Thesis
Emergent making: material expression, character, performance
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
2019
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/mj76-8e42
Abstract
What makes an object special? Why do we have strong feelings towards these nonhuman things? Why do humans feel compelled to create objects and ultimately give them meaning? Through the act making can we find meaning in the objects, places, and events that we create and inspire us? Can we get at the root of what makes something special to inform new making practices either in design or art? The drive and passion of people to manipulate form, space, sound, smells, and taste and create new things is an old beautiful mystery, but how we go about doing it can determine the significance of the meaning imbued. Through our senses we have a reciprocal relationship to the ever-changing landscape of these things. It is in the activation of our senses that our world is painted and perceived. If we pay attention to landscape as a partner in this creation we have an opportunity to create new meaningful things and experiences that inspire us to look further into ourselves as well as gain a deeper appreciation for the nonhuman things that make up our existence. This project aims to discover the relationships in a making process and create a framework to guide designers and artists in their own practice of creating objects, spaces, and experiences that encourage us to challenge our own perceptions to inspire others through designed experiences. How does one create an experience that eliminates preconceived ideas to allow for the re-engagement of the senses? Through the idea of reciprocity in combination with the contemporary understanding of animism this book sets out to explore a new paradigm for making and perceiving with regard to design processes. It weaves together an emergent making process reliant on intuition and play, resulting in new object lead experiences. With these newly made objects and designed experiences the hope is to inspire awe. The objects and experiences are intentionally not named to allow for an open interpretation. By intentionally not naming an object or by keeping their name vague, we invite our conscious senses to experience "the spontaneous life of our sensing bodies". The longer we can keep things abstract, the longer we will continue to interpret and experience with open minds. Imagine a person discovering an apple, or creating fire, or jumping in the ocean for the first time. Removing objects of their contextual history gives the viewer an opportunity to reengage the senses to define a new context, to give new meaning, and potentially provide a foundation for new ritual and new forms of thought.
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Details
- Title
- Emergent making
- Creators
- Joshua Ben Longo - DU
- Contributors
- George Ferrandi (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)Diana S. Nicholas (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- 73 pages
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Architecture, Design, and Urbanism; Design Research; Drexel University; Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design
- Other Identifier
- 9527; 991014632612704721