Hussain in the membrane

Thinking more thoroughly into the categories of research I will be getting into: I’ve put together a Venn diagram of my pieces I have created, help create, and/or researched as precedents to projects in my prior projects. The three categories I find myself become more and more interested in are: wearable technology, interactive instruments and performance culture.

Wearable technology is a form I have felt most intrigued by since the first semester of my year at Parsons when I signed up for Fashionable Technology. I quite like the idea of experimenting with electronics that can become a part of one’s everyday life, just as easily as a piece of clothing can be. Plus, it’s a form of self-expression and identity, as much as fashion is in general.

Interactive instruments is a realm that I have only recently gained interest in. It started with taking a Max/MSP class and playing with the wii mote to control music. It felt fun, free, and again…self-expressive. This past summer, I have been working with LEMURbots, building various parts and pieces of musical instruments triggered by micro controllers and Max/MSP patches…all that go over my head. But at least I know how one can do it. That this exists.

And lastly, I have always seemed to be attracted to the stage throughout my projects. I really enjoy elements of performance art. From researching on Happenings, to working on tutus for ballets on stage… and even creating an installation inspired by yoga and tai chi.

After speaking with Colleen in regard to my thesis idea, we came up with a set of questions that I will be thinking about as I progress with thesis.

1. What kinds of shoulder shakin’ styles are there in dance? What IS it about shoulder pads that gives the idea such an attraction?

2. What are the design criteria for the object, or the idea itself? What is its role and who is the audience?

3. What are your interests that relate to your thesis idea?

4. What do you NOT want to create? Do you want a musical instrument that needs alot of skill to play? Why or why not?

5. Research precedents. What are opposite projects? What can break this project away from the categories that the others are placed in?

6. The tackiness. Who else is tacky? What is it about the tackiness that we enjoy?

7. What else can be created beside the shoulder pad?

8. How can I make this every year or every 20 years?

I have been thinking about incorporating the idea of shoulder pads into an interactive instrument. The idea came from a project I had started in max/msp…

Seeing how the wii mote controlled amplitudes and frequencies, I thought it appropriate to see how the control would work were it placed in other places of the body. And how the body would be able to read or work around this. I started thinking of places were lots of movement of up/down, front/back were incorporated. And all I could think of was:

And how fun “hammer time” could be.

I then started research on wearable technologies, and projects which have incorporated shoulder pads in their research.

Reinterpretations of the wii-mote.

Summer time/intern time. Whilst at Creative Time and at LEMUR, I became absolutely inspired by interactive instruments. What intrigues me most is the dynamic of musician and audience changes. In general forms of music playing, the person engaging with the instrument was presumed to have a knowledge, skill or craft of the instrument. In these pieces, it feels more like intuition. I also enjoy the fact that the lines between musician and audience are quite blurred.