In the previous chapters we mentioned the "systemic vision of things" and underlined how important the application of this way of thinking is to obtain concrete and balanced solutions.

This approach gave rise to Systems Theory.

 

Systems Theory is a fairly recent subject that begins to be used in the twentieth century in the field of biology; more precisely, it was founded in 1968 by the Austrian biologist Ludwig von Bertalanffy and subsequently implemented by a group of researchers from Palo Alto (Mental Research Institute). It has spread very rapidly in engineering, physics, economics, ecology, geology, organization and on and on in many other sectors.

 

By System we mean a more or less complex reality composed of elements that interact with each other according to a function that relates them and capable of producing local interactions of short range but capable of causing significant changes in the overall structure.

 

The term System therefore means a set of objects and relational rules that determine its interaction, such that a change in one of the objects somehow produces a change on a part or on all the other elements.

 

By means of Systems Theory it is possible to understand what are the reasons why a system can achieve certain objectives and what are the causes that lead the system to fail, what conditions keep it in balance making it therefore stable, or what conditions lead it to collapse and still how it is possible to act on the system and with what risks.

 

When you start to think in a systemic perspective, the attention shifts from the single element to the whole of which it is part, keeping in mind the structural rules that determine its existence and behaviors and therefore do not think only about the individual variables that make up the system but apply an overall logic.

 

The field of application of Systems Theory is very wide and concerns anything that produces relationships, such as climate systems, social systems (social group, families, companies, schools), organizations, biological systems, psychic systems , business management, economic systems, a specific natural environment, but also in simpler processes, such as cooking, sports and so on.

 

In the scientific field it is usual to contextualize a phenomenon within the system in which it is occurring, vice versa in the social, political and everyday life, this approach is absent or occurs rarely thus committing the very serious error of examining the phenomenon without a sufficiently broad view to be able to manage it effectively.

 

Systemic reasoning means realizing the consequences that changes applied to a single element have on the whole system and vice versa.

Systemic reasoning means acting in a conscious and targeted way and knowing the possible implications and impacts that our intervention would bring to the rest of the system.

 

Everything can be brought back to a systemic logic, everything can be controlled and therefore regulated. Unfortunately, we often have to deal with mental laziness, incompetence, unwillingness, different interests, macabre destructive plans, but keep in mind that in the face of any event, those who say that we are faced with a particular case for which a systemic representation, lies and probably hides different interests.

Balance is everything, it is good life, it is the best choice, it is serenity, it is consistency, it is justice, it is democracy, it is honesty, it is a sober lifestyle. There may also be cases in which it is intentionally intended to create a condition of imbalance but, this would take place in a completely controlled manner and, hopefully, for the achievement of legitimate objectives.

 

In an artistic work, balance is fundamental and it is one of the first things that are consciously or unconsciously acquired by the observer. Sometimes a condition of disequilibrium is inserted in the picture but this is desired and takes place according to a precise logic, in general to provoke situations of strong contrast that draw attention to the beholder.

 

Once the equilibrium condition has been reached, we have to start again because the systems are dynamic and vary according to the time, and therefore everything changes and everything changes continuously even in a very sudden way, the task of regulating them.

 

2.1. Dynamic system

 

A dynamic system is characterized by a set of input functions (input) which constitutes the "cause" and a certain number of output functions (outout) which constitute the effect (fig. 2.1.1).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                   

                     

 

figure 2.1.1. - System

 

Balance is of primary importance and of absolute priority for the survival of a system. Balance is maintained through the application of rules at a given time. The reference to "a specific moment" is underlined since, as mentioned, the systems vary with the variation of time.

 

"Feedback" is defined as the ability of a dynamic system to take into account the output results in order to adopt corrective measures to modify the characteristics of the system itself (figure 2.1.2.).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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figure 2.1.2. - Feedback

 

 

There are two types of feedback:

 

Positive feedback: when the results ( Output) of the system go through the feedback to amplify the functioning of the system itself. The system thus amplified will produce new results that will further worsen the system and so on.

A positive feedback system is by definition an "unstable" system destined to "diverge" or "collapse" unless new rules are able to re-establish the balance.

An example of positive feedback is found in the melting of the ice of the pole. The poles being white reflect the sun's rays with consequent increase in temperature; the increase in the global temperature causes the increase in the sun's rays absorbed by the earth which causes the temperature to rise further and this melts the ice and so on. This system is unstable and, if no interventions are foreseen, it can cause the total melting of the ice.

Another example, of current relevance, is found in the management of human migratory flows which, seen as a system, require adequate policies to manage the phenomenon aimed at establishing conditions of equilibrium, under penalty of collapse of the system.

 

Negative feedback: when the results (outputs) of the system go through the feedback to decrease the functioning of the system by acting with opposite reactions to the change and reaching situations of "stability" (balance).

Negative feedback systems are therefore stable and typically lead a system to converge or maintain a good balance.

