aimatapittmanbct-blog

[aimatapittmanbct-blog]

Final Studio II Submission

Whirlwind of Emotions

All CTEC503 Posts:

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/163866964312/individual-interrogations-of-movement

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/164556665812/in-classes-with-miranda-we-have-talked-about

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/164556706092/social-movement

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/164556894817/speed-dating

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/164557027392/forming-a-group

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/164557240082/chosen-idea-research

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/164557295702/writing-the-brief

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/164584821472/group-proposal

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/165498794322/studio-2-progress

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/165575630152/concept-development-and-prototype-start-up

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/165575683377/tracking-software

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/165749503352/confusion-w-concepts

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/165945365672/concept-development-and-deeper-thinking

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/165945712102/where-have-i-been

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/166020371267/change-of-ideas

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/166030514112/giving-our-project-value

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/166030611742/prototype-update

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/167166911242/precedents

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/167166952872/meaning-behind-components

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/167167324567/research-links

[aimatapittmanbct-blog]

Research Links

Pink Shirt Day - https://www.pinkshirtday.org.nz/assets/SWAG-2017/PSD-FS3-Bullying-Statistics.pdf

Stuff Article: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/69327675/verbal-abuse-a-problem-in-new-zealand-schools-childrens-census-finds

News Hub Article: http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2017/04/nz-second-worst-for-schoolyard-bullying-oecd-report.html

Victoria University PDF: https://www.victoria.ac.nz/education/pdf/Bullying-in-NZ-Schools.pdf

NZ Herald Article: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11463997

Stuff Work Place Bullying: http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/better-business/83618177/New-Zealand-has-worlds-second-highest-rate-of-workplace-bullying

[aimatapittmanbct-blog]

Meaning Behind Components

VAPOUR We chose to use smoke as a way to represent how the victims of verbal abuse feel because it is only partially physical. It can be seen for a short time and then dissipates and can’t be seen any longer. Like the smoke, the person or victims feelings can’t be seen or even detected. Another reason for our choice to use smoke is to represent the connection between the physical and digital forms of movement.

FAN (SOUND ACTIVATION) Rather than have the fans just blasting like in the example videos we have seen, we wanted them to be sound/voice activated. This is to tie in with the Verbal Abuse theme we have. Having people speak or scream into the microphone either softly or harshly to control the intensity of the vortex. It gives the audience a first-hand look at the effects these threats or words have on the victims – giving them more of an idea and hopefully bringing more awareness about the issue.

VORTEX People who are victims of verbal abuse normally keep their emotions bottled up inside. This vortex is our own visual representation of what they’re feeling on the inside. The intensity of the vortex (controlled by sound) also relates to the intensity of the persons feelings, the more harsh the abuser is being, the more they are hurting.

[aimatapittmanbct-blog]

Precedents

I went through some Verbal Abuse Campaigns looking for precedents of our project and found an interactive exhibition in Shenyang, China. Renowned artists Yong Xie started the “Words Can Be Weapons” campaign to raise awareness of the psychological effects of verbal abuse. Yong Xie took hurtful phrases and handcrafted them out of nickel-plated steel so that they could be reassembled into the shapes of lethal weapons.

The artist based his work on individuals who experienced verbal abuse as children and are now in jail for committing crimes. The weapons in the exhibition were the same ones used by the offenders. His work was showcased at an interactive exhibition where people could see and listen to the stories of the unfortunate juveniles.

The second precedent I found was the “Weapon of Choice” campaign where a photographer showcased victims scarred by the words used against them. In his campaign, he talks about people needing to change their opinions of the old “sticks and stones” saying because it does affect people and can be quite traumatising.

Words can be Weapons Campaign: https://social.ogilvy.com/words-can-be-weapons-campaign-uses-social-media-to-raise-awareness-of-verbal-abuse/

Weapon of Choice (Independence): http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/weapon-of-choice-verbal-abuse-campaign-sees-victims-physically-scarred-by-the-words-used-against-9445886.html

[aimatapittmanbct-blog]

#IP03 Submission

Index of all Integrative Practice content

Tumblr Posts

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/163861588122/integrative-practice

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/163861706367/interrogating-an-inanimate-object

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/163862163757/interrogations-entry-1

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/164131450547/coffee-interrogation-entry-2

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/164131506607/coffee-interrogation-part-3

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/164132001612/my-5-interrogation-outcomes

