Do You Have Chromesthesia?

It all started when…

I was watching my favorite YouTube channel, Good Mythical Morning, and I saw a video called "Can You Hear Colors? (TEST)", and I couldn't resist watching it. I clicked on the video, and boy am I glad that I did, because if I hadn't, I doubt that I would have a project for this learning cycle at all. At about 2:45 in the video, they started talking about Wassily Kandinsky (a known artist and chromesthete), Arnold Schoenberg (a composer) and Chromesthesia. Three words: I. Am. In.

Chromesthesia: A non-visual stimulus which causes an individual to perceive color

After I saw that video, my brain was on overload. "So, how exactly am I "in"? It's not like I have Chromesthesia, and I don't know anybody who does... but wait! How do I know whether or not they have it. In fact, how does one even get Chromesthesia? Do they develop it over time? Are they born with it-- is it genetic? Oh my gosh! This could be my independent project for this learning cycle!". I rushed over to my computer and I started looking up anything and everything I could about Chromesthesia, and started getting feedback about my project and how I should organize it.

Project Plan

Title:

Do You Have Chromesthesia?

Materials:

• canvas (9)

• brushes (10-20)

• paints

• easel (1)

• video camera (borrowed from school)

• memory card (borrowed from school)

Procedure:

Have nine students volunteer their time and paint what they hear in Arnold Schoenberg's String Quartet No. 2 Op 1, Then have them fill out a questionnaire about their biological family/family traits. All data and sessions will be turned into a journal log and video about Chromesthesia and how it is caused, then using the data I have, make an educated guess abut how chromesthesia is caused and whether or not some students at Gibson Ek have it.

Using this plan, I have successfully completed a video project about Chromesthesia and whether or not some of the students have it.

Student Painting Gallery