MPR 09
My project centres around digital dis-embodiment, and the experience of embracing a new (digital) form, quite apart from your physical form.
I am interested in how we are represented (or present ourselves) as bodies in cyberspace and the impact this has on our own identities. I also want to explore the location of the ‘self’ when living the cyber-life.
I am intending to create an interactive web experience, where the User-Viewer is invited on a journey into his/her own sense of being or self… the digital soul.
- I am hoping to use some hi tech software to create a specific effect – a kind of digital mirror – which tracks the face and moves in real-time. I wanted to be able to set this up in a physical space, but also would like to make this a feature on the website. This is proving harder to source than originally anticipated, but I would like to know your feelings on using cutting-edge tech on artwork –
I have concerns on:
a) the technology being fore-grounded rather than the artwork, and
b) how quickly it may look dated…
- The main part of my project is going to be an interactive website with digital figures – though not necessarily avatars. I am determined that it will not have a game-like feel to it, so want to make it more filmic. I am also trying to avoid it becoming another Second Life type experience, and so by making it filmic, I am hoping to avoid it appearing like either of these.
- I am looking into alternative ways of creating the figures – although I have been playing around with Poser recently – it does feel a little formulaic to use these models. I am trying to get away from the typical digital form. Not sure where I am going with this, but appreciate anyone’s thoughts on this…
- One other thing I would like for people to consider, is: when experiencing the digital world (and if you haven’t experienced this previously, if you could indulge me and just imagine that you are partaking in this activity – playing a game online, visiting Second Life, Chatting to friends live, etc.) – where would you locate your ‘self’ and / or soul? -
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- At your computer desk inside your physical form;
- in cyberspace;
- floating around in the ethers;
- in the virtual world inside your digital character…?
I think it is quite easy to dismiss almost immediately that you are anywhere other than at your desk, but take it further, and ‘place’ yourself in the world, chatting to other digital forms, in real-time, with real discussions, and ‘real’ actions and expressions, with actual (digital) locations and possessions… If someone commented on your digital form – would if affect you – would you be flattered, upset?
So, the plan so far: – an interactive website, which creates a journey through which the user-viewer experiences and explores the digital self, where the site is visually more filmic, yet also interactive, rather than a traditional website. Supported by a physical (and hopefully digital) installation utilizing a digital mirroring type of effect.
And that’s the plan…
So far…
