POST A FISH – WEBART PROJECT

FISHYPOST.COM IS A WEBSITE FOR GIFTING SOMEONE A FISH.

IT WORKS IN A SIMILAR FASHION LIKE FLOWER DELIVERIES OR SENDING GIFTS THROUGH COMMON ONLINE STORES – JUST THE PRODUCT IS DIFFERENT. IT’S DRY FISH – AN AMBIGOUS GIFT.

IN MOST CULTURES THE MAJOR MOTIVATIONS FOR GIVING SOMEONE A GIFT ARE USUALLY TO EXPRESS SYMPATHY & GRATITUDE, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF FORMAL SOCIAL OBLIGATIONS TO GIVE SOMETHING IN RETURN. IN RETURN FOR AN INVITATION, IN RETURN FOR RECEIVING A GIFT PREVIOUSLY ETC.

WITHIN ONE CULTURAL CIRCLE IT IS COMMON TO AGREE ON THE OBLIGATIONS OF MAKING A GIFT. TO EVALUATE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP IN TERMS OF GIFTING, THE FOCUS MIGHT THEREBY CONCENTRATE ON THE ATTRIBUTES OF THE GIFT. IS IT A THOUGHTFUL GIFT. IS IT AN EXPENSIVE GIFT. ETC.

THEREBY THE ATTRIBUTES OF THE GIFT CAN CARRY SUBLIMINAL MESSAGES. WHICH EVEN THOUGH THE GESTURE OF GIFTING IS COMMONLY UNDERSTOOD AS WELL-MEANT, THE SUBLIMINAL MESSAGES ARE NOT NECESSARILY WELL-MEANT. IN ANY CASE, THIS WAY OF EXPRESSION HAS A TENDENCY TO BE AMBIGUOUS.

” WHY DID I RECEIVE THIS?”, “IS SHE/HE TRYING TO SAY…”

IN CASE OF A “NOT WELL-MEANT” GIFT THE MEANING OF THE GESTURE ( OF GIVING A GIFT ) AND ITS INCORPORATED MESSAGE  (GIVEN BY THE CHOICE OF GIFT) MAY OPPOSE EACH OTHER. A TROJAN HORSE FOR AN OPINION. DUE TO THE POSITIVE SOCIAL CODE OF A GIFT, THE RECEIVER IS LIKELY TO SEEK FOR EXPLANATION BY HIMSELF. EVENTUALLY IT EVOLVES INTO SELF-REFLECTION. “WHAT DID I DO TO PISS HER/HIM OFF?”

ASSUMING THE CONSEQUENCE OF SELF-REFLECTION, THE PROCESS WOULD BE THE BROADER THE MORE AMBIGUOUS THE MESSAGE IS PRESENTED. THE MOST, IF THE RECEIVER DOESN’T KNOW HOW TO PUT THE MESSAGE INTO CONTEXT.