, some statistical indices were calculated from the MP coefficients. Then, three dimensionality reduction methods, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Linear Discriminant Analysis, and Kernel PCA were applied. The dimensionality reduced features were fed into the Probabilistic Neural Network in subject-dependent and subject-independent modes. Emotion classes were described by a two-dimensional emotion space, including four quadrants of valence and arousal plane, valence based, and arousal based emotional states. ResultsUsing PCA, the highest recognition rate of 100% was achieved for sigma = 0.01 in all classification schemes. In addition, the classification performance of ECG features was evidently better than that of GSR features. Similar results were obtained for subject-dependent emotion classification mode. ConclusionsAn accurate emotion recognition system was proposed using MP algorithm and wavelet dictionaries.

Emotional (Un)Belonging in Aminatta Forna's "The Memory of Love"

War and its aftermaths are at the kernel of The Memory of Love, yet, rather than only dwelling on loss and suffering, the novel explores the enabling possibilities of emotion, and love in particular, as the title suggests, through the lenses of characters who are survivors or witnesses of the devastating civil war in Sierra Leone. In this article, I shall argue that Forna’s novel encourages the reader who has not experienced first-hand such distressing events to recognize the emotional spaces of others. Drawing on Sara Ahmed’s views of emotions as openness (2004), I shall analyse the reasons behind these apparently unlikely interpersonal emotional connections. I shall examine how the main characters in the novel, Mamakay, Agnes, Kai and Adrian, establish interpersonal relations that allow them to come to terms with the ordinary spaces that surround them and eventually construct alternative emotional spaces. The narrative, thus, depicts emotions as fluid, non-static temporal positions, from where to start alternative journeys of surviving and of being. The spaces of emotion form a continuum in the characters’ lives: they are never fixed, never stable, never secured but always adapting, reinventing themselves and changing.

Long Day's Journey Into Night

Long Day's Journey Into Night

Exploring Foodscapes at a Danish Public School: How Emotional Spaces Influence Students’ Eating Practices

Promoting healthy eating among children has high priority in Nordic countries but remains complex. With the purpose of contributing knowledge to inform efforts to promote healthy eating environments in schools, this article explores how children feel and reflect about eating at school and seeks to nuance understandings of how food and eating are situated in school life. The article draws on ethnographic studies carried out at a Danish public sports school following two classes from fifth to seventh grades (age 11–14). By adopting a practice perspective and the analytical concepts of foodscapes and emotional spaces, the article analyses how emotions (affects and feelings), discourses, materialities, and social relations within the school interact. The findings show that many students find eating at school unpleasant. Students want to eat in an un-stressful place away from the gaze of others. They want to eat in “a safe space”, which is difficult to find at school. Students’ accounts reveal how eating at school, intersected by the transitional life-phase of youth, is affected by normativity, control and (self-)discipline, which shape and constrain their eating habits. The article points to the importance of addressing the emotional dimensions of eating in efforts to promote school health.

Emotional Life: Exploring Contradictions in Health Behavior Through Creative Writing in Public Health Education.

Weaving personal experience with literature on social determinants and health humanities, the author argues that including art and literature in public health education will benefit efforts to integrate health care and public health by reminding practitioners that communities are composed of individuals with complicated and often contradictory impulses. She argues that those whose work involves planning interventions and reviewing population data also need to perform the tasks of mental flexibility, of imagination, to think about the people behind the numbers. Together with colleagues at the University of Missouri, the author researches the role of creative writing and imagination in reducing HIV stigma and finds hopeful signs in student responses that they are prepared to consider the contradictions present in human behavior if they are given the opportunity to reflect deeply upon them. Creative writing, literature, and art belong in public health education, she argues, because that is how we make space for emotion in our lives and how we connect with the emotional lives of others.

