Project Predecessor
Document Type
Poster Presentation
Keywords
Evolution, Artwork, Teaching
Biography
Brooke Shull is in her fourth year studying for her Bachelors in Art and Psychology at Marshall University. Her emphasis are in painting and sculpture. Brooke is passionate about communicating ideas and concepts of psychology through her art. After graduation Brooke plans to attend graduate school to study Art Therapy.
Major
Art & Psychology
Advisor for this project
Dr. Jonathan Day-Brown
Abstract
Predecessor Project Abstract
Teaching evolution, particularly as it relates to humans, is a difficult task. This is in part due to the length of time over which the principles of evolution operate. To facilitate this teaching process, the game, Predecessor is being developed. The mission in Predecessor is to survive and build a better adapted hominid species in an unpredictable hostile environment where resources are limited, and the threat of extinction looms. Predecessor has been live beta tested in a classroom environment. This beta test highlighted key elements of the game that need modification. Specifically, improvements to the graphic design of the game are required to better convey the evolutionary principles central to both the game and species development. The objective of this project is to create descriptive representational artwork that presents concepts of human evolutionary psychology that will be used for in-game materials. The focus of the project is to create trait cards, climate cards, a climate board, and the player board that players will use to develop their species and learn about evolutionary development, in occasionally volatile environments. Specific evolutionary concepts that are addressed in the game are bipedal movement, Dunbar’s number, reciprocal altruism, aggression, intelligence, etc.. Selected original artworks from this project will be presented, accompanied by descriptions of the composition and its relation to specific concepts from the field of evolutionary psychology.
Project Predecessor
Predecessor Project Abstract
Teaching evolution, particularly as it relates to humans, is a difficult task. This is in part due to the length of time over which the principles of evolution operate. To facilitate this teaching process, the game, Predecessor is being developed. The mission in Predecessor is to survive and build a better adapted hominid species in an unpredictable hostile environment where resources are limited, and the threat of extinction looms. Predecessor has been live beta tested in a classroom environment. This beta test highlighted key elements of the game that need modification. Specifically, improvements to the graphic design of the game are required to better convey the evolutionary principles central to both the game and species development. The objective of this project is to create descriptive representational artwork that presents concepts of human evolutionary psychology that will be used for in-game materials. The focus of the project is to create trait cards, climate cards, a climate board, and the player board that players will use to develop their species and learn about evolutionary development, in occasionally volatile environments. Specific evolutionary concepts that are addressed in the game are bipedal movement, Dunbar’s number, reciprocal altruism, aggression, intelligence, etc.. Selected original artworks from this project will be presented, accompanied by descriptions of the composition and its relation to specific concepts from the field of evolutionary psychology.
