February 21, 2024

For Contextual Practice today, all Foundation students were required to go to Kings Cross for a workshop. Here, we worked with clay to create a mini sculpture inspired by research done for our FMP concepts. I decided to focus on the idea of "technopoly" and how technology fundamentally changes everything about our lives in ways we don't even realize.

My clay sculpture is shown on the right. The sphere in the center symbolizes humanity and everything about it; including things such as truth, politics, art, education, and intelligence. The thin strip of clay that is supported by two pillars above the sphere is a symbol of a giant screen. This screen is a metaphor for all forms and types of technology in the world. Even aside from physical technology such as phones, transportation, and machinery, technology also includes things such as language, tools, and products. The multiple little particles that sit atop the screen symbolize all the aspects of humanity that permeate through this screen of technology. Everything that we experience today is influenced by at least one type of technology; therefore, fundamentally changing how we perceive reality. Everything that reaches us goes through the 'screen'.

Afterward, I attended a lecture given by multiple current CSM students and alumni who are currently working in new intriguing ways within their practices. I was particularly drawn to the fashion communication speakers, Hannah Coen and Sophie Stalder. They gave valuable insight into new tools to use for fashion communication such as making your own AI generator or Midjourney. I feel that this is very valuable for me as I also enjoy fashion communication alongside fashion design. I will attempt to use them in future projects or personal projects as well.

Going forward, I feel that I need to develop my concept further as it is still quite broad. Technopoly is such a wide topic as technology affects us in so many areas of our lives. I feel that I should narrow it down to one way it affects humanity. One idea that I feel can be strong and one that I can channel strong emotions into is how we have become desensitized to catastrophic things happening in the media due to constant exposure to new issues every day. I feel that the younger generation has this urge to fight for justice and those who are on the receiving end of society's worst actions; however, since we see these negative things happening every day in the media/online and with new movements and protests happening every day; it is very difficult to "pick and choose your battles". One naturally becomes numb to such catastrophic happenings and eventually results in things such as dark humor or escapist actions that result from this continuous darkness in our lives.

Reflection

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