https://theunsentproject.com/#
https://www.rorablue.com/about
The Unsent Project is a website designed by Nevada artist Rora Blue in 2015 with the original purpose of allowing people to anonymously write and submit messages to their first loves, in the color that they associate with the person. Since then, the project has gained over five million submissions, and many fans of the project use the submissions as a way to vent about anything and everything that they are struggling with. Messages can be addressed to a person, and users will often write a name or an initial to whoever the message is meant for. The website features an archive where one can google their name or initial and search for messages others have submitted. Blue developed the idea for the Unsent Project through the realization that “some feelings are so big they can only exist as a color.” What’s unique about her project is that it serves a dual purpose–as an outlet for Blue, and as an outlet for anyone else who stumbles upon it.
Unfortunately, the archive and submissions have currently closed due to many people sending anonymous hate messages and publishing personal details, such as someone’s address or contact information. Blue is currently working with website developers to find a way to prevent the spread of hate and the leaking of private information through her project, as this goes against her intention. This has caused a lot of backlash from fans of the project, because it was a coping mechanism for many people. This is clearly a very meaningful website for people from all over the world, and oftentimes looking through the submissions of others can help people realize they are not alone.
I thought this idea was very creative because it integrates all kinds of issues and problems from all sorts of different people. Submissions range from heartbreak, death, tragedy, joy, love, pain, healing, happiness, disabilities, LGBT topics, sexuality, mental illness, and more, which Blue claims is the beauty of the project; ”my practice unpacks the intricacies of everyday interactions for queer people, disabled people, and gender minorities.” Furthermore, many of the posts are beautifully written and extremely touching in their own way–one post I will never forget said “I won’t forget what you did to me. From now on I hope it is always cloudy in London.” This project integrates so many different feelings, situations, and ways of expressing oneself. I believe this project is an example of conceptual combination, “in which people merge together two concepts that were previously completely separate” (Smith & Ward 465). Blue merged together the concept of feelings with colors. Furthermore, the Unsent Project inspires creativity in many of its fans, including myself. I will often look through the archives for resonating messages when I am trying to come up with a new art piece or a title for an art piece.
I agree that this topic is very creative because it allows for emotions to be presented in a safe space. Often people might not have anyone to talk with, so feeling accepted on this website could be helpful. I hope the creator is able to reactivate their website!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the Unsent Project. It is fascinating to see how this website has evolved over the years, from its original niche to a broader concept. It's a shame that the website became overrun with hate, but I don't think that there is zero room for hate in the website's framework. Hate is an emotion as well, and has a strong influence over us.
ReplyDeleteThe idea that "some feelings are so big they can only exist as a color" is a powerful concept, and it is impressive to see how the Unsent Project has harnessed this idea to create a space where people can express themselves creatively and emotionally. It is heartening to know that the project helped people to realize that they are not alone.
This is an incredibly fascinating project with a great mission. It is quite unfortunate that people have decided to misuse it for hate instead of its intended purpose of freedom. I hope that it can be reinstated and allow for more people to express large emotions they cannot express in other places.
ReplyDeleteThis project does seem like a creative way for others to express themselves as well. It's interesting to see that the project evolved from Blue's idea that "some feelings are so big that they can only exist as a color", and that this project affected so many. It's unfortunate that there are some people who misused it, and I hope that Blue can find a solution.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of merging colors with our thoughts. I think it's more therapeutic than people give it credit for, and I wonder if it's a technique that can be used in other applications as well. This also reminds me of the company, We're Not Really Strangers, in the way they incorporate thoughts and ideas from people who have participated in the game. WNRS social media posts the cards to their games where people have written their responses to some emotionally deep questions. WRNS and The Unsent Project both publicize the thoughts of individual people, and I think this has great power to it. It's like a diary entry, but knowing that everyone can read it almost gives some validation to your thoughts, knowing that someone out there is reading what you have said.
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of times, being able to write thoughts and feelings down allows people to not only express themselves but process these feelings. By having a medium to send them to without actually having the subject read it, there aren't really consequences to being completely free and honest with how one feels.
ReplyDeleteUpon reading about the hate message submissions that Blue received, I felt hurt. However, after thinking more deeply about the concept of the art project, I realized that hate is sometimes a method of coping. Although the artist had a clear intention of creating a project that focused on the idea of reminiscing about a past love, the process of reminiscing can take many forms in different people's minds. I am very interested in both Blue's desired outcome for this project, as well as those who submitted messages of hate towards their previous partners. I think that both methods of creativity are equally valid, however, some are more politically correct than others.
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