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September 22, 2005

Maps of Practice

Posted by Luke Wood at 03:37 PM

September 15, 2005

Generative Metaphor

Following lastnight's whinge I got to thinking about my focus, the subject, and the object of my research. I think my problem is partly that when I'm 'making' work ó designing ó I lose sight of the bigger picture and focus on the artefact. I kind of like the idea that my research centers around the artefact, form, and craft. But, it's obviously important that as a 'research' project, the production of artefacts goes some way to developing the thesis.

So in response I think I've been placing way too much importance on the Monster (and/or the Manifesto). I think they're important 'parts' of the research but not the object or subject of it? I thought more about the diagram in the post below (7th September), in which I was essentially thinking the same thing . . . pulling my focus out to see the bigger picture. The Monster and the Manifesto as part of a bigger topic. I tried to revisualise it this morning (and this is intentionally simplistic) . . .

In the process of trying to write the manifestoes for monstrosity I inevitably got more interested in the general idea of metaphor. It's not something I know a lot about or have ever actively engaged. As I mentioned previously I was thrown by Lisa's use of it in regard to design practice/process last year. Due to the nature of my topic of late I've been much more aware of metaphor in daily usage. I guess I notice it a little more, it's so pervasive in day to day language and thought. I've been thinking quite a bit about the recent Creationist hi-jacking of 'Design', and how so many metaphors either lock into, or can be built around, notions of designing. I'm wondering if this might be the subject of my research? More specifically how metaphor works in relation to practitioner research? I've come across the term "Generative Metaphor" in reading about Donald Schon, but must admit I have done much to chase it up yet. It does intrigue me though . . . what does he think this is? Generative of what? I guess I like the idea that my manifestoes for monstrosity might work as generative metaphors . . .

Posted by Luke Wood at 08:35 AM | Comments (2)

September 14, 2005

Fuck the map [crisis continued]

This is what I've been working on in response to the "Frankenstein Manifesto". I thought I'd start with that one cause I had it the most 'sorted' in my head. I enjoyed the process of making this in the beginning (last week), but by today I'm feeling totally fucking lost and am wondering what the fuck I'm doing!? I'm becoming increasingly frustrated by the fact that I have absolutely nobody here to talk to about my research ó all this shit just bounces around in my own head, and ocassionally gets regurgitated onto this blog . . . I'm pissed off and I can't wait to get the fuck out of Christchurch.

This doesn't photograph very well I'm afraid . . . but thought I'd put some images of the evolving map on here and think about why this is or isn't working . . .

In no particular order . . .


1. One good thing that happened was that I modified (added to) the manifesto, and I guess maybe I could focus on that . . . the 'work' exists or is MADE to push the manifesto, and perhaps the outcome ñ the artefact, just doesn't matter that much?

1.2 Another thing I like about this is the 'model' aspect, that it exists in space (why it doesn't photograph). I enjoyed making it (to begin with). I like the tape and the shadows . . . the loose ends and connections I was looking for?
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2. I think maybe the thing I'm struggling with the most is the generation of content . . . and it's all getting very confusing. What IS this a map of? Currently nothing! I started out with the idea of mapping my relationship with Anna as a joke really. And I started making the map with a good deal of humour involved . . . which I think is apparent through my cameo in tiger print underpants?

2.1 Going with the manifesto's requirement that I choose parts more or less randomly I wasn't worrying much about the 'content' in the beginning, and very quickly the map had very little to do with my relationship with Anna. I decided this didn't matter. Fuck the content the Monster is about form*. Searching for a new style. The Monster is about delivery.

2.2 I can't just stick shit on randomly though!? I think I'm torn between it being a 'Picture' or an actual 'Diagram', if you know what I mean.

2.3 Initially I wanted the content to be completely seperate to the research topic ñ as though it was just a design job someone else had given me. I'm having trouble divorcing the two.

2.4 I want this to be a Design research project not an Art one.
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3. I'm still doubting the value of this whole fucking topic! I don't whether I should just try and work through it? Or shift my focus? It doesn't FEEL RIGHT. I know that sounds childish, but hopefully someone gets what I mean? I feel like I'm flogging a dead horse . . . this all feels very similar to what I was doing at this time last year with the Elvis cushions. A year down the track and no progress!? Fuck.

