Communication is an essential component to resolving conflict, and in Associate Lecturer Aaron Bacue Maguire’s Communication and Conflict class, students study how conflict is perceived based on families, relationship history, media representation and more.
In a recent activity, students illustrated their own interpretation of conflict by creating illustrative and written metaphors. Several students shared their work.
Sophomore communication studies major Caleb Wilton’s drawing represents communication in a relationship with a significant other: one partner who communicates too much and the other, not enough. The drawing depicts an invisibility cloak being placed over someone who is hiding their feelings, rather than communicating. The drawing also shows a superman coming to save the day by trying to communicate too much, showcasing how the conflict may arise.
Junior journalism major Alyse Riffer’s drawing depicts a sprouting flower of fire that associates conflict with the unpredictable and destructive nature it brings. Riffer used a flower in the drawing because one must water a flower to grow — the same way conflict arises. Riffer also noted that conflict is an opportunity to grow into something new and that it can allow for ideas to be changed or communicated.
Senior communication studies major Virgilio Glorioso chose to depict conflict based on an expressed struggle between two parties who perceive incompatible goals. In the illustration, Glorioso chose to depict a heterosexual couple who are not seeing eye to eye. The middle of the drawing represents two symbolic hearts reaching out for each other, while a sticky black tar represents destructive communication tendencies that people chose to use when they are in conflict.
Senior communication studies major Peyton Smith’s drawing showcases the messy and destructive nature that conflict brings. In the drawing, there is a large bomb with explosives illustrated around it. Smith says that the bomb represents a person keeping their emotions bottled up. Once the person has reached their boiling point, Smith says the bomb eventually explodes and destruction is left behind.
Sophomore communication studies major Katie Criswell depicted two potential paths for conflict. She says: “It either ends poorly with my mind clouded and tears flowing like rain, or it can be a moment of reflection, resolution, and growth just as the caterpillar grows into a butterfly.”