What Happens “Inside” the Minds of Architecture Students?

In 2015, Disney/Pixar released the animated movie “Inside Out”, and it was quite phenomenal. The movie did not just gain the approval of viewers but also critics who found it worthy of the 2016 Animated Feature Academy Award. Everyone was intrigued by the way it simplified yet expressively depicted human psychology, summing up the subconscious struggles inside our heads into five emotions. These five emotions were portrayed by five distinct characters: Joy, Sadness, Disgust, Fear, and Anger. As we watch the main character, Riley Anderson, going through an emotional rollercoaster, and all of her five emotions working it out inside her head, we start wondering: “If I had these tiny people inside my head, what would they be doing? And who would be taking the lead?”. Now, if you are an architecture student, then you probably know at least the answer to the second question: “No one.” Architecture students are on an extended emotional roller coaster ride that rivals Riley’s own. Their minds are always fretting even in their sleep, and they can experience all kinds of emotions in so little time. No one is particularly in charge; they all take turns.

Christophe Haubursin from Vox created this interesting matrix which reveals more complicated emotions that can be triggered by pairing any two of the five emotions—joy, sadness, disgust, fear, and anger, or by experiencing one to the fullest.

Figure by Christopher Haubursin – Courtesy of Vox

We believe that you have definitely experienced all 15 emotions in the above matrix and more than once at architecture school! Can’t remember? There, we will give you a few hints. Review these design studio moments and refresh your memory. You have surely experienced some, if not all, of them as a student, and it is time you find out who was taking over then.

Intrigue is how you feel when your professor starts talking about the new design project, and it seems fairly interesting.

Courtesy of Disney/Pixar

Ecstasy is when your professor finally approves of your plan and, furthermore, compliments your work. It is, also, when you get the grade you have been aspiring for, and maybe rank on top of your class if you are the competitive type.

Courtesy of Disney/Pixar

Despair is when your professor turns your whole plan upside down one day before your final jury, or simply when you never get the “Okay”.

Prejudice is when you go into a state of denial. It is when you think that your plan is just fine, and your professor doesn’t know what he/she is saying.

Self-loathing is what follows denial. One moment you think everyone is wrong and you’re right; then, you figure this can’t be true and  start thinking to yourself: “I am no good.”

Anxiety is when you realize that you are a few hours away from the submission deadline, and you are still contemplating your future in the field of architecture.

Betrayal is when you find out that all your classmates have finished their work, but you didn’t. It is also when your professor sides with the juror against you, although he was the one who told you to shift that wall.

Disgust, Anger and Fear must cope with unexpectedly being in command of Headquarters in Disney•Pixar’s “Inside Out”. ©2015 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Revulsion is the state you will get into until you forget about the betrayal of your classmates but not your professor. Never!

Loathing is what you feel towards your professor after the harsh betrayal. Regretfully, this could last forever.

Terror is when you realize that the juror who tormented you, last semester, will be examining you again. And worse, he/she still remembers you, and they don’t seem quite pleased with the memory.

Hatred is what you feel when the trauma repeats all over again, and not because your plan is particularly inferior, but because they really they don’t like you! Or maybe they just don’t like curves.

 

Rage is when you see your final grade, and it is not what you were expecting, not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all. How could they?!

Surprise is when you get a grade way beyond your expectations. It is when you think you have totally messed things up, but then your professor and the jurors complement your work.

Righteousness is when you snatch the grade you deserve from an overly-criticizing juror because you know you are right! … or at least you did your best.

Melancholy is when you leave architecture school. You are happy the struggle is over, or so you think, yet you are sad because you know there are people you would never see again. There is a life you are parting with for good, with all of its ups and downs, to God knows what.

All images are courtesy of Disney/Pixar.

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