Empathizing with emotional robot based on cognition reappraisal

This paper proposes a continuous cognitive emotional regulation model for robot in the case of external emotional stimulus from interactive person's expressions. It integrates a guiding cognitive reappraisal strategy into the HMM (Hidden Markov Model) emotional interactive model for empathizing between robot and person. The emotion is considered as a source in the 3D space (Arousal, Valence, and Stance). State transition and emotion intensity can be quantitatively analyzed in the continuous space. This cognition-emotion interactive model have been verified by the expression and behavior robot. Empathizing is the main distinguishing feature of our work, and it is realized by the emotional regulation which operated in a continuous 3D emotional space enabling a wide range of intermediate emotions. The experiment results provide evidence with acceptability, accuracy, richness, fluency, interestingness, friendliness and exaggeration that the robot with cognition and emotional control ability could be better accepted in the human-robot interaction (HRI).

Video-realistic expressive audio-visual speech synthesis for the Greek language

High quality expressive speech synthesis has been a long-standing goal towards natural human-computer interaction. Generating a talking head which is both realistic and expressive appears to be a considerable challenge, due to both the high complexity in the acoustic and visual streams and the large non-discrete number of emotional states we would like the talking head to be able to express. In order to cover all the desired emotions, a significant amount of data is required, which poses an additional time-consuming data collection challenge. In this paper we attempt to address the aforementioned problems in an audio-visual context. Towards this goal, we propose two deep neural network (DNN) architectures for Video-realistic Expressive Audio-Visual Text-To-Speech synthesis (EAVTTS) and evaluate them by comparing them directly both to traditional hidden Markov model (HMM) based EAVTTS, as well as a concatenative unit selection EAVTTS approach, both on the realism and the expressiveness of the generated talking head. Next, we investigate adaptation and interpolation techniques to address the problem of covering the large emotional space. We use HMM interpolation in order to generate different levels of intensity for an emotion, as well as investigate whether it is possible to generate speech with intermediate speaking styles between two emotions. In addition, we employ HMM adaptation to adapt an HMM-based system to another emotion using only a limited amount of adaptation data from the target emotion. We performed an extensive experimental evaluation on a medium sized audio-visual corpus covering three emotions, namely anger, sadness and happiness, as well as neutral reading style. Our results show that DNN-based models outperform HMMs and unit selection on both the realism and expressiveness of the generated talking heads, while in terms of adaptation we can successfully adapt an audio-visual HMM set trained on a neutral speaking style database to a target emotion. Finally, we show that HMM interpolation can indeed generate different levels of intensity for EAVTTS by interpolating an emotion with the neutral reading style, as well as in some cases, generate audio-visual speech with intermediate expressions between two emotions.

Tracking technologies and urban analysis: Adding the emotional dimension

Recent technological advancements—most notably the proliferation of tracking technologies (GPS), real-time surveying techniques, and ambulatory sensing—have allowed researchers to advance the empirical investigation of the interaction between space and emotion. Over the past few years, two approaches to the assessment of spatial-emotional interactions have emerged: the assessment of emotion using subjective self-reported measures and the exploration of objective physiological measures of emotional arousal using ambulatory sensing techniques. To date, most empirical research exploring spatial-emotional interactions has focused on the individual level. The present study is the first to systematically map the emotional characteristics of a large-scale urban environment using aggregative measures of emotion (subjective and objective). By mapping the subjective emotional experience of 144 individuals through real-time surveys administered through Experience Sampling Methods (ESM) as well as mapping an objective physiological measurement of emotional arousal (Skin Conductance Level) of 68 tourists, we were able to create ‘emotional maps’ of the city of Jerusalem. The maps identify emotionally arousing areas of the city, point to emotional ‘clusters’ and ‘boundaries’, and identify discontinuities (and continuities) in emotional space throughout the city. The theoretical and practical implications of this new method for planning and policy are discussed.

‘Every body took notice of the scene of the drawing room’: Performing Emotions at the Early Georgian Court, 1714‐60

AbstractThis article interrogates the court's reputation as ‘the residence of dullness’ to reveal a multivalent emotional space with a practised grammar of emotional concealment and display. The performance of emotions by the royal family and courtiers in the State Apartments acted as a powerful draw to court events, as the display of joy or cheer acquired national significance. Under such scrutiny the king and his courtiers routinely limited displays of grief or pain to more restricted spaces such as the closet. The article analyses the court as a unique micro‐community in order to recreate the emotional character of London's palaces.

