To design an App that facilitates conceptual design with a balance of technical, social and environmental functionality...
As a software designer I have a financial motivation to design functional, saleable software, while as a situated human being subject position I have an ecological/social (strategic/communicative) motivation to ensure the potential natural/inherent freedoms of the user are not excluded/hidden from them by the technology focus and motivation to drive the problem definition in terms of the technical solution I am offering & platform I am designing for(i.e. that the help system/design are changed to balance/compensate for this)
(the hope being that the users exercise their choice in a more transparent context )
The App I have been and will be designing offers a practical method(ology) that enables balanced design solutions
(See randomexplorers.com for 2013 update....)
there is an app out there now "Serendipitor" which seems quite good and I respect the maker for their bravery, its difficult to recommend something one has not tested oneself, sufficient to say, if you try it, take sensible precautions and take someone with you at first.
I am at present working on an app called a Contextualiser that facilitates design and complementary discussion and is mentioned on the blog.
May 2012
I am refocusing my questions on the specific: documentation/help system that supports a mobile app I am designing that facilitates random journeying:
Q1 Is it about the topic - or the tool ( a mobile tool)?
A: There is a contrast between the professional concern of designing a software app for an 'evolving technological platform' and the human emancipatory drive to offer a liberating tool that introduces and popularizes an alternative to our trained patterns of movement...I am attempting to bridge this divide...
Post Marxist- Habermas
How does Instrumental rationality colonise / the space for discussion of Randomness/Random Journeying
As such how am I contributing to this colonization via the design/marketing of such a product and how can I compensate for/avoid this?
Re
Post Structural
What is the positive/negative academic discourse around randomness/random journeying
Public discourse
Subject positions, Exclusion/Binary oppositions
A concern with construction in the context of free space this is based linguistic constructivism.
More dimensions are acknowledged
What is the current popular view: is the tool a specialist academic tool (Derive support)) or popular?
Does it have different modes:
How am I excluding subject positions/fixing them via my design and language in documentation?
What is the current popular view: is the tool a specialist academic tool (Derive support)) or popular?
Does it have different modes:
How am I excluding subject positions/fixing them via my design and language in documentation?
Derrida in Shapiro: Exclusion
Post Marxist /Post Structural - Massumi
How does individual choose / access potential movements of value (emancipation) (expressive flows) (Collective Earth based emergence) in the context of the capitalist dynamic (flows) of perceived affordance, and market forces/digital systems moulding roles/subject positions
My position shifts back to one that acknowledges humanist aims / and emancipation but grounded in an earth centered source of multidimensional emergent flow. (c.f Heylighen: The emerging global brain)
(c.f. Hall/Douglas Classification Systems)
* Stuart Hall (1997) "The Spectacle of the 'Other'," in Stuart Hall (Ed.) Representations. Cultural Representations and Signifying Practices. London: Sage and The Open University, pp. 223-279
This could be theoretically coded re:
Derrida: (See Shapiro) noting the exclusion practices and offering complementary documentation/options to the standard high tech package
Massumi: Enasuring the users options for 'Affect' are not excluded by designed affordance (Norman)
Davies and Harre : Subject positions
The Social Construction of Emergence: Exploring the the academic and public medias discourse on space for accessing emergence.
Concerning the social distribution of perspectives on a phenomenon or process (Flick 2002 p185)
Working Questions:
Re A Discourse analysis of the Academic Discussion of Derive - a part of the PHd text of Garrett B "Place Hacking -Tales of Urban Exploration" could be used,
this is 'Urban Exploration' but he relates it to Derive .
Post Structural
What is the positive/negative academic discourse around randomness/random journeying
Public discourse
Subject positions, Exclusion/Binary oppositions
A concern with construction in the context of free space this is based linguistic constructivism.
More dimensions are acknowledged
Post Marxist- Habermas
How does Instrumental rationality colonise / the space for discussion of Randomness/Random Journeying
Marxist
How does capitalist ideology restrict access to / frame randomness/random journeying
Post Marxist - Massumi
Emergence <> constructivism, immanence of quality
How does individual choose / access potential movements of value (emancipation) (expressive flows) (Collective Earth based emergence) in the context of the capitalist dynamic (flows) of perceived affordance, and market forces/digital systems moulding roles/subject positions
My position shifts back to one that acknowledges humanist aims / and emancipation but grounded in an earth centered source of multidimensional emergent flow.
