Idea: Isolation

Synonyms for isolate: Cordon off, seal off, close off, fence off, seperate, set/keep apart, segregate, detach, cut off, shut away, keep in solitude, quarantine, cloister, seclude, sequester, identify, single out, pick out, point out, spot, recognize, distinguish, pinpoint, locate, loner, hermit, lonliness. 
Antonyms: Integrate, include, incorporate, mingle, join.


Wikipedia definition of Solitude: Solitude is a state of seclusion or isolation; i.e., lack of contact with people. It may stem from bad relationships, deliberate choice, infectious disease, mental disorders, or circumstances of employment or situation (see castaway).

Short-term solitude is often valued as a time when one may work, think or rest without being disturbed. It may be desired for the sake of privacy. Many religions promote solitude for meditation.

A distinction can be made between physical and mental seclusion. People may seek physical seclusion to remove distractions and make it easier to concentrate, reflect, or meditate. However, this is not necessarily an end in and of itself. Once a certain capacity to resist distractions is achieved, people become less sensitive to distractions and more capable of maintaining mindfulness and staying inwardly absorbed and concentrated. Such people, unless on a mission of helping others, don't seek any interaction with the external physical world. Their mindfulness is their world, at least ostensibly.

Another distinction has been made between solitude and loneliness. In this sense solitude is positive.

Wiki also explains the different types of solitude:

There are two different common types of human isolation. These are known as protective isolation and source isolation. They are different in that one is voluntary, while the other is not.

Protective isolation is the type of isolation created in tests. This can usually be classified by the fact that one can opt out of the experiment, or the isolation. It can often be prepared for, and is generally not a negative thing. (More often than not, there is a reward for the subject's time as an experiment.)

Source isolation includes no benefits, and cannot be prepared for. Thus, it is usually undesirable, and is not very common.

Emotional isolation is a term used to describe a state of isolation where the individual is emotionally isolated, but may have a well functioning social network.

I found a good article that was the cover story of New York Magazine on November 23rd, 2008. Alone Together by Jennifer Senior argues that urban loneliness caused by so many people living by themselves is largely a myth. It tells of the health effects of extreme isolation and how loneliness is relative. (http://nymag.com/news/features/52450/)

This research is relevant because studying isolation and enjoyable time alone is my concept. Knowing as much as I can about people's interpretation of isolation will help me to better communicate my concept through my images. 

Uta Barth