Friday, April 30, 2004
Creative Intervention Workshop
DAY TWO: "If my project were a performance..."
Please post a brief pitch for your creative intervention performance here by Monday 4 PM! Your pitch should be addressed either as a recruitment, invitation or audition notice for POTENTIAL PERFORMERS, or an announcement, invitation, or advertisement designed to attract AUDIENCE MEMBERS. Or, if you think it helps get your point across more clearly, you can post a brief pitch both to performers and audience members!
Be sure also to explain in a sentence or two how your performance design reflects the argument and texture of your research project.
DAY TWO: "If my project were a performance..."
Please post a brief pitch for your creative intervention performance here by Monday 4 PM! Your pitch should be addressed either as a recruitment, invitation or audition notice for POTENTIAL PERFORMERS, or an announcement, invitation, or advertisement designed to attract AUDIENCE MEMBERS. Or, if you think it helps get your point across more clearly, you can post a brief pitch both to performers and audience members!
Be sure also to explain in a sentence or two how your performance design reflects the argument and texture of your research project.
Wednesday, April 28, 2004
Creative Intervention Workshop
DAY ONE: "If my project were a game..."
Please post a brief pitch for your creative intervention game here by Friday 4 PM! Your pitch should have two basic parts:
1) Write a lively description of your game as if you are trying to attract players to the game. Tell them what they can expect in terms of where, when, how and why to play the game.
2) Explain (to our class) in a sentence or two how your game design reflects your thesis. If there are any key elements (characters, props, prizes, quotations) derived from the texture of your research paper that you want to point out, please explain them briefly in a sentence or two.
Feel free to start providing feedback on each other's posts as soon as there are a few up!
DAY ONE: "If my project were a game..."
Please post a brief pitch for your creative intervention game here by Friday 4 PM! Your pitch should have two basic parts:
1) Write a lively description of your game as if you are trying to attract players to the game. Tell them what they can expect in terms of where, when, how and why to play the game.
2) Explain (to our class) in a sentence or two how your game design reflects your thesis. If there are any key elements (characters, props, prizes, quotations) derived from the texture of your research paper that you want to point out, please explain them briefly in a sentence or two.
Feel free to start providing feedback on each other's posts as soon as there are a few up!
Monday, April 26, 2004
Exquisite Corpse Game Design
Please share the final version of your exquisite corpse game!
Please share the final version of your exquisite corpse game!
Monday, April 19, 2004
Chance art: Reversing Vandalism
This local project is an amazing example of collaborative, chance art.
"For nearly a year, a vandal mutilated more than 600 books on gay and lesbian themes at the San Francisco Public Library. Without explanation, he carved up covers and pages and left small typewritten slips of paper advertising a Bible radio station tucked inside the damaged works. Ironically, his attempt to rid the library of these books resulted in a far stronger statement from the community: With help from artists around the country, the San Francisco Public Library transformed the crime into an art show titled _Reversing Vandalism_, which features more than 200 works of various mediums and is on view in three galleries at the library through May 2."
Check in out in person, or on Slate.com's terrific slide show for some really inspiring work.
This local project is an amazing example of collaborative, chance art.
"For nearly a year, a vandal mutilated more than 600 books on gay and lesbian themes at the San Francisco Public Library. Without explanation, he carved up covers and pages and left small typewritten slips of paper advertising a Bible radio station tucked inside the damaged works. Ironically, his attempt to rid the library of these books resulted in a far stronger statement from the community: With help from artists around the country, the San Francisco Public Library transformed the crime into an art show titled _Reversing Vandalism_, which features more than 200 works of various mediums and is on view in three galleries at the library through May 2."
Check in out in person, or on Slate.com's terrific slide show for some really inspiring work.
House & Garden, Life Game, Eat the Runt
We dissected La Noche de Santa Ines today to see how well it fits the terms interactive, chance art, happening and game.
Please pick one of the other 3 productions we're discussing this week (House and Garden; Life Game; Eat the Runt) and assess it according to the four criteria. Which terms fit that particular production best, and why, and for whom (audience, actors, director, e.g.)?
OR
Pick one of the four terms and apply it across the board to the 3 different productions. How do each of the 3 productions reflect or resist that term?
We dissected La Noche de Santa Ines today to see how well it fits the terms interactive, chance art, happening and game.
Please pick one of the other 3 productions we're discussing this week (House and Garden; Life Game; Eat the Runt) and assess it according to the four criteria. Which terms fit that particular production best, and why, and for whom (audience, actors, director, e.g.)?
