Monday, May 24, 2010

The Temporal Zone

Otto Dix

There are certain constraints that remain; no matter how hard technology and intellect push against them. For the biological entity, time unfolds in one direction only. The most important tool in the time-traveller’s toolbox is his sense of self. By disrupting the subjective flow of time; cutting pieces out and consigning them to the void; he has displced himself without recourse to the undo. He will need a strong sense of self to maintain his grasp on what will have become a tenuous reality.

From 'Decaying Orbits'


While reading up on some of the strands brought up by my thoughts, I came across this:

Abstract
In an attempt to expand the ego identity concept of J. E. Marcia (1975) to include the area of temporal perspective, 80 male undergraduates were administered a time line developed by the present 1st author. Temporal density (percentage of experiences in each of 5 time zones), temporal extension (chronological time spans for the past, future, and overall), and perceived duration (line length for each of 5 time zones) were measured, and an identity status interview was rated with a 4-status classification system (diffusion, foreclosure, moratorium, and identity achievement). Findings show significant differences between identity groups with regard to the proportional allocation both of experiences (i.e., density) and of linear space (i.e., perceived duration) among the time zones. The achievement and foreclosure groups generally scored higher on measures of futurity than did the diffusion and moratorium groups. Results point toward the crucial importance of the contextual framework in interpreting findings regarding temporal perspective. (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)

I had no idea

4 comments:

Yodood said...

Boiling down to knowing WHAT one is talking about if one wants to know WHEN someone is talking about?

To a true sense of self, the past and present are merely frames through which one considers events in the always here present. What strength needs be exerted against what force that makes things happen before and after the only time anything can happen?

This is a problem for which not understanding it is the solution!

Garth said...

Yodood: Oh yes! the confusion :D of temporal displacement - to clarify these ideas (which are still a bit loose): the character in my story has (Rip Van Winkle-like) been suspended for 4000 years; his sense of self will be tested by the fact that all that represents his reality has gone. Added to which he has landed on a alien planet. Bad day indeed.

Confusion Part 2: I was astounded by the gobbledigook excerpt from the psych tract - I'm sure it makes sense to someone :]

Confessions of a Temporal Lobe said...

I have no idea why, but, this post reminded me of a book i read as a teenager called: The Probability Of The Impossible By: DR. Thelma Moss. Copyright 1974

Harlequin said...

the excerpt was a bold demonstration of how language can be used in the service of obfuscation. Magnificent.

I am right now intrigued by being in a new space... the more time I spend here, the closer together everything gets.... it's that time and space thing!

a fun post
thanks

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