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/164133610487/developing-my-chosen-outcome

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/164153686192/near-the-end

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/164153984642/final-interrogation-outcome

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/164650802722/project-marks-and-reflective-writing

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/165745793392/get-a-book-out-will-ya

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/166441175837/mandatory-post-1

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/165745921127/brainstorming-areas-of-interest

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/166442477357/mandatory-post-2

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/165746133132/decisions-decisions

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/165746450532/trip-to-the-library

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/165746783037/polynesian-navigation-research-my-interest-in

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/165746879237/dancing-from-the-heart-ctec500-peumaori-ura

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/165942621787/patterns-of-the-past-written-by-john-utanga-and

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/165942902937/pacific-navigation-and-voyaging-written-by-ben

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/165942993087/dancing-from-the-heart-written-by-kalissa

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/165943261622/sub-links

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/165943531592/coming-up-with-an-overall-link

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/165944311422/overall-connection-and-starting-the-final

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/165933137127/final-post-get-a-book-out-will-ya

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/166440198557/instagram-life-logging

https://aimatapittmanbct.tumblr.com/post/166443123162/ip01-and-ip02-reflections

Instagram Account

[aimatapittmanbct-blog]

#IP01 and #IP02 Reflections

This paper has been quite different from what I thought Creative Technologies would be like. Though at first I didn’t quite understand what the point of it was, looking back at the projects and what we’ve done I have summed up what I think the point of each assignment was.

#IP01 I think the first assignment was to get us to look at things differently. To push the boundaries of what people would normally do with everyday objects and come up with an outcome that uses methods of a creative technologists. I personally had trouble at the start of this project as I didn’t know what to use for an object, but found that I came to enjoy thinking outside the box and playing with different ways to interrogate objects. I think that this forced us to creatively think about what to do and what methods to use. And in the end enjoyed seeing how everyone else interpreted this project and seeing their outcomes.

#IP02 This project took me some time to start (I admit that procrastination was my enemy here once again) I found publications that I was interested in and got it done. The point here was fairly obvious, to find connections and synergies between areas that we were interested in. But I feel that I needed practice in this area anyways. And it brought back the idea of creatively thinking. How could I connect these? Since most people I think that had I found my publications and read them earlier I could have found a better connection and used the time to incorporate different subjects rather than just subjects from my culture.

[aimatapittmanbct-blog]

Instagram Life Logging

At the start of IP, Laurent asked us to use other social media sites to “life log”. Recording anything and everything we were working on so I started an Instagram account specifically for Life Logging in BCT. I use this account to record work not just for IP but for Physical Computing and Studio work as well. Here are my posts for Integrative Practice:

Instagram Account

I found that this account has helped me not only record my work but to get used to showcasing my work to others.

[aimatapittmanbct-blog]

Prototype Update

The boys managed to get the prototype working today. We tested 2 scenarios one with holes in the box and one without. Basically, we drilled holes into the side of the container because we needed the air flow to create the vortex. It worked pretty well both ways, now we need to think about how to contain the smoke properly. Then look at dimensions for the final container. Testing is a bit hard in studio because we don’t have a way to contain the smoke, so all testing has to be done at home.

First Test w/ container, fan and battery.

Second test w/ holes drilled into container.

Compared to the pace we were going at during our last project idea, this one is coming along way faster. The first prototype is done and has been tested. Our message behind the project has been finalised and we are working on how we’re going to be conveying this to the audience without too much explanation. Sangeeta mentioned that the presentation should be related to the idea or we lose the value behind it. The work has been divided between us (what we know needs to be done). We’re on track to having this done pretty soon so that we can develop ideas further.

Photo credit: Shades @hauntedmarket

[aimatapittmanbct-blog]

Giving our project Value

A key part to making a good project is giving it value or having a core message behind it. Our group was struggling with this and that was the reason for the change in project ideas.

With our new project, there will be a smoke tornado formed and controlled by the intensity of your voice. This connects to violence and bullying and the affect it can have on people. The intensity of the tornado represents how yelling and abuse can affect a person emotionally. For example, the more intense the tornado the worse they are feeling etc.

Talking to Sangeeta really got us thinking about deeper meanings behind everything that we do. Today’s feedback:

She also talked about dividing up the work so we can each work on something instead of all concentrating on prototyping (what we were originally doing). But we haven’t really had a chance to figure out all the details of what needs to be done as we just came up with the change in yesterday’s class. For now, Rachael and I will be working on the aesthetics and presentation and the boys will be working on the prototype. But these aren’t set roles, we’ll be going in between areas as we move forward.

