Perception in Visual Communication. Evolution and Neurology of Vision

Seminar paper from the year 2015 in the subject Biology - Evolution, grade: 1,3, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) (ZAK Zentrum für Angewandte Kulturwissenschaft), course: Visual Communication and Culture, language: English, abstract: Today, in our fast moving, computer-driven lives we are exposed to a myriad of sensations every second and not only from the environment or nature around us but also from ceaseless attacks through our modern media, that is mostly based on visual stimulation. So the topic of perception is, although it has been dealt with throughout the centuries from the stoic philosophy of the Greeks to modern neurologists, a highly current one that affects us all and every day in an unprecedented way. Not least as a popular American crime drama television series with the title "Perception", where an eccentric neuropsychiatrist uses his unique perception abilities to solve complex criminal cases and a modern theatre play "Molly Sweeney" by Brian Friel, on stage at the moment at Theater Lindenhof in Melchingen, Germany, where the protagonist, a young woman, regained her eyesight through an operation and could not cope with the overwhelming sensations, show the current fascination of the topic. In the following chapters I will draw attention to the basic principles of perception, especially visual perception as well as the evolution, concept and the functioning of our eyes to come to a better understanding of how we see things and the way our visual perception works.