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Bedazzled: A Blue and Black Ship, Dressed to Deceive
1School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, UK.
I-Perception
|March 17, 2017
Summary
The famous blue and black dress color illusion may stem from how people discount lighting. Similarly, RMS Mauretania
Area of Science:
- Visual Perception
- Art History
- Naval History
Background:
- The "blue and black dress" internet phenomenon highlights variations in visual perception.
- Historical accounts of RMS Mauretania's WWI dazzle camouflage are sometimes inaccurate.
- Dazzle camouflage aimed to confuse enemy perception of a ship's speed and direction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential link between the dress color illusion and historical misperceptions of RMS Mauretania's camouflage.
- To investigate the role of illuminant discounting in visual perception and its historical implications.
- To propose a theory for the colorful depictions of RMS Mauretania's supposedly monochromatic camouflage.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of the "blue and black dress" color perception phenomenon.
- Historical research into WWI naval records and artistic renditions of RMS Mauretania.
- Theoretical application of visual perception principles (illuminant discounting) to historical art and camouflage.
Main Results:
- The blue and black dress illusion is attributed to differing assumptions about illuminant discounting.
- RMS Mauretania's dazzle camouflage was primarily blue and black/grey, not multi-colored.
- Colorful depictions may originate from an artist's misperception due to neglecting illuminant discounting.
Conclusions:
- The misperception of RMS Mauretania's camouflage could be an early, successful instance of "dazzle" deception.
- Understanding illuminant discounting is key to resolving historical visual discrepancies.
- This study links modern visual science to historical art and naval strategy.
Keywords:
WWIWorld War Iabstract expressionist artblue and black dresscolor constancycubismdazzle camouflagediscounting the illuminantmisperception of colorpaintingrazzle dazzlesundownsunsetMore Related Videos
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