[aimatapittmanbct-blog]

Change of  ideas...

Today we decided to change our final project idea based on a change in connecting concept. We will still be using the dry ice and smoke idea. But this time we will be using voice activated fans (based on how loud or soft you speak into the mic) to create a tornado inside the case/box. This stemmed from the idea of how anger and rage can affect a person (Bullying and Violence). The angrier someone gets, they tend to shout louder and if you’re happy you tend to speak in a nicer softer tone. The voice controls the intensity of the tornado inside the box (the louder and more aggressive the tone, the more intense the tornado etc.) So, after testing the smoke tornado, we’ll consider how we’ll incorporate the colour as that was a topic brought up after thinking about specifics of the project. At the moment, we’re sticking with the projection idea, but will do some research into other options.

I think this change came from the chat we had with James last week about the containment of the smoke. Then we found some YouTube videos of a guy that did experiments with fire tornados in a glass cylinder.

Everyone in our team seems to be inspired by this idea change and as a result, are more motivated to get things done! We have our first prototype of this idea on the way and will hopefully be done by tomorrow. But more research will need to be done to get everything into the final stages.

I think we’re cutting it a bit close with the switching up of our project ideas, but I feel that it’s not too late to be able to pull it off. If we had come up with this next week, I don’t think we would have enough time to get everything done. Since the change today, there has been quite a bit of idea building and we have a connection to this idea that wasn’t quite there with our last one.

[aimatapittmanbct-blog]

Final Post: Get a Book Out Will Ya!

Google Doc Link: Connections Essay

Index (All posts)

Project Brief 

Brainstorming Areas of Interest

5 Chosen Topics

Trip to the Library

Life logging on Instagram: Post 1 + Post 2 + Post 3 + Post 4 + Post 5

Book Reviews: Patterns of the Past,  Pacific Navigation and Voyaging,  Dancing From the Heart

Sub-links

Overall Link Ideas

Before the Final

Reflection 

When we were given the brief and description of this second project, I thought it was fairly straight forward. But as I got through the publications and onto the next step where we had to find connections, I found it quite difficult. The reason being that there were quite a few sub links, but I couldn’t find a link that related to all my subject areas. In the end, I ended up leaving out 2 of my subjects and just connecting the left over 3. But I feel that this was a good decision because I was able to write an effective essay with a strong connection between my subjects. I realise that by taking out 2 subjects I would probably get points deducted but I felt it was necessary as they didn’t quite fit. I’m glad that I was able to find a connection between Tattoos and Patterns, Cook Island Dancing and Polynesian Voyaging without connecting it directly through culture. But am not sure whether I have done enough.

[aimatapittmanbct-blog]

Overall Connection and starting the final

Overall Connection: How things change over time due to modern influences?

Thinking about connection between my five subjects, I took notes on important points I felt were important for the essay. Also to make sure I didn’t forget anything while writing. Taking advice from the lecturers, I try to carry my notebook with me everywhere, so I can note down all my random thoughts throughout the day.

I found that I had quite a few good points that would surely turn out to be a lot of content so I thought about how I would present my findings and connections across the chosen topics. Seeing as art in one of my main interests, my go to was a visual installation or poster. The idea would be to draw symbols of each topic in the form of an old traditional motif and somehow link them together in a full Polynesian design. But I felt that this didn’t communicate all the points that I wanted to talk about.

So, I thought the best option for me was to write an essay.

While writing the essay, I found that the content I had on Emotions and Astronomy didn’t have as strong a connection as the other 3 to my overall link (change over time due to modern/Western influences). And as a result, I have taken them out of the final essay and just gone with Traditional Patterns and Tattoos, Polynesian Navigation and Cook Island dancing. I’m aware that these subjects all stem from one culture, and this is what I said I wouldn’t do in the beginning. But I feel that the connection I have chosen fits the remaining three subjects best.

[aimatapittmanbct-blog]

Coming up with an overall link

The first link that comes to mind is Culture. But as I mentioned in an earlier post, I wanted my overall link to be something other than culture. So I thought deeper into the subject areas and thought of connecting them by emotions, seeing as it was the one subject I chose that related to almost all the other subject areas. But I couldn’t find anything in my publications that would link emotions to astronomy, star constellations or anything related to that.