色彩感情空間の分析(III)(第18回研究発表大会)

色彩感情空間の分析(III)(第18回研究発表大会)

色彩感情の分析(IV)(第20回研究発表大会)

色彩感情の分析(IV)(第20回研究発表大会)

Multi-layer affective computing model based on emotional psychology

The factors and transforms of affective state were analyzed based on affective psychology theory. After that, a multi-layer affective decision model was proposed by establishing mapping relation among character, mood and motion. The model reflected the changes of mood and emotion spaces based on different characters. Experiment showed that human emotion characteristics accorded with theory and law, thus providing reference for modeling of human–computer interaction system.

Multimodalidad, emoción y publicidad. Un estudio empírico sobre Youtube

La publicidad es un instrumento de seducción en el que la música actúa como refuerzo en la atracción que el futuro usuario o consumidor siente por un producto, organización o servicio. En este trabajo se muestran los resultados de un estudio empírico realizado en la Universidad de Barcelona donde se han analizado las emociones provocadas por la música y las imágenes en una muestra formada por los 10 spots publicitarios más vistos en la plataforma Youtube en el año 2014. Para ello se ha contado con la participación de 31 estudiantes de Comunicación Audiovisual que los han visualizado en tres momentos distintos y randomizados, primero solo imagen, después, solo el audio y, en tercer lugar el audiovisual completo. Para analizar las emociones provocadas se ha utilizado un instrumento de medida inspirado en el 2DES (Two Dimensional Emotion Space) y el Emotion Space Lab. Los resultados señalan tipos distintos de respuesta emocional según el canal perceptivo empleado, y su aportación al contenido emocional de los spots. Se señalan las formas de intermodalidad preferidas por los participantes en la muestra analizada. Asimismo se constata la eficacia de los parámetros musicales y sonoros en el contenido emocional (tempo, intensidad, timbre, silencios, voces, estilos, etc.), corroborando así estudios previos en este sentido.

Component Tying for Mixture Model Adaptation in Personalization of Music Emotion Recognition

Personalizing a music emotion recognition model is needed because the perception of music emotion is highly subjective, but it is a time-consuming process. In this paper, we consider how to expedite the personalization process that begins with a general model trained offline using a general user base and progressively adapts the model to a music listener using the emotion annotations of the listener. Specifically, we focus on reducing the number of user annotations needed for the personalization. We investigate and evaluate four component tying methods: single group tying, quadrantwise tying, hierarchical tying, and random tying. These methods aim to exploit the available annotations by identifying related model parameters on-the-fly and updating them jointly. In the evaluation, we use the AMG1608 dataset, which contains the clip-level valence-arousal emotion ratings of 1608 30-s music clips annotated by 665 listeners. Also, we use the acoustic emotion Gaussians model as the general model that uses a mixture of Gaussian components to learn the mapping between the acoustic feature space and the emotion space. The results show that the model adaptation with component tying requires only 10-20 personal annotations to obtain the same level of prediction accuracy as the baseline model adaptation method that uses 50 personal annotations without component tying.

