Facs 3936 Blog

If I were to remake Human Circuit in future. Many of our challenges arose through the type of material we chose. The use of conductive thread instead of insulated wire would have made production much easier (and faster) and we would have fewer connection issues (which was our biggest problem). We chose to use insulated wire because of safety concerns (risk of shock), however later on we realized that this wouldn’t have been an issue. Secondly, I would have like to have a wider variety of leds colours and more on each shirt.  Lastly, I think the project would benefit if it had more contact points, to create other possible ways of physical interaction. As Mark David was suggesting, we should get some dancers to wear our pieces and have them preform a dance using the pieces. I would be very interested in seeing that take place.

I am quite pleased with the feedback that Human Circuit received. I was pleased to hear that after interacting with work total strangers were connected and conversations were formed. Our work achieved what it set out to do, to promote positive physical interactions. Though our final result is quite different from our original design it still encompassed our idea of promoting team work and camaraderie.

Construction Time! 

With all necessary materials purchased. It's time to make the wearables.

Conductive Fabric has been cut.

Active Surplus + Creaton Shopping Trip with Rhys

Purchased electronic components.

Land|Slide: Possible Future Exhibit

Slaughterhouse by Phil Hoffman 

Last week, we visited the Land|Slide: Possible future exhibit.When asked to write about one of the installations, I had a difficult time choosing one. However I finally decided on writing about the Slaughterhouse by Phil Hoffman. I am huge fan of the mystery genre, and interacting with piece made me feel like a detective, the only thing missing was a magnifying glass. I chose it for its use of human curiosity to tell its story.

“Great Art” has always been a term that has eluded definition, but it something we all understand. According to Moriarty that “great art” is  “Art that deeply rewards a lifetime of contemplation. Art as a cultural monument. The kind of art that, in Ebert’s words, makes us “more cultured, civilized and empathetic.””  Moriarty adds that the main function of great art is attraction.

“Kitsch” is synonymous to mainstream art. According Moriarty it is art that is easy to digest, art that has no hidden meaning behind it, nor does it make the individual try to understand it more. It is art where what you see is what you get. It is art that is ready for mass consumption. Kitsch does not what to be challenging, ambiguous or innovative.

According to Moriarty, video games are intrinsically unable to be considered art because they are designed to be kitsch. He did admit that video games do contain a wide variety of great art, however according to Moriarty it is kitsch, because they are designed for mass consumption. He also states that in order for art to be great, it must be done by a master. With technology always changing, there can never be a master of technology, hence video games cannot be great art. An artist, must be in control of the piece, however, this is not the case in video games as the player gets the final say.

Before reading the article, I very much believed that video games could be considered art. And yes video games can be considered “Kitsch art”. A part of me still considers video games to be art. If a urinal can be art, why not video games? However, I do agree that great art is sparse. The mass majority of game are kitsch. While I have played many great games in my life there are none at the top of my head that I would consider great art. There are many tittles you could argue that fulfill Moriarty's requirements to be great art, but are also Kitsch. They can never truly be free from Kitsch status. Video games are art, but they are only great when it when it pushes an individual for a deeper understanding. But reading the article got me thinking does it really matter if video games are art or not? What would it gain from that label other than elitist status? And for me the answer is NO.

My name is LaLaine Ulit-Destajo and I am a 3rd year Digital Media student. Like the majority of students in this class, I am taking the course as it is required. Needless to say I am super excited about this class.

I have always been drawn to how technology could be used to create art. There's this energy and this excitement I feel when I see more new media work. Not that I don't appreciate more analog/less technology reliant works, in fact its quite the opposite, i have great admiration for those artists and their work. There is a certain rawness/natural quality and I guess human fingerprint is easier to see in traditional mediums.  I'm also big fan of theatre, there is a certain magic found on stage. 

Some of my favourite artists include Silvia Pelissero (agnes-cecile), Cyril Rolando (AquaSixio),Tablo and the Electric Company(theatre not the tv show lol).

Link to something interesting on the web: 

The Value of time game

To all the procrastinators(myself included) here's a short game to remind  to plan ahead and manage your time wisely. 

As for the three questions/topics I'd like to explore during the course of this course:

 1. As technology advances things are becoming more automatic. Which leads having less control over the process. With that in mind,can art be art without the human fingerprint? 

2. Augmented Reality. I don't really have a question with it... I just think its cool. By definition  to augment is to "Make (something) greater by adding to it". Which in many cases technology does that already.