Because one of my interests is art, I decided to try to come up with some sort of way to connect the subjects through art forms. But when listing possible connections, I didn’t have much content.

The next link I thought of using was movement, as each of these subjects moves/changes in some sort of way. Stars, they are constantly moving. Canoes are constantly moving etc. So following this line of thinking, I thought of something that also connected my subject areas which was movement or change over time!

I then went through to list possible content for my essay and found there was a lot I could talk about in terms of the change when interacting or mixing with modern society.

[aimatapittmanbct-blog]

Sub-links

While going over each of my topics I decided it would be helpful to draw a little map to show sub connections between them and recorded brief notes on what those connections were.

1. Astronomy 2. Polynesian Navigation and Voyaging 3. Emotions  4. Traditional Patterns and Tattoos  5. Dancing (Cook Island)

1. Astronomy

Navigation and Voyaging - Navigating by the stars - Constantly moving…??

Patterns - Star constellations are patterns

2. Polynesian Navigation and Voyaging

Astronomy - Navigating by the stars - Constantly moving…?

Patterns - Following patterns of nature to get to destination - Essentially following patterns in the sky at night (star constellations)

3. Emotions

Dancing - Used to convey emotion - Can bring out emotions in people

Astronomy - Star signs at different times of the year can change your mood/emotions

Navigation - Mental strength to endure long voyages out at sea

4. Traditional Tattoos and Patterns

Emotions - Tattoos can have emotional value to the person

Astronomy - Star constellations are patterns in the sky essentially

5. Cook Island Dancing

Emotions - Book talks about dancing bringing out happiness (Dancing from the heart) - Movements evoke certain emotions

Patterns - Performances normally have a set flow or pattern

Navigation and Voyage - Normally there is a welcome and farewell ceremony for the vaka when it leaves and returns

[aimatapittmanbct-blog]

Dancing from the Heart - written by Kalissa Alexeyeff

At first reading through this book, I thought it wasn’t really about the techniques and dancing in the Cook Islands as it was a papa’a lady’s insight and experience with locals and the culture. But as I got through it, I realised she was interviewing and retelling stories as well as telling her own. And in the middle of all this there was information on the women and men’s technique and dancing style as well as what we refer to as laelae. (But that’s another story in itself).

The book captures the essence of Cook Island dancing in the most authentic way, living, working and practicing with the locals. Very interesting take on the nightlife, cultural celebrations and gender roles in the Cook Island performing and working community.

[aimatapittmanbct-blog]

Pacific Navigation and Voyaging - written by Ben R. Finney

In the beginning of the book the author talks about how the pacific methods of navigation haven’t been properly proven (in his and other Western researcher’s findings) and he was determined to get authentic results by not using his methods and tools while with Pacific navigators. He recorded what happened throughout the voyage and what he learned and saw from the other voyagers about Celestial Navigation and following the patterns of the waves and presence of native birds or sea life.

Though the book wasn’t based on cultures that I’m familiar with, it showed how similar the methods of different Polynesian people were in terms of voyaging and navigation. The way the use the signs of nature to navigate the ocean has always been an interest of mine growing up. Mostly because my dad is a voyager on the Tahitian, Hawaiian and Cook Island Vakas. It was also cool to test what I knew against what the Puluwat and Saipan islanders did during their voyage.

For more information and resources about Polynesian navigation, I found the site www.hokulea.com to be very helpful with providing different types of publications on the topic.

[aimatapittmanbct-blog]

Patterns of the Past - written by John Utanga and Therese Mangos

The retelling of history in this book by the Cook Islands own, Therese Mangos and John Utanga is one of the most insightful and accurate books I’ve read about CI culture. The history of the different motifs, traditions and methods of tātatau exhibited by a wide range of tattoo artists on Rarotonga was interesting for me to see. Their range of styles and knowledge about the art of tatau also shows our links to other cultures in the Pacific eg. Samoa. My knowledge of this subject has been pretty limited despite growing up there, so going through the origins of patterns, motifs and customs sparked my interest. What was also funny to me was that I knew some of the people featured in the book, and some of them I recognised by the tattoos alone. But the main objective I thought was to show that this part of CI culture is not lost or forgotten by the people, in fact it is being revived and becoming more popular.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZlcLbP43CY