3.1 I think what feels most wrong about this is that it is so formal* ñ I mean in the sense that it is mostly stylistic ó you could say Process I guess, but toward formal outcomes, . . . delivery. It's not to say that form doesn't interest me, it does. I just feel like there needs to be 'more' . . . ? (Could this be where the manifesto comes in). What is my Object? What is my Subject?
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4. I would really like to make my work on The National Grid my research. It doesn't have shit all to do with the 'Monstrosity/Metaphor/Manifesto' topic though.

Posted by Luke Wood at 08:18 PM | Comments (5)

September 07, 2005

31. Crisis. Writing . . . ?

Today is my 31st birthday. I think it's related that I've been quite stressed out over the last couple of weeks? Where the hell has my life gone? What am doing etc? I don't want to bore anyone with the details of my petty anxiety though. What I wanted to talk about here was what I thought about last night . . . I totally freaked out about my research topic. It all of a sudden seemed so shallow, self indulgent, and 'formal' (in the respect that it is essentially about aesthetics) (I think!?). I tried to convince myself that it was bigger than I realised, multifaceted perhaps . . . I tried to visualise it, seeing the monster metaphor as the centre of a bigger research question. I drew it . . .

I felt much happier having drawn this, and I came home from the office feeling a little better. Tim cooked a roast.

Lying in bed ó having eaten too much too late ó I couldn't sleep. I thought about a whole lot of stuff, mainly about getting older and seeing my peers owning houses, having kids, etc . . . but then (and I'm not sure how this relates exactly, but I'm sure it does) I got back to thinking about my research topic (my own investment in a future perhaps)!

I'm trying to recall the connections . . . I remember I talked to Aaron about his essay yesterday. He's not enjoying writing it, and said he can't wait till next year when he'll only have to 'make work' (that's how Masters works at Canterbury). I said how I'd liked writing, and actually not made much work yet for my own Masters. Malcolm's criticised me for this too . . . always reading and writing and not 'working'.

Lying awake in bed I remembered Laurene catching a glimpse of my workbook last time I was in Melbourne. She mentioned that it was interesting that it was full of writing, that there were no sketches, drawings, or whatever, and I started thinking about the amount of writing I've done since the beginning of last year. I've never really written much before, but last year early on into my research I wrote what was supposed to be a book review that turned into an article on 'appropriation', my topic at the time. Since then I seem to have written a lot . . . other articles, seminars, manifestoes, notes in my workbook, and of course this blog. So it occured too me that this was potentially an interesting thread in my research, Writing?

I don't think I'm necessarily 'good' at it, but I don't think that's important. Why does it bug other people, and reciprocally me, that I'm writing MORE than I am 'designing'? Why am I enjoying writing? Why don't more designers write? Is it because, supposedly, we don't read? My own writing has certainly come with a huge increase in my reading.

I started thinking about The National Grid. Whatever we might say about it, it is, fundamentally a project for writing. I thought about how it was really easy to engage people (designers) initially with the project, ie. everyone thinks it's a great idea. But then how hard it's been to actually get people to contribute? Even in a brief and non-commital way ó through the blog.

So what I'm really wondering here is . . . a change in topic!? Am I crazy? Is this just a pathetic mid-life crisis. It doesn't feel 'wrong' though, in that it doesn't feel like a HUGE change . . . just a different focus on what I've already been doing. And isn't that what good practitioner research is?

The last thing I want to say about it all is this; I feel like the Monster Metaphor topic can only go so far, or reach a certain level. I feel like I can see where it's going. The Writing/Design topic, I think, has a lot more potential to 'go further' (what do I mean by that?), and maybe it's more in sync with the direction my practice/life is heading. Maybe it's a Doctorate though . . . I need to remember that this is 'just a Masters'.

If you've read this far, I'm sorry. But it is my birthday.

