Communal Space
Lecture and Case Studies
Module 2: Thursday, July 18 th through Friday, July 19 th 2002
Abstract
- e-culture: culture is the future, but it won't be what it used to be.
- individual + community
- information + space
- open source + public domains
- content + tools
- media + media infrastructure
- architectures for meaning
In this seminar I will address very large scale interactive systems, where it
is no longer possible to centrally create, control or edit content. I will focus
on the difference between content and tools and discuss different methods of dealing
with issues like trust, value, quality of information and meaning. I will also
address central processes and necessary skills that relate to digital culture
as we see it developing in our network society, and discuss how meta-design is
the future of multimedia design. The seminar aims at providing fresh ways of thinking
about media and communication (big concepts) as well as concrete examples of existing
systems (small products).
We will see that misery and passion are at the heart of these trends...
Course Outline
Day One: e-Culture
Morning Track: "Architectures for meaning"
This session looks at the role of culture and learning in the information society.
Trends in society are discussed in relation to developments in technology. The
impact of these developments on traditional fields like broadcasting and journalism
is discussed. We will then critically look at several architectures for meaning
and trust and discuss new skills that individuals will develop in order to survive
in the network society.
An important thread that runs through this discussion is the concept of "cultural
information systems": very large scale information environments where personal
and shared values determine the character of these environments. Hard meets soft,
virtual meets real, and one meets many.
Conversation, questions, and discussion is included. A 20-minute break occurs
in the middle of the track. Allotted time: 3 hours.
Afternoon Track: "Self organisation and meta-design"
The afternoon session focuses on the impact of these developments for the design
of media. Using real life examples, different approaches to the design of media
environments are discussed and played with in (group) exercises. Different design
methodologies are discussed as well as implications for working inside or outside
organisations.
Participants will explore the future of open systems: what are the implications
of open software and open content?
Conversation, questions, and discussion is included. A 20-minute break occurs
in the middle of the track. Allotted time: 4 hours.
Day Two: Community and design
Morning Track: "Back to time and space"
This session will address specifics: information is always embedded in real time
and real space, and ultimately this guides all design. Different kinds of dialogues
(physical, mental and social) require different ways of looking at time, space
and information.
We will also look at specific (design) problems that relate to self-organising
systems.
Conversation, questions, and discussion is included. A 20-minute break occurs
in the middle of the track. Allotted time: 3 hours.
Lunch Break.
Afternoon Track: "More general and more specific…"
The afternoon track is dedicated almost entirely to analysis and consideration
of the material that was studied in the form of group discussions and (group)
exercises.
Conversation, questions, and discussion is included. A 20-minute break occurs
in the middle of the track. Allotted time: 4 hours.