Complex theoretical Issues: (Jan-Feb 2012)
Re :Why a Random Research Collective ? (Inclusive) (c.f academic community)
Is there a need for intuitive random system to unpredictably fail to maintain inclusivity ?
why bounded ownership of competitively effective/ineffective stochastic intuition can never be at a level that promotes exclusive comparative value with pattern matching in sustainably inclusive democratic system? (because of potential for automated random success leading to exclusivity)
c.f (inverted evolutionary theory?) Animalsa perfect instinct as perfectly random? humans choose to block the randomness with order
Else tendency to fix population of exclusive (e.g. economic) winners based on improvisational identifiacation... eg fashion gods?
Need for eBe to ensure inclusion via faliure of exclusive clubs eg corporations they must fail at modeling and randomness unless inclusive... e.g. re "Syntience
Meta rule... but noise inclusion randomness still essential
But pattern matching can be mechanised... so no perfect copying or random intuitive identification that leads to exclusion....
eBa
why effective stochastic intuition must never be at a level that promotes exclusive comparative value (either way) with pattern matching in a democratic improviser
systems level problem? the eBe ensures maintenance of inclusion via changing the incidents of random effectiveness in specific contexts although probabilities can be established over generalized contexts over time e.g. Galton
(this is a maths theoretical issue in one sense but definitional political in another > acceptance of failure for all sometimes is necessary?)
Topic:
My interest is in the conditions that enable creativity:
This need a context/motivation to have meaning:
Context:As a human being I have a motivation to reduce the suffering and maintain/increase peace, health and happiness of my self and my loved ones. I have some limited experience of spiritual (mostly Buddhist practise), enough to realise that I need to acknowledge that at some level there is no-essential self, and also there is a collective source, (dependent origination). I associate this with our shared planet as a performative entity.
Topic 1. Is concerned with the following definition of creativity:
"Bringing autonoumous concepts, values and World Views (patterns of action/reproduction) into critical awareness, discussing them, and experimenting with alternatives."
Topic 2: Is based on an assumed valid exploration of the "self organising dynamics of complex systems" (Swimme)
It is concerned with exploring constructs of / discourse around : "Random Expressive Flow" and its relation to construct/discourse of "Rationality" (Valid experiments)
The Context is my concern with Inclusivity <> Exclusivity
These need to be rephrased in terms of the Paradigms I am comparing:
eg Dialectical MArx, Discourse (Foucault/Fairclough), Communicative + Strategic Rationality (Habermas),
Geneology of Concepts ?(Derrida, Deconstruction), Constructs+Constructivism (Kelly),
Discourse Public? Local? Uni?
Deconstruction could possibly utilise the approach of
Deconstructing Cartesian Dualisms of Western Racialized Systems : A Study in the Colors Black and White Theresa H. Pfeifer
Journal of Black Studies 2009
I'm interested in opinions the University of Lecturers/ Students re space for emergent creative process(ref), and it's potentially inclusive roots in a "creative commons"(Planet Earth)(ref Delanda), in the context of a 'distinction' and 'critical rationality' oriented academic institution? (discourse oriented institution'?) (ref ), and the attempts to of Derrida and Habermas, Foucault to extend rationality(Feb2011)
Question Update May 2011
1. Habermas : Extended Rationality Communicative Discourse
2. Foucault: Madness Excluded, Carceral Gulag, Docile Bodies: Types of 'Walk' : Safe and excluded walks. Digital Panopticism
3. Deleuze: The Planet as Creative Source. De-territorialisation
4. Giddens - Structuration Balance Reproduction & Creation
I have an interest in exploring views on certain concepts,
"Random Expressive Flow" (comparable with 'stream of conciousness' ), "Univocity"(Deleuze) ?
especially regarding their boundaries and inclusivity complexity, mystification, inclusivity of dialectic, levels of type re their contribution to the creative process.
especially regarding their boundaries and inclusivity complexity, mystification, inclusivity of dialectic, levels of type re their contribution to the creative process.
