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Eliciting the dynamics of the cube: reframing discourse dynamics


Time for Provocative Mnemonic Aids to Systemic Connectivity? (Part #6)


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The argument of Paul Schatz is especially relevant in that so much of psychosocial organization is framed by the static architecture of the cube in 3D -- or through its compression into a square in 2D. This is the favoured modality for most explanatory tables. Through its 12-edges, the cube potentially offers clues to a relationship within any 12-fold pattern, but has not been extensively explored in that respect, although it is a feature of studies of oppositional logic, and a relationship to the 8-fold pattern valued in Chinese thinking (see image below left).

The question is therefore whether the form that Schatz extracted from the cube -- through the dynamics of its possible eversion -- offers indications of a way of transforming conventional preoccupation with its static form. The following images offer some indication of this.

Cubical representation
of BaGua pattern of I Ching


Rotation of views of a phase
in inversion of cube
Animation of selected phases
in inversion of cube
Cubical representation of BaGua pattern of I Ching Rotation of views of a phase in inversion of cube Cube inversion animation
Reproduced from Z. D. Sung, The Symbols of Yi King or the Symbols of the Chinese Logic of Changes (1934, p. 12) Images derived from Charles Gunn (Schatz Cube Eversion, Vimeo, 25 April 2017)
with the assistance of the author; interactive vrml version of centre model adapted by Sergey Bederov (Cortona3D)

Explorative 3D animations of the image on the left above are presented separately (Succinct mapping of multidimensional psychosocial dynamics? 2016).

In terms of the argument with respect to features hidden from the observer, this is especially evident in the case of the central image above. In that phase, the 24 sides are visible through the animation. But in the case of the static blue-green perspective or the static red-yellow perspective, only 12 sides are visible. Being hidden, the other 12 can only be inferred unless the structure was rendered transparent. In the reality of sociopolitical discourse opposing sides are never "transparent" to one another -- whatever the claims that are made. Cognitively each could be interpreted as a form of shadow for the other in the Jungian sense. The wireframe image on the right is indicative of the commercial product widely marketed as Hexyflex.

Schatz cube (solid and wireframe screen shot images) prior to inversion
Schatz cube inversion Sergey Bederov of Cortona3D has produced an interactive vrml version of the complete cycle of the original, with formulae kindly provided by
Charles Gunn.
Thanks to both.
See video of the complete cycle
Schatz cube inversion

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