MOVEMENTS IN PERCEPTION ON HUMAN FECES FOR TRANSITION SANITATION DESIGN, USING CONVERGENCE OF SCIENCE AND ARTS

Abstract

The invention of the flush toilet system has facilitated the rapid removal of human feces from dwellings and other buildings, thereby vastly improving sanitation conditions. However, a “flush-and-forget” approach is enabled by this system, which exacerbates environmental problems, as it increases indifference to the treatment of human waste. The result is that the environment receives a massive contaminant flow from the countless flushing toilet systems. In an effort to solve the problem, scientists and engineers have tried to improve the technological treatment efficiency of human waste. However, considered from a different perspective, the targeted problem could be changed from the technologies for the treatment of human waste to human perceptions on feces, as, after all, feces are produced by everyone. Thus, feces can be a key issue to solve the environmental problems related to flush toilets. To study feces as a problem, a qualitative research approach is required, as feces is related to the human perception of it and, therefore, a quantitative research method is not enough to study it. In this dissertation, in an effort to create a breakthrough, a convergence of the methodologies of the sciences and the arts was used. This method was designed to consider human factors in a scientific research method, which means that human reason from the sciences and human intuition from the arts were combined to change human perceptions on feces in an effort to solve the environmental problem. In conducting the study, various scientific aspects were investigated, such as the analysis of the bio-molecular composition of different types of compost, the characterization of urine, and the estimation of the removal efficiency of contaminants by constructed wetlands. Subsequently, artists and their artworks on the meaning of feces were studied as the artistic aspects. These results were provided to interviewees during individual in-depth interviews for the qualitative research. The perceptions on the interviewees on feces before and after the interviews were compared to determine how their perceptions had changed. During the interviews, interviewees’ perceptions were changed partially from the negative perceptions to positive by reducing the unsubstantiated negative images obtained from the education system or the neighborhood. The convergence of science and the arts could influence people to reconsider the meaning of feces and the reason for treating feces simply as disgusting objects, even though they are the products of humans. According to Kant, images are materials for making perceptions. The images of feces are negative; therefore, the perceptions are negative. However, the perceptions, including touching, smelling, and seeing feces without disgust can be a powerful driving force to break away from the flushing toilet system. Similarly, the research methodology of the convergence of science and the arts can be applied to create an alternative solution for various social problems that are related to the conflicts between human perceptions and technologies such as artificial intelligence, genetically modified organics, and the desalination of water for drinking.