Телесно-ориентированный подход при анализе произведений экранного искусства

<p class="StinkingStyles">В статье анализируются основные положения зарубежных исследований экранных произведений в рамках телесно-ориентированного подхода. Рассматриваются философские работы А. Бергсона, М. Мерло-Понти, Д. Кампера, У. Матурана, Б. Массуми, Ф. Варела, М. Хансена и др. На основе телесно-ориентированного подхода и концепции «телесно воплощенной симуляции» в статье рассматривается роль аффективного, телесного опыта при интерпретации аудиовизуальных произведений. Утверждается, что сама «визуальность» мира формируется скорее внутренними телесными элементами, нежели абстрактной властью взгляда, причем именно тело зрителя и его активность задают условия для восприятия образов.</p><p class="StinkingStyles">Анализируется новый тип чувствования, когда субъект определяется отнюдь не разумом, но своей телесностью, именно она центрирует и конституирует его. Телесный уровень чувствования, аффективное переживание/опыт полнее и аккуратнее отражают характеристики индивидуальности, нежели процессы на более высоких уровнях сознания, как правило, подлежащих/подчиненных в своей работе разнообразным опосредующим режимам сигнификации. В результате человеческое тело воздействует само на себя через собственную аффектацию, производя внутреннее эмоциональное пространство «я», не ограниченное перцепцией или работой какого-либо отдельного органа чувств.</p><p class="StinkingStyles">Теория «телесной симуляции» обеспечивает научные, нейробиологические основания для понимания специфики взаимодействия между зрителем, автором и экранным произведением. Обсуждаются возможности мультисенсорного восприятия образов кинематографических произведений. Предлагается рассматривать рецепцию произведения как процесс зрительского действования в иллюзорной и пространственно локализируемой среде.</p><p class="StinkingStyles">Визуальные образы расширяют возможности самореализации зрителя посредством телесной активности, делают разнообразнее его «внутренние действия» в перцептивном (аффективном) опыте проживания «внутреннего пространства». Воспринимая произведение, зритель энактивирует экранное пространство, открывая для себя возможности действий собственного тела. Восприятие понимается в его синкретичной связи с действием, психомоторной активностью (активностью психики и тела) и активностью ума, концептуализацией. Даже ментальная активность понимается как действие или как движение.</p><p class="StinkingStyles">Делается вывод о том, что проблема телесности, «телоцентризма», «соматизма» выходит на передний план искусствоведческой и в целом гуманитарной рефлексии, поскольку позволяет искать пути преодоления смысловой избыточности культурных объектов и художественных произведений. </p>

The Musealisation of Istanbul in Orhan Pamuk’s Museum of Innocence

This essay examines Turkish author Orhan Pamuk’s work of fiction The Museum of Innocence and his memoirs stanbul: Memories and the City. It explores the motif of the fetishistic collection of mundane paraphernalia from urban living and the subsequent musealisation of the material culture of the city of Istanbul. It first looks at the concept of musealisation, and its historical connections with the process of modernisaton and the formation of the nation state since it helped institutionalise the narrative of the state. It traces the development of the museum from a pedagogicurban space to a state institution which perpetuates the myth behind the nation state. It then examines the role of Pamuk himself as expository agent in his private museum, the Museum of Innocence, based on his work of fiction by the same name. Pamuk’s subjectivity as expository agent is identified as being self-reflexive. This essay explores the possibilities this self-reflexivity creates for Pamuk’s work with respect to his manifesto for creating “small museums” as opposed to grand state museums, and thus creating a counter-narrative to that of the state narrative. Lastly, it analysesthe motif of ‘hüzün’ deployed time and again by Pamuk in order to paint a picture of Istanbul which embodies the melancholy of the city. This essay demonstrates the ways in which hüzün functions as an emotional space which blurs the boundaries between public and private spaces in the city, and also effectively delinks the private museum from the grand public museums sponsored by the state by creating an ambivalent space which is both public and private within the private museum. Keywords: Modernisation, progressivism, nation state, museology, urban spaces

Affective Calibration of Musical Feature Sets in an Emotionally Intelligent Music Composition System

Affectively driven algorithmic composition (AAC) is a rapidly growing field that exploits computer-aided composition in order to generate new music with particular emotional qualities or affective intentions. An AAC system was devised in order to generate a stimulus set covering nine discrete sectors of a two-dimensional emotion space by means of a 16-channel feed-forward artificial neural network. This system was used to generate a stimulus set of short pieces of music, which were rendered using a sampled piano timbre and evaluated by a group of experienced listeners who ascribed a two-dimensional valence-arousal coordinate to each stimulus. The underlying musical feature set, initially drawn from the literature, was subsequently adjusted by amplifying or attenuating the quantity of each feature in order to maximize the spread of stimuli in the valence-arousal space before a second listener evaluation was conducted. This process was repeated a third time in order to maximize the spread of valence-arousal coordinates ascribed to the generated stimulus set in comparison to a spread taken from an existing prerated database of stimuli, demonstrating that this prototype AAC system is capable of creating short sequences of music with a slight improvement on the range of emotion found in a stimulus set comprised of real-world, traditionally composed musical excerpts.

Emotional Environments and Legal Spaces in Early Modern Russia

Emotional Environments and Legal Spaces in Early Modern Russia