1. How do lecturers balance applying critical rationality (re institutional accreditation/representation/reproduction( with providing opportunities for appreciation of "random flow" facilitating potential emergence .. (inclusive<>exclusive) ( In the Art dept + another) ?
2. a Views of Lecturers on how performative improvisation can serve the 'whole system' c.f serving instrumental rationality/ communicative v strategic discourse(Habermas) - ( this links to Eshleman & simple performative-stereotypes (Groningen Conference)) (also Heidigger Althea- Poeisis ( but I feel well out of my depth here at the moment)
b How does the discourse around 'space for creativity' at the university (Dept?) (c.f "random expressive flow & emergence") serve the Strategic Discourse (Habermas) of neo liberalism (Bordieu) / the Communicative Discourse(Habermas) of the global creative commons (Swimme) (too wide/narrow/closed?)
3. A discourse analysis of language re Mediated (Commodified & Unmediated Creativity (Self-Creation (Pope)) in the department (internal market facing) and possibly comparing with the Coop Social Science project (re Context Frame)
4. Do Lecturers (In Dept) feel the Concepts of Deleuze (eg 'Univocity', 'bWo') facilitate creativity via for example offering inclusivity of dialectic or block it via complexity and mystification?
Question update 5th March 2011
Discourse has structure (eg schank ableson), therefore a simple structure could be for example
" you are x.... produce/consume y to become z for several hours... you are x"
such a structure may have inbuilt assumptions such as the only way to become z is to produce/consume y
such a form when normalised in a discourse community may restrict conceptual ,social and physical space that provide possibilities for rationally discussing alternative methods of becoming z and/or experimenting with these alternative methods, perhaps via improvisational techniques, possibly involving focus and identification(eg yoga), and inclusive space for random expressive flow (stream of consciousness) and potential emergence of appropriate forms.
Conditions that enable creativity:
Discourse re Critical Rationality <> Appreciation of Random Expressive Flow
c.f Inclusive Exclusive
Bringing autonomous patterns (distinctions/concepts/values/W's) into awareness and questioning them considering alternatives
In the context of the Society of the Spectacle (DeBord)does the Context frame have potential to act as a balance to Adverts and Media Flow encouraging/normalising an identity of "Spectator" and normalising/mystifying creativity as an elitist endeavour (c.f "random expressive flow" = abnormal) in ? thereby creating /maintaining the divide between the "elite creatives" and the "consumer masses"
creativity: working defn "to identify question and experiment with alternatives to our patterned assignment of values and boundaries"
*"Bringing autonomous? patterns of distinction/thought/practise/discourse into concious awareness (expressing them in language?) and rationally questioning them, discussing them (social) and experimentally trying alternatives (listening)"
Absolute boundaries and polarised rhetoric in the context of the flat plane of post structuralist thought? Hicks (and the performative (groningen))
eg 1 re singing - searching for emergent univocity (cooperative/mutual aspect) as a possibility via appreciating random expressive flow...
Aim: to explore the possibility of realising an increase in experienced mutual (Sustainable) value / quality of life / (happiness)
Explore possible benefits of mutual causality (Buddhist) (Macy)
Giddens?
*******
Critical - Transformative - Post Marxist - Habermas/Deleuze
1. Colonisation of the "Performative Lifeworld" by Instrumental Rationality
The public Discourse on Creativity (potential ideal speech situation) (Habermas) ... is subject to mystification and colonised by instrumental rationality in the form of capital/institutions/ expert interests in the form of language games and norms...
Re male bonding over competition/production/consumption
Response
c.f stratagy <>tactics Certeau
although these systemic influences are rife and dominant there is always the opportunity for tactical responses and creative liberating acts...Conceptually (Deleuze creating concepts). Physically(setting up free spaces) and Socially (social spaces/public groups of discussion/research)
eg
How Creativity is presented in the mass media <> re social networks during uni occupations...2010
Student Dance?/Performance
- Deleuze
re Performative( Capitalism) / Critical
Bridge : Individual Competative Performative <> Collective Emergent Performative Univocity <> Ecology
ReallyOpenUniversity
*******
Relation between Performative/PostStructural & Critical Transformative
Some sort of split
re acknowledgement of potential structural sources of constraint...
eg Ideology Capital Environmental and Social constraints
In context as Performative Language as a means of production..