An example of negative feedback is the use of a thermostat to regulate the temperature of a room, when the temperature reaches a predetermined level, the heating process is interrupted until a desired minimum level is reached, beyond which the system ( process) restarts, reaching a pleasant situation or an equilibrium condition.

Another example is the process whereby a mammal maintains constant body temperature. Living beings instinctively use negative feedback to survive, since in the face of a given situation of the external environment, they tend to vary and direct internal conditions within certain values, as an excessive variation of the external environment not managed by the system inside, would be incompatible with life. In this case the desired equilibrium condition is vital.

 

The feedback is in fact a system defined as the "Control System" which is designed with the specific purpose of controlling the dynamics of the system in order to implement corrective actions aimed at guaranteeing the balance of the system itself (fiugura 2.1.3) .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

figure 2.1.3 - Control system

 

 

Systems can be classified into two main categories:

 

• Simple / closed systems

• Complex / open systems

 

2.2 Simple / closed systems

 

Systems that have sufficiently stable variables and structures and that do not have exchanges with the external environment or with other systems can be considered "simple or closed" (hereinafter simple). They are therefore substantially stable systems.

An example of these systems can be found in bureaucratic organizational structures where there are no communication problems and everything takes place according to precise procedures and well-defined compartments, or in particularly simple machines where, in the face of failures, only the defective part is operated.

 

2.3 Complex / open systems

 

"Complex or open" systems (hereafter complex) are by far the most present systems. They are composed of an intertwining of variables that makes them complex. Complexity refers in particular to the relationships and communication between the system and other systems and with the external environment. They are basically unstable systems.

A complex system is essentially based on the exchange of resources between internal / external / other systems. This exchange is essential for the life and survival of the system.

In such systems it is difficult to predict the effects of a cause since small variations concerning one part of the system can cause large variations in other parts of the system itself.

Examples of complex systems are the biological-human system, modern cultural societies, man and his needs for relationship and communication with family, friends, institutions, politics, religion, health, school.

 

Complex systems are therefore characterized on the one hand by their instability and uncertainty, on the other by their evolutionary and changing capacity.

For example, for biological-human systems, balance is fundamental, indeed vital, in organizational systems, balance must be understood in terms of effective communications and responses without which the organization collapses and in social systems where balance it is played on very delicate relationships between organizations, people and cultures and where the lack of balance can lead to social clashes and the collapse of the entire system.

 

In more artistic terms, our painting can be classified as a complex system since even a small variation in terms of shape or color affects the harmony and balance of the entire work. Here then the corrections that we will make to the work belong to the previously indicated definition of negative feedback, that is, we act on the work to modify it and bring it back to a condition of harmony; if you do not succeed in this aim, you go towards the failure of the work or, in systemic terms, the collapse of the system.

 

Let's now give a brief mention of what the methodology for the analysis of systems entails.

 

2.4 Systems Analysis

 

The application of Systems Theory of a specific phenomenon under study can be generally divided into six phases:

 

• 1: Analysis of the subjects

• 2: Phase: Problem analysis

• 3: Analysis of the objectives

• 4: Analysis of strategies

• 5: Planning of activities

• 6: Planning of controls and feedbacks

 

PHASE 1 - Analysis of the subjects

 

In this phase, the system and its components are defined in terms of subjects, subsystems and relationships that make up the system.

This phase can be divided into three further phases:

Identification of the subjects involved in the phenomenon to be evaluated

Placement of subjects in the relevant subsystems (which make up the system)

Definition of relations between systems and therefore between subjects, environments and subsystems

 

PHASE 2 - Problem analysis

 

In the process of analyzing problems, the questions we ask ourselves are aimed at understanding the mechanisms, rules, relational dynamics for which the system changes as a function of the phenomenon under observation and not so much on why this phenomenon originates.

 

PHASE 3 - Analysis of the objectives

 

We proceed by looking for one or more solutions for each problem, or by identifying the interventions necessary to restore the balance of a given situation. The concrete effects, the possible impediments and the necessary resources and the priorities for intervention must also be identified .

 

PHASE 4 - Planning of activities

 

The dentificati interventions, we proceed to the execution of the intervention plan that provides for the placement in a time axis of the activities and resources as a function of the priorities established.

This is a very important phase which gives substance to the intervention. Too often one falls into the error of considering moral thinking sufficient, to make it practical and feasible it must be lowered into reality and the physicality of things through systemic all-round reasoning.

 

PHASE 5 - Planning of controls and feedbacks

 

As the interventions proceed, it is essential to carry out a check on their effectiveness and to prepare any corrections and feedbacks to restore balance.

 

 

In this brief overview of Systems Theory, we have seen how important it is to maintain BALANCE in any structure and therefore also in our artistic work and, in this case in our painting.

 

We must now investigate the other two factors of positivity or SIMPLICITY and HARMONY and to do this we will enter, in the chapter to follow, in some detail relating to the fundamental aspects of painting by touching on some cornerstones of the same or:

 

• the light

• color

• shape

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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