OR
Pick one of the four terms and apply it across the board to the 3 different productions. How do each of the 3 productions reflect or resist that term?
Friday, April 16, 2004
Exquisite Corpse
First of all, you can view all of your fabulous exquisite corpses here! I love them all and am quite impressed with your collective unconsciouses!
BACKGROUND: Among Surrealist techniques exploiting the "mystique of accident" and unconscious expression was a kind of collective collage of words or images called the cadavre exquis (exquisite corpse). Based on an old parlor game, it was played by several people, each of whom would write a phrase on a sheet of paper, or draw part of a object; fold the paper to conceal the drawing; and then pass it on to the next player for his or her contribution. The technique got its name from results obtained in initial playing, "Le cadavre exquis boira le vin nouveau" (The exquisite corpse will drink the young wine).
YOUR THOUGHTS: Reflections on our class experiments? Which one or two exquisite corpses from our class do you find most striking, and why? Are there any strategies for playing exquisite corpse well? Why do you think the surrealists chose game play as the best way to unleash an "unconscious" art form? Other reactions to our surrealistic game play?
First of all, you can view all of your fabulous exquisite corpses here! I love them all and am quite impressed with your collective unconsciouses!
BACKGROUND: Among Surrealist techniques exploiting the "mystique of accident" and unconscious expression was a kind of collective collage of words or images called the cadavre exquis (exquisite corpse). Based on an old parlor game, it was played by several people, each of whom would write a phrase on a sheet of paper, or draw part of a object; fold the paper to conceal the drawing; and then pass it on to the next player for his or her contribution. The technique got its name from results obtained in initial playing, "Le cadavre exquis boira le vin nouveau" (The exquisite corpse will drink the young wine).
YOUR THOUGHTS: Reflections on our class experiments? Which one or two exquisite corpses from our class do you find most striking, and why? Are there any strategies for playing exquisite corpse well? Why do you think the surrealists chose game play as the best way to unleash an "unconscious" art form? Other reactions to our surrealistic game play?
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
Happening
How will did our happening reflect Allen Kaprow's "Guidelines for a Happening"? Pick two guidelines from the article to discuss in relation to our own experiment.
Also, please mention one or more of your favorite instructions you picked up. Why did you like it (them), and how did you interpret (it) them?
Feel free to make any additional comments about a Happening's game-ness, performance-ness, or dramatic qualities, or its relationship to chance art.
How will did our happening reflect Allen Kaprow's "Guidelines for a Happening"? Pick two guidelines from the article to discuss in relation to our own experiment.
Also, please mention one or more of your favorite instructions you picked up. Why did you like it (them), and how did you interpret (it) them?
Feel free to make any additional comments about a Happening's game-ness, performance-ness, or dramatic qualities, or its relationship to chance art.
Monday, April 12, 2004
Nervewracking performance
Okay, I'm a nervous wreck this week, and that's because I have my Ph.D. qualifying lecture and qualifying exam this Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. For those of you unfamiliar with the Ph.D. process, to explain it simply: this is the Do or Die, Pass or Say Goodbye moment of graduate school that produces nervous breakdowns in all of your GSIs.
If you would like to witness me overcoming the hysteria and stress of this process, you are invited to my qualifying talk in 110 Barrows, Wednesday 12 PM -1 PM. The title of the talk is "Play or Else: performance in ubiquitous gaming," and it will not be boring. A few friendly faces would definitely help, so if you're free and inclined, please come by!
Okay, I'm a nervous wreck this week, and that's because I have my Ph.D. qualifying lecture and qualifying exam this Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. For those of you unfamiliar with the Ph.D. process, to explain it simply: this is the Do or Die, Pass or Say Goodbye moment of graduate school that produces nervous breakdowns in all of your GSIs.
If you would like to witness me overcoming the hysteria and stress of this process, you are invited to my qualifying talk in 110 Barrows, Wednesday 12 PM -1 PM. The title of the talk is "Play or Else: performance in ubiquitous gaming," and it will not be boring. A few friendly faces would definitely help, so if you're free and inclined, please come by!
Thursday, April 08, 2004
Chance Art Workshop
chance: something that happens unpredictably without discernible human intention or observable cause.
art: the conscious use of skill, taste, and creative imagination in the production of aesthetic objects; also : works so produced.
• Does using chance procedures take the “art” out a performance, or add art? Why?
