0️⃣ 02 Absurdity

absurd: /əbˈsərd,əbˈzərd/, adjective wildly unreasonable, illogical, or inappropriate.

arousing amusement or derision; ridiculous.

MICROASSIGNMENT 02 REVISED: Students will conduct field research. They begin the day calculating how many contact points they have with electricity throughout the day. For instance, every time they turn on a light in their house, post something on social media, send an email, take an elevator, swipe their metro card, etc... When they begin to realize the immensity of their consumption, (reaching the deep overload of existential crisis that is at the heart of the absurd), they then devise a way to magnify the experience in an absurdist and humorous way, so that another reader, viewer, user could intuitively understand/identify with the crisis. The elevator or the lightbulb is not the problem, the condition of our reliance as "human moving machines" who continue to build more machines to move us and light our way is the basis for the absurdity. CREATE a work, written, animated, drawn, 3D models, etc... that communicates your field research in an absurdist fashion. POST your work on your process blog.

MICROASSIGNMENT 02: "To the guy who invented zero, thanks for nothing (notes on the absurd)" In addition to information on the absurd gleaned today from the Dr. Charlotte Kent's lecture, find an example of "The absurd" in film, VR, music, animation, games, websites or fine art that resonates with you.

Things to consider, based on the absurdity example you research:

1. Why do you feel this work is more than comical, but relevant to the domain of the absurd?

2. Find as much information you can on the creator of this work. Do they have a backstory, a philosophy on the absurd?

3. Discuss the presentation method. Why is it effective? Would it work in another context? Is the technology or presentation method actually an aspect of the absurdity in the work?

This can be an individual or group research project. Be prepared next week to present your findings.

ALL FILES SHOULD BE COPIED INTO YOUR STUDENT FOLDER ON THE CLASS GOOGLE DRIVE HERE.