Hussain in the membrane

Writing #1

My only question this reading is: Can something referential transform to experiential eventually? My presumption is yes, & if so…is that what information that is readable & legible supposed t obe? Is experiential our simplest form such as matter?
This reading was interesting but a bit redundant. I would have written more on Plato. His work seems to almost ALWAYS begin any sort of discussion on Media Theory.

Propoganda —– reason & evidence —-the radio ——Hitler?
This is what Plato is saying. Mediums, in this case, the radio, influence catastrophe. Because mediusm are representation of the truth.

I also like the idea of paper & pencil being the important aids of memory.
To go back to Plato, he says that paintings & books are not live. I wonder what his thoughts are on debates. The same I suppose. Something of an agreement that they are live, but not Alive.

I was also hoping there was more to say on memories, allegory and typology. I think Plato also has a discussion on that & I read an enormous excerpt on his take of oral cultures. Or the difference b/t languages that were spoken before they were written. This also had to do with semiotics. In fact, maybe this entire reading was based on semiotics?!

I also would like to point out the fact that something in basic experiential form in English can be completely referential to someone that does not know the language. So for instance, the prescription. Breakfast, lunch…. these are all symbols of an alphabet, as are checkmarks, for an English reader. I think that could have been pointed out.

What also disturbs me is that I believe this article is probably creating arguments against media & technology. It’s a good reminder to be aware of the dangers & problems a medium, a representation, etc. may encounter. It makes one weary of their presence, or its technological presence.

Over all a good article, reading.

Writing #2: 9.17.2007

Design & Technology are actually much like an ideal marriage. Independently, they can stand on their own, in the own amazing way, but really they work best, together, as one. In today’s society, they are best united. In earlier years, it was different.

Rem Koolhaus, who is a successful artist that continually seeks to combine both design & technology. His creation of the PRADA store helped influence this sort of postmodern look at how a reatil store can also have the aesthetics of a museum. With his design, much of the technologies seem fitting, almost as natural as its backdrop…which was Rem’s deisgn.

With the Barefoot College, again, the architect from Aga Khan Foundation (an Ismaili philanthropy) combined their talents, while the technologies of Rajistan in Tilonia of traditional technology integrated the system of wells.

It is inevitable, also, with Dilberts office space that much of the aesthetic appeal was production of product design (with the rounded square holes in the shelved walls) & technologies, perhaps such as physical computing? with the wilting flowers.

I’m not quite sure how the final podcast of trusting one’s emotion takes play, except that with the office chair both design AND technology are a difficult ethnographic research because aesthetically new designs and technologies at times disturb the common aesthetic appeals.

I think this podcast was good in that it brought sort of a “real”ity to idea behind design & technology. For something bot areas to succeed, one needs not aesthetical appeal as much as it needs a response for how necessary or useful one is. The thing with the rope, then? signifies how easy it is to lie about inspirations.
This then means it is difficult to determine aesthetic success. But it also happens to be the factor that we choose to use in determining whether a consumer likes dislikes the product &/ or will use it.

Writing #3: 10.04.2007

The audio, first of all, was nice for me to hear b/c I’ve never been exposed to learning & listening from podcasts. Although, I just realized alot of my friends back home in Austin send me podcasts from NPR as of late. Perhaps an influence of the music culture and the audio-driven entertainment sources there?

I think it was interesting that the observations made in anthropological? ethnographical? (can’t really distinguish the diffrences) researches helped in businesses & marketing solutions. I never really realized that social sciences can hold extreme financial worth.

As I began my observations for a public space, I really wanted to originally interact with teens & children…as they seemed to open up many ideas to us, but living in Manhatta, & the city in general, I really didn’t know where I could have gone, but for future tech projects, I know now to call up my younger cousins for ideas & inspiration. I did in fact call them up after the listening…to sort of see where a good spot would be for triangulation.

FAO Schwartz would have been fun, but there’s something risky and uncomfortable about going into a private space for research. A public space, after all, can be defined as blatantly as “any place where the homeless can and are welcome” to “a space which can survive without any sort of financial consumption and exchange reserved for all.” This then limits us to the following: streets, parks, plazas and arguably, public libraries.

Anyway, I ended up going to a nearby park, Roosevelt park, and found…these amazing women who practiced a spiritual dance at 8:30 sharp every morning.

I studied them accordingly to the text or the dance. Well, I wanted to. I really liked how another observer started questioning them, but did so with a smile, so it helped to make them feel a bit at ease with the fact that they were a show of some sort. If you smile, I think it really helps relax people.

As the women left, I know they had noticed me and were starting to feel uncomfortable, so I smiled back at them, which I don’t do nearly as often to strangers like I did when living in the South & told them that I thought they looked beautiful & at peace. Two of the ladies, smiled, touched my hand & said, “thank you and thank God.” I didn’t really know what that meant at the time, but when I told Jason the story later, he told me that this was a dance that attempts ot show, share and experience peace…so I guess I validated their purpose.

Hokey, I know, but I need moments like that in the city. They don’t happen as often.

Writing #4: 10.16.07

Writing #5: 11.7.07

One interesting thing I learned from the audio is how influential game design is. It’s an activity not only for those that are antisocial, but an activity that’s becoming part of entertainment as well as a means of learning in our society. Video games are for everyone of all ages of all genres of interests.

I think there’s something to be said about game design as well, much like performance art…that is a great tool to use for manipulating resolutions to problems or to act out issues before actually going through the motions in doing so. It’s almost like a democracy, where you’re given the power to choose your “what if” scenario and work your way through a winning situation.

In this sense I liked how gamers become democratic leaders in which they can choose their own destiny. I also like how in this democracy, you can choose how you identify yourself. You can change your name, your interests, your age, etc. In this way, you create a democracy for your self-identity.

Games, as I said, are also great to teach integral decision making sills. They can be powerful learning tools, much like books. They’re also a great financial investment, as seen from the statistics in the gaming industry. The business of games, after all, is as big as Hollywood. Another interesting concept is how games have matured & grown up. Not only by their audience, but also their allowance and physical appearance.

A game now is an amazing invention in that it gives users so much control over a variety of variables. The fact that the front-end (design) and the back-end (technology) is so open to its users is fascinating.