SLEEPER CELLS

1presentations of projects not yet presented

• suspension of disbelief• fourth wall• possible• probable• impossible• preferable• audience• future/now?• utopia• dystopia• empathy

• foresight• political• economical• ecological• media• artefact• performance• hypothetical• imaginable• real/fake• rhetoric

2have a look at the tools/objects which represents the divide between wakefullness and sleep, or the conscious and unconscious. Group in theories or connected ideas.

3discuss dator article

preferred futures vs critical design

four scenarios

continued growthcollapsedisciplinetechnology

4introduction to critical theory

max horkheimer - “to liberate human beings from the circumstances that enslave them.”

Horkheimer videohabermas introductionreason introduction

keep in mind the opposition of individual to society, and the balance of freedom and justice.

deconstruct and assess, examine and critique society from first principles, using sociolgical and literary methods.

nothing is sacred. CT re-evaluates reason, from a subjective to objective.

Asks difficult questions (which we only percieve as difficult because of our social conditioning).

CT has given birth to fields such as poststructuralism, post-modernist thought, queer theory, semiotics and post-colonialism.

critical design is critical theory put into practice - a physical experimentation with theory

STANLEY ARONOWITZ on Horkheimer

further reading: Horkheimer, M. (2002). Critical theory: selected essays. New York, Continuum

critical design helps suspend disbelief

it physicalises an idea to make it more accessible and realistic

it can sneak in a theory disguised as something else

as entertainmentas shoppingas productas employmentas opportunityas something freeas a secretas a consumableas foodas a holiday

as highbrow masquerading as low brow

critical making

theory

practice

critical thinking

RESEARCHTRUTH

IMAGINATIONPLAY/GSOH

UTOPIA/DYSTOPIA

MIX WHAT WE DO AND DON’T KNOW

mix of scientific and artistic reasoning to

create a cultural shift

(UN)BELIEVABLE(IN)CREDIBLECHALLENGING

(HAVE TO CONSIDER THE AUDIENCE)

EXPERIENCE

performance, object, installation,

interior, video, discussion, text

5critical/futures design around sleep/dreaming

6 groups of 3 (ish)

20 minute sections to discuss and design scenarios and objects

scenario

socialpoliticaleconomicecologicaltechnological

object

dator’s 4 futures

starting from using considering developing

card game

critical design

freeform

sleep

sleep articles

• suspension of disbelief• fourth wall• audience• future/now?• utopia• dystopia• empathy• foresight

• media• artefact• performance• hypothetical• imaginable• real/fake• rhetoric

how to critique critical design

do we believe it?are the structures to communicate the critical concept robust and intuitive?how does it connect to the real and beliveable?is the suspension of disbelief well constructed? how does the concept mix real and imaginary content?

what is the impact, and how is it achieved?

ASSESSMENT BRIEF 2Deep sleep - Sleep research – 30%Over 4 weeks investigate sleep using design fiction techniques through 4 separate projects 1) singular or personal experience; 2) pair, group or social phenomenon; 3) scientific, political, or state policies around sleep, and 4) theoretical/metaphysical/psychological approaches.

In each of these areas, create a small design fiction project – which may be part research, and part story. It is not important what is true and what is not – but it must be believable.

Video will be the key medium used to express these design fictions.

indivi

dual

state

grou

p/cu

lt/co

mpany

metaph

ysica

l

4 weeks

all due at mid semester, but there will be a review of each completed project each week.

must complete 4 mini projects each

can continue with one of these projects past mid sem

all projects do not have to have equal work - can focus on one or two which you think demonstrate your interest and direction best.

experiment with medium

demonstrate you understand terminology and techniques of critical futures design

link to existing ideas on sleep, and create a the possibility for connection with the audience.

Next week, bring your first investigation into an individual experience of sleep, in a critical futures project

Any questions about the dream diary or this assignment?