Reality Bending LabNews › The symbolism behind the ReBeL logo

The symbolism behind the ReBeL logo

2021-06-30 · Lab · Dominique Makowski

The Reality Bending logo includes several references to various concepts. Can you try to guess them?

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Wizard

One of the most striking feature of the logo is the guy in the middle, which represents a wizard. It represent us, the people who delve in the science of reality bending.

Wizards are a powerful archetype, that are primarily defined through the learned ability (by seeking, studying and gathering arcane knowledge) of controlling and manipulating reality. Though many specializations and facets exist, the understanding of the true nature of the world is a core facets that binds all wizards.

the wizard Gandalf facing the forces of darkness with his light.

Beard

In Greco-Roman antiquity, the beard was seen as the defining feature of a philosopher (see the Philosopher's beard on wikipedia), expressing the idea that philosophy is no mere intellectual hobby but rather a way of life that, by definition, transforms every aspect of one's behavior (including one's shaving habits).

Show me your beard and I'll tell you what philosopher you are:

A glorious beard.

Eyepatch

For any mythology fan, a bearded figure with an eyepatch (or a missing eye) is known to represent Odin, the chief deity of the norse pantheon. He's a very complex character, with a deeply ambivalent nature. One of the key moment of Odin's story is when he sacrifices one of his eyes in return for wisdom...

Losing direct sight of reality in return for a deeper knowledge of reality - here is an interesting idea that we can discuss and (over)interpret with some drinks 🍺

Odin portrayed by one of my favourite actor.

Pipe

The pipe refers to the most famous painting of the surrealist René Magritte. One of the common interpretation suggests that it symbolizes the difference between the authentic thing (a real pipe) and its representation. This, we believe, is just one level that differentiates the real from the unreal...

The Treachery of Images (Magritte, 1929).

Smoke

The smoke takes the form of a Psi letter Ψ, which is the symbol of psychology.

The Psi within the brain, a representation of neuropsychology, and the logo of the Neuropsydia software.

The Flower

The flower in the background is not just any flower. It is a poppy flower, from which the seed have been used throughout history to create diverse substances to alter our perception of reality...

Incidentally, it is also the symbol of the Makowski family (which names refers to "poppy seed" in polish).

The Poppy Flower of the Coat of Arms of the Makowski Family
The Makowski's Poppy Flower.

Did you spot any more 😏? Let us know!

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Reality Bending Lab

Exploring the neuropsychology of reality and its distortions.

The Reality Bending Lab, led by Dominique Makowski at the University of Sussex in Brighton, UK, conducts world-leading research on reality perception, illusions, fake news, AI-beliefs, deception and its links with emotions, cognitive control and the Self. Using recording signals from the body (ECG, EDA…) and the brain (EEG), we analyse data using advanced modelling (Bayesian statistics, chaos theory, computational models) and develop open-source tools to improve neuropsychological science.

“Do not try to bend the spoon — that’s impossible. Instead, only try to realise the truth: there is no spoon. Then you'll see that it is not the spoon that bends, it is only yourself.”

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Where to find us

The Reality Bending Lab is based in the School of Psychology, at the University of Sussex in Brighton, UK.

Pevensey 1 - room 2B7, School of Psychology, University of Sussex, BN1 9QH

The University of Sussex campus in the South Downs University of Sussex crest

University of Sussex

Brighton is the sunniest city in the UK and, by some margin, its most cheerfully strange — on the sea, an hour from London. The University of Sussex sits just above it in the South Downs, and its School of Psychology is one of the largest and strongest in the country.

It is famous for its research on consciousness and interoception, with scientists like Anil Seth, Andy Clark, Zoltan Dienes and Hugo Critchley, its teaching of cutting-edge psychological methods (with stats rockstar Andy Field), its history of multidisciplinary research (arts and science), and its radical engagement in open and disruptive science.

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