Date of Award

12-2025

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

First Advisor

Kihong Ku, DDes

Second Advisor

Eric Bellin, PhD

Third Advisor

Robert G. Davis, PhD

Abstract

Phenomena are extraordinary (beyond ordinary), exceptional, remarkable, or unexplainable people, events, or things which elicit words such as “wow,” “that’s incredible,” and “oh my goodness.” Within the experience of everyday life, phenomena can produce joy or despair. In the field of philosophy, phenomenon (the singular form of phenomena) is identified as an immediate object of sensation or perception and something which appears, is perceived, or observed through the senses or known cognitively. Light is often the catalyst for phenomenal moments: a flash, a rainbow, the manner with which sun strikes an object at the perfect moment to catch the viewer’s attention, sunlight streaming through panes of church windows, the search for darkness in the landscape of a total eclipse of the sun.

Lighting design research is results-focused and seeks to address the quantity and quality of light needed for visual acuity and the manner in which electric and natural light affect human physiology, psychology, neurology, and perception. However, here in the Changing Perceptions dissertation, a more philosophical and phenomenologically curated discussion on the impact light has on the shaping of perception is employed to ponder the meaning and effect that keeping our lives full of wondrous, phenomenal, experiences—those that are sensed—has on maintaining our humanity.

Changing Perceptionsis a philosophical exploration of the phenomenon of light and posits or supposes that environmental conditions mold perception and perception molds environmental conditions. The thesis philosophically addresses the questions: will introducing the phenomenon of light to community gems, such as public art, change the perception of the neighborhood and induce “aha” and “wow” moments by restoring attention to the beauty that exists even in the midst of challenging circumstances? Will those perception changes inspire humans to have more feeling, engagement, and passion for their neighborhood and thus be willing to be active participants in its success?

The thesis is practice-led, meaning that original practical work has provided the major case study for the academic argument of the research project overall and has informed the academic work by showing residents who are civically involved are invested in manifesting quality living conditions and outcomes for the community as a whole. The practice part of the research involved utilizing a site-specific lighting design to illuminate a long forgotten mural in the Frankford neighborhood of Philadelphia.

Results revealed that the people who participated in the surveys were already engaged in activities to make their neighborhood successful, showed no signs of apathy (as measured in the Apathy Evaluation Scale part of the survey), were cognizant of lighting conditions, had a good perception of the neighborhood, and were aware of the jewels and special features of the area. The logical argument then is that a small number of people, relative to the community size, are engaged with its success but the majority of the community is uninvolved and therefore fortifies the theory that a high level of apathy—behavioral rather than clinical—exists, leading to disengagement with the neighborhood, and that lighting, the purveyor of phenomenon and wonder, could provide the spark needed to invigorate the parts of the brain involved in perceptual appreciation and the concomitant motivation to act.

The course of study leading to this writing reinforced a hypothesis that lighting employed to illuminate a neighborhood’s assets, murals in particular, will ignite a sense of wonder. That sense of wonder may cause the residents to rediscover long forgotten “crown jewels” and other relics of past success and prosperity, thus reinvigorating a sense of pride and enthusiasm for the neighborhood. The pursuit of the research was to prove that apathy, or the lack of emotion and passion, may be a contributing factor to the disconnectedness people feel, influenced by external forces such as financial instability, disregard from local government, and an environmental atmosphere of disrepair.

Tenets of good lighting design championed by lighting designer Richard Kelly— focal glow, ambient luminescence, and play of brilliants—can be employed at any level and any budget. If this is what good design is and good design is what contributes to the psychological upliftment of people’s psyche—because light and the absence of light are the most ubiquitous of the sensory inputs—then, if one is interested in uplifting people, good lighting design should be employed everywhere and be administered by lighting specialists who devote their life to honing the art and science, and now the philosophy, of light for the betterment of humanity and the planet. A new discovery of light as a purveyor of a phenomenological impact on human perception, cognition, and action was a product of the Changing Perceptions project.

This research matters because it gives voice to the imperative of gaining appreciation for the manner in which simple things can make all the difference. Whilst new construction and rehabilitation of buildings will make a place look better, the budgets for these activities, and the return on investment may be small. Where financial resources are unavailable for substantive revitalization, it is possible that something as simple as using one light on one wall of art will stimulate a sense of vibrancy and beauty that is needed to improve a neighborhood. Residents can become imbued with a sense of pride when visually reminded there is beauty existing in the area. As such, they may become motivated and have an emotional and passionate opinion of the community rather than a non-emotional apathy regarding their surroundings. Changing Perceptions will make an impact on scholarship and practice by providing a framework for built-environment design professionals and policy makers to use as a design principle for eliciting human-to-human contact, dispelling apathy and non-action, and motivating people to get engaged in civic affairs. Inspiring more people to move in the same direction produces better outcomes for the whole.

Comments

Presented in partial fulfillment of the PhD in Architecture & Design Research degree at Thomas Jefferson University.

Download

Included in

Architecture Commons

Share

COinS