STUDIOCULT PRESENTS: Bouba/Kiki Museum
by Murphy Moulton
Bouba or Kiki?
If you’ve never been asked this particular question before, it probably seems like total gibberish. However, you’re in luck: the fine folks at STUDIOCULT have invited you (yes, you!) on a guided tiny tour of the concepts and creatures in our very own Bouba/Kiki Museum. Prepare to embark on an enthralling journey of sounds, shapes, and science!
GREETINGS, HONORED EXPLORERS OF ERUDITION! THE ALL KNOWING, EVER FABULOUS STUDIORACLE HAS PREPARED A BRIEF HISTORY OF EVENTS FOR YOUR PERUSEMENT’S AMUSEMENT:
“BOUBA” & “KIKI”
One is an amorphous blob. The other is a spiky explosion. But when it all comes down to it, which of the two representatives do we associate the words in the world around us with?
The beginning of our expedition takes us back just over a century and into the mind of Georgian psychologist Dimitri Uznadze, who conducted a study involving participants assigning nonsensical words with drawings shown to them during short intervals. This experiment was referenced in German American scientist Wolfgang Köhler’s 1947 study which used only two words (“baluba” and “takete”, eventually editorialized to “maluma” and “takete”), the findings of which suggested that participants associated the words with sharper sounds to drawings with sharper lines, and vice versa.
This is the basis of sound symbolism: the concept that a non-arbitrary link exists between sounds and the meaning of words.
Neuroscientists V.S Ramachandran and Edward M. Hubbard put this theory to the test when their 2001 rendition of the study introduced the two word set that would breach its strictly scientific containment and cement itself in psychology, pop culture, marketing, and more.
Let’s explore some evocative examples in our Electronic Exhibit:
Hi there! I’m STUDIOCULT’s sapphic sweetheart, the Heart Carabiner Earring. You may have recently seen me on Doja Cat’s Tiktok, or hanging around your loveliest local lesbians (autographs and selfies will be available after the tour, of course).
Though it’s not my usual style, I’ll give it to you straight: I’m what you would classify as BOUBA. And so would this wonderfully round sea slug right here:
Sea Slug (Chromodoris)
Smooth shapes and soft sounds, people! Before you get too attached, let me introduce you to a dear friend and the sharpest dresser I know: the one and only Celestial Shard Earring!
Salutations! Wow, aren’t you a good looking crew? Speaking of looks, you could definitely put me in Camp KIKI. Just like this awesome underwater Urchin right here:
Long-spined Sea Urchin
Catching our drift? How about we examine some more superb specimens:
Cumulus Cloud
CLASSIFICATION: BOUBA
Fireworks
CLASSIFICATION: KIKI
Allow me to introduce a tried and true bastion of Bouba-dom, the Puffy Stud Flower Earrings
Right on, Cel! You ever tried running in a dream? Definitely BOUBA. Which brings us to this extraordinary blob of a frog:
Turtle Frog
CLASSIFICATION: BOUBA
CONCEPT:
Going for a hug when the other person opts for a handshake at the same time
CLASSIFICATION: BOUBA
Peacock
CLASSIFICATION: KIKI
Thwomp (Super Mario Bros.)
CLASSIFICATION: KIKI
Boo (Super Mario Bros.)
CLASSIFICATION: BOO-UBA
Well well well, look who it is: cult classic and KIKI crowd favorite, the Razzle Dazzle Ring!
Salut! This tour has been on point, if I do say so myself. Without further ado, allow me to introduce you to one of the spikiest (and friendliest) dudes in our KIKI crew: Bartholomew!
Bearded Dragon
As you can see, he’s always ready for his close-up (but not too close!)
New York City
CLASSIFICATION: KIKI
Los Angeles
CLASSIFICATION: BOUBA
Naturally, there are plenty of creatures, concepts, and super cool STUDIOCULT pieces that could be classified as both Bouba and Kiki. Here to facilitate the festivities is our next tour guide, the mystical Blue Pierced Moon Earring!
Salutations, scholars! There's a special kind of beauty in bringing best of both worlds to the table: just ask The Milky Way Galaxy!
CLASSIFICATION: BOUBA/KIKI
CONCEPT:
Holding in laughter at a really inappropriate time/place
CLASSIFICATION: BOUBIKI?
CLASSIFICATION: BOUBIKI?
Make a wish and count your lucky stars, everyone: here to bring ultimate Bouba/Kiki balance and close out our grand tour are the Shooting Star Earrings
Take it home, twins!
We hope you had a blast on your tour around our little Bouba/Kiki Universe. Thanks for learning and exploring with us—we hope you’ll go forth with whimsy in your heart and a funky non-arbitrary audio-visual assignment system on your mind!
P.S
Don't forget to visit the Gift Shop on your way out. So long, and safe travels!