• How do using chance procedures make art more game-like? How does this game-ness change the kind of art produced?
Post-workshop, please address theses questions and reflect on your group's chance performance!
chance: something that happens unpredictably without discernible human intention or observable cause.
art: the conscious use of skill, taste, and creative imagination in the production of aesthetic objects; also : works so produced.
• Does using chance procedures take the “art” out a performance, or add art? Why?
• How do using chance procedures make art more game-like? How does this game-ness change the kind of art produced?
Post-workshop, please address theses questions and reflect on your group's chance performance!
Monday, April 05, 2004
Ironclad and Caribbean Star
Now that we've read Frank Lantz's and James Ernest's game descriptions and design notes, some possible points for discussion:
1) How is reading game instructions like reading a script for dramatic literature?
2) How is game design artistic?
3) Pick a sentence from Lantz's or Ernests's design notes and UNPACK.
And, of course, if you have the materials, time and inclination...
4) PLAY IRONCLAD! or PLAY CARIBBEAN STAR! and report.
I played Ironclad this morning and found it highly challenging and much more strategic and cerebral than I expected. I look forward to playing again. (I lost, by the way, to the much more spatially-oriented Kiyash.) Caribbean star playtesting will commence shortly...
Now that we've read Frank Lantz's and James Ernest's game descriptions and design notes, some possible points for discussion:
1) How is reading game instructions like reading a script for dramatic literature?
2) How is game design artistic?
3) Pick a sentence from Lantz's or Ernests's design notes and UNPACK.
And, of course, if you have the materials, time and inclination...
4) PLAY IRONCLAD! or PLAY CARIBBEAN STAR! and report.
I played Ironclad this morning and found it highly challenging and much more strategic and cerebral than I expected. I look forward to playing again. (I lost, by the way, to the much more spatially-oriented Kiyash.) Caribbean star playtesting will commence shortly...
OUTLINE ASSIGNMENT
There are many ways to approach a formal outline. The outline style you choose may have a considerable impact on what kind of argument you develop and how you develop it, so choosing an outline is no trivial matter!
For this assignment, I want you to choose your own method (I will provide some suggestions, but you are encouraged to dig around online for others that you may like better). You should select a template or style that you feel is most helpful and appropriate for your topic and paper, and which best suits your writing style. The only requirement is that it must be a “formal” outline, meaning you are using a numbering and lettering system of some kind (I, 1., a. or 1.1., 1.2, 2.1 etc.).
By Friday 4/9 at 4 PM: Post to our blog a link to the Web page that describes the kind of outline you will be using. In a paragraph, explain why this particular outline is appropriate for your own project. If you plan to change or modify the template, or perhaps to combine two different templates, that’s fine—just make a note of it.
LINKS:
***Regardless of which method you choose, I encourage you to consult this general resource on preparing a good research paper outline.***
Basic description of numbering and lettering system for a completely generic paper outline.
Outline for a Field Research paper. May be useful for those of you staging experiments or observing everyday life.
Outline for a problem paper. This is a nice way to approach a research question that you have posed as a mystery, challenge or problem of some kind.
Outline for an arts research paper.
These are just a few examples; many more are out there and you should feel free to explore and modify at will.
There are many ways to approach a formal outline. The outline style you choose may have a considerable impact on what kind of argument you develop and how you develop it, so choosing an outline is no trivial matter!
For this assignment, I want you to choose your own method (I will provide some suggestions, but you are encouraged to dig around online for others that you may like better). You should select a template or style that you feel is most helpful and appropriate for your topic and paper, and which best suits your writing style. The only requirement is that it must be a “formal” outline, meaning you are using a numbering and lettering system of some kind (I, 1., a. or 1.1., 1.2, 2.1 etc.).
By Friday 4/9 at 4 PM: Post to our blog a link to the Web page that describes the kind of outline you will be using. In a paragraph, explain why this particular outline is appropriate for your own project. If you plan to change or modify the template, or perhaps to combine two different templates, that’s fine—just make a note of it.
LINKS:
***Regardless of which method you choose, I encourage you to consult this general resource on preparing a good research paper outline.***
Basic description of numbering and lettering system for a completely generic paper outline.
Outline for a Field Research paper. May be useful for those of you staging experiments or observing everyday life.
Outline for a problem paper. This is a nice way to approach a research question that you have posed as a mystery, challenge or problem of some kind.
Outline for an arts research paper.
These are just a few examples; many more are out there and you should feel free to explore and modify at will.