Posted by Luke Wood at 11:58 AM | Comments (1)

September 06, 2005

El Dorado, Colonisation, my first metaphor

I've had this old biscuit box sitting on a shelf behind me for about a year now, Anna gave it to me last year with a collection of smaller 'presents' inside. I've been looking at old maps, one 'The World by John Speed, 1627' I'd scanned in and planned to use because I thought I'd bought it from a second hand store with Anna when we first met. Apparently I was wrong though, it must have been the girl I was seeing previously? Anyway obviously the El Dorado biscuit box took on some new resonance for me in relation to my current research (tangent) . . . old maps, sea monsters, conquistadors . . . (maybe I'll also mention that I had a Spanish girlfriend for a long time, and when we lived in Spain together I was quite fascinated by the Conquistadors). Subsequently I've remembered my first trip to Melbourne, and when Keith, Neal, and I went out for dinner with Lisa and she asked us (over a few drinks) to suggest metaphors that we thought described our practices. I was really stumped and didn't give it a shot until the drive back from the restaurant, but my answer was something about ships, travelling by sea, and colonising foreign countries? I think I vaguely remember saying something about enjoying loading the ships to leave, or maybe it was that I felt like I was 'packing' to leave then . . . I can't quite remember, but I'm always slightly spooked by that kind of realisation. You think you've moved so far away, but you're still there . . .

I think El Dorado's quite significant here. Searching for something that doesn't exist?

Also I'm really interested in exaggeration in relation to monstrosity, and the aspirational name of this assortment of biscuits is just too good.

Posted by Luke Wood at 12:50 PM | Comments (2)

Dangerous Maps

"Maps have long been seen as a security risk: they provide valuable information that may, like any information, be used for malevolent purposes. Early modern kingdoms feared the consequences of one of their maps falling into their enemiesí hands. More recently, the Soviet Union regularly published misinformation on its official maps as a security measure: a sensitive location or installation could be moved or left off the map altogether. I was reminded of this when I read this Washington Post story about a George Mason University graduate student whose thesis research ó which apparently maps the entire American fibre-optic network, but the paper is being unsurprisingly imprecise about it ó is getting attention for its potential to be exploited by terrorists as a map of sensitive points in the U.S. infrastructure. The government wants to classify his research; the student is worried about finishing his degree."

I got this from someone else's blog (http://www.mcwetboy.net/maproom/2003_07_01_archive.phtml), thought it was interesting in relation to the use of monsters on map to scare or discourage people from venturing in a certain direction . . . . in particular the idea of publishing mis-information.

Posted by Luke Wood at 10:46 AM

September 02, 2005

First Manifestoes for Monstrosity

The first monstrous manifesto . . . manifestoes for 5 types of monsters here, some work better than others . . . the Vampire in particular has been hard. I've been trying to write this for two weeks now ó I thought it'd take a day! I decided not make work at the same time because I think I would have been unfocused about what I was doing. This manifesto is NOT FINISHED . . . yes it is, I said that it would be finished at whatever state it was in today . . . I think the thing is the way I was going it wouldn't ever be finished. Of course I'm thinking about Mau's "Incomplete mannifesto", but what I think I want to state here is that this should be read as a very first, very naive, very simplistic draft. I wanted to say it was finished today so that I can sit down over the next few weeks and MAKE WORK from the manifestoes . . . then I'm planning to revisit and rewrite each manifesto.

Download file

So, maybe I'll just call it unresolved . . . a monster itself perhaps, although its not scarey enough yet. I'm hoping when I try to make the maps, based on each manifesto, I'll figure out more precisely what exactly each monster 'is', or is standing in for. One thing I hate about it as it is ó the language! I'd want to write these more poetically, in the style of evangelism, and really draw some of the metaphors out (to breaking point). I've tried to keep it simple, brief and clear here because I'm still trying to figure this out myself . . .

Also, it's occured to me that I might design/write each manifesto based on what it implies . . . but I'm also really keen on the map idea. Kinda like to do both . . . time, time, time . . .

I'm putting this here because I'd really appreciate some feedback people. Been stuck in my little room too long.

Posted by Luke Wood at 01:30 PM | Comments (1)