To mention these/acknowledge in performative sense conjours them into being in the performance?
Pragmatic -Empowerment of individuals ? Epistemology has been abandoned
Different world views
So they are ignored....
What about Ecological Issues...
Some think to mention them is to recreate them (Performative - Individualists - Romantic Dreams?) = Right Wing ?
Some think to ignore them is suicidal-genocidal(Critical-Transformatives) = Left Wing?
What about the emergennt collective performative - eg UNivocity, Everything being Anything? (Social Dreams-Utopias)
Univocity- Eco System - Flocking- Social Networks?
******
My initial concern was with exploring
'Construct Systems' of Individual Students/Staff
and any binary oppositions / complementarity
in relation to their own conception of creative expression
re specific oppositions
"Distinction" - Union
Representational & Performative (Butler)
Knowledge and 'Random Expressive Flow' (my term for intuition)
These need defining more clearly
c.f Instrumental Knowledge/Emancipatory Knowledge etc Habrmas
( My intention was to use a method from Personal Construct Theory ( Rep Grid))
Re : "Poeisis" :Systems that facilitate the exploration of human creative potential. (From DesignMA)
- Context Frame/Tele Frame
- Constructs of "Random Expressive Flow"
- Concepts/Values/W's Metalangauge
- Happy Game - "Relief" - Provoke discussions of happiness - social dynamics - group - Mobile
I attempted to rephrase the question in terms of the Society of the Spectacle:
Possible Question example re context frame& creativeflow
"Re the Society of the Spectacle (De Bord) :Are peoples ability to allow/appreciate Random Expressive Flow reduced/limited by ( implicit assumptions used by media)/advertising messages which (+ normalises passive consumerism (marginalises random expressive flow when sober?) + reifies creative activity and specific identifications onto forms of consumption via overt (celebrity) and subtle ( assumption) means?)
.... therfore (creating/maintaining) gap between elite performers and masses?"
Negative ?- How can this be turned into an empowerment based question?
(also while encouraging spectator/voyerism media encourage worship of " authenticity" and criticism of self as spectator/voyeur? (double bind? (Laing))- while reifying authenticity onto the consumption of alcohol etc - ? (going off topic?)
*** this is a critical stance - how can I write neutrally as an exploration?
***
from
In the context of DeBord (Society of the Spectacle) does the Context frame have potential to act as a balance to Adverts and Media Flow encouraging/normalising an identity of "Spectator" and normalising/mystifying creativity as an elitist endeavour (c.f "random expressive flow" = abnormal) in the public thereby creating /maintaining the divide between the "elite creatives" and the "consumer masses"
This may be inverted in certain subgroups
Also the reification of creative conciousness onto specific forms of consumption via advertising/implicit assumptions in normal discourse (internal/external technologies) (Deleuze?,Foulcault?)
c,f normalising consumption based aided creativity (internal/external technologies - products), abnormalising natural creativity
Re Problem and Opportunity based : relation to Foundations assumptions (ontology)
ReMetalanguage, relation intuitive and knowledge, capitalist/postmodern
Re "Quality envelopes"- re happiness, Sustainable, Duality
Freedom of Expression re Norms and Capitalism, communion? reification
Background:
I developed an interest at Degree level concerning researching/facilitating "willingness to explore alternative perspectives & concept packages." (Value flexibility <> Rationality)
I became interested in concepts of Inherent Organisation, Self-Organising Dynamics & Emergence. and exploring their potential and accessibility via the concept of Random Expressive Flow
>
Researching the means of intersubjective, cultural , institutional/departmental? understanding and facilitating dialog (communicative rationality) in the context of re technical - representational rationality (structure) and the improvisational performative (agency)…
(relate to poetic styles structuralist? research plan : (Classical - Freestyle))
Using concept of "Random Expressive Flow" in(n) the context of potential Self-Organising Dynamics and Emergence. (re psychological types (Jung)
How a state has come about?
Causes-
How maintained
Structure
How soothing changes
Changes process, consequences strategies
How much they confirm assumptions
How they differ from them
How allo discovery of new assumption
eg generative ones
The value of empirical data depends on the formulation of the question
Who included?
What resources?
Flick (2002) p50
