Intimacy at distance, a tech quest

Block Seminar Design Theory 2nd semester

Lecturer:
Dr. Joëlle Bitton

The module takes place over 1 week, from 8th to 12th of February 2021, from Monday to Friday, 9.15-17.00 online.

Topic

You may have first read the description of this course on an intranet service or on an email. You have been learning mostly online at least for the past six-eight months, likely on Zoom and may have even used a co-working platform such as a Miro board. You are using WhatsApp or Instagram or Facebook and many other communication apps on a daily basis. This is how you are in touch with your friends, lovers, family… Maybe you even consider yourself “addicted”.

How did we get here? Over the past twenty years, the tech industry has built an infrastructure of communicating at distance and of sharing the most intimate parts of ourselves (even the ones we’re not aware of).

Yet, distant communication interfaces are not new: mail - via horse, train, air and more recently, the telephone have played essential roles in the construction of our interactions. And just as the emergence of the phone and the networks in the 19th century enhanced our communication models, the Internet and its palette of services accommodate distance in our daily relations. Each of these systems have set a range of social behaviours that frame our expectations and boundaries. And with every service, we discover how they can allow us to be in a greater mode of intimacy with each other.

Objectives of the course

The aim of the seminar is to reflect on the ways communication and interaction interfaces have modelled our lives and our expectations of relations at distance. We will look at historical case studies, at the field of human connectedness and at how intimacy, sex, friendships, daily conversations are choreographed by online experiences. The seminar is structured as on-going dialogue and the students will work on certain questions each day. In the end, a short essay & a web app experience should be created to showcase an interpretation of the topic.

Structure

The class will be structured around discussions, lectures, presentations of film and literature materials and in-class exercises.

This course will address:

• the affordance of distance for relationships,
•  the field of human connectedness in human-computer interaction
• the ways communities build up around networks 
• the data that is generated and that commodify our conversations

Deliverables

• Assignment 1 (for Tuesday 9.2):
  • Reading response notes: short remarks should be written on the papers provided that capture learning points and possible critiques. See Literature section for the papers.
  • Postcard 
  • Watch S. Turkle Ted Talk (see below in references)
• Assignment 2 (for Wednesday 10.2): 
  • Reading response notes: short remarks should be written on the papers provided that capture learning points and possible critiques. See Literature section for the papers.
  • Pick 3-4 examples of distant communication project or situation (in art, design, game, pop culture, politics, etc) and prepare to present them

• Final Work: The format and platform of the final outcome is decided together with the students- at the moment I would favour TikTok. It will be an online representation of your ideas (possibly 1-page website, video, or use of hosting platform, written essay, filmed performance, games, new object). Preferably individual work (the works can be in connection with one another). Your work needs to be in adequacy with the intention and the process. The collection of works from each student will constitute together an online exhibition.
  • +150 words to give context to the piece.
  • 2-3 mn presentation : why you made it, how it relates to the topic
  • fields of application: ...
  • the ideas could represent your position on a topic above or on a case study discussed in class, your new proposal, or your interpretation of an issue
  • potential audience: ...

• Final presentation on Friday 12.2 afternoon online.

Expectations and Gradings

Grades will be based on exercises, class participation and final work. 
Contributing to constructive group feedback is an essential aspect of class participation. 
Regular attendance of 80% is required. Arriving late on more than one occasion will also affect the grade.

Final work 50% 

Exercises/reading assignments 30% 

Class participation 20% 

Any assignment that remains unfulfilled receives a failing grade.  

Timetable