Project 1: Goldbergian


The cartoonist Rube Goldberg (1893 - 1970) is know for his drawings of absurd, complicated machines that perform simple tasks. His name has become synonymous with these artifacts. The Merriam-Webster dictionary states:

Main Entry: Rube Gold·berg
Variant(s): also Rube Gold·berg·i·an
Function: adjective
Etymology: Reuben (Rube) L. Goldberg died 1970 American cartoonist
: accomplishing by complex means what seemingly could be done simply <a kind of Rube Goldberg contraption...with five hundred moving parts -- L. T. Grant>; also : characterized by such complex means

The Wikipedia entry for "Rube Goldberg Machine" provides a good summary of how his ideas have influenced into popular culture. Type "rube goldberg" as a keyword at YouTube or Google Video to see some hobby projects.

While the mechanical complexity of Goldberg's machines has survived into the twenty-first century, the parody of his work has not. Goldberg's machines are viewed most interestingly as a metaphors for absurd mechanisms within society and inherent in technological progress. One of the first uses of the adjective "Rube Goldbergian" was within the Congressional Record. Lawmakers referred to the opposing parties projects such as the "New Deal" and the "Great Society" disparagingly as "Rube Goldbergian." (1) For example, a Rube Goldbergian scheme for reducing taxes. Clark Kinnarid, in his introduction to Rube Goldberg vs The Machine Age says that Goldberg regarded his "'inventions' as manifestations of a one-man insurrection against needlessly multifarious gadgetry of the machine age that enslaves man instead of freeing him from non-rewarding labor." (2)

The technologies that appear in Goldberg's work are from his era: automobiles, electric fans, gramophones, bicycle pumps, oil lamps, hand guns, radios. What are the "needless multifarious gadgetry" of the information age. What technologies would comprise the contemporary Goldbergian device? Possibly a mobile phone, keyboard, light sensor, laser printer, RFID card, video game, brand-name products, ASCII characters?

The Goldbergian context provides an excellent foundation for learning about the concepts of interactivity and the technologies required to make interactive works. During the next eight weeks, we will complete a contemporary Goldberg machine. Each member of the class will build one component of the device. Each section will receive a signal and transmit that signal to the next section. The "purpose" or "goal" of the machine will be determined through class discussions. At the end of the project, we will submit the device to a media art competition and we will promote it aggressively on the Web.

In addition to building the project, each member of the class will be a part of one documentation committee: video, photography, design, DVD, web, and writing.

Notes:
1. Rube Goldberg, Rube Goldberg vs The Machine Age (New York: Hasting House, 1968), p. viii
2. Ibid. p. vii


1.A - Research (Due 17,22 January)
Develop a twenty minute research presentation on one of the following topics: Materials, Signals, Data protocols, Networks, Human senses, Electromagnetic spectrum, Mechanisms, Rapid prototyping, Mobile development, Sensors, Actuators. Support your presentation with objects, code samples, diagrams, video, etc. Prepare a list of online resources and post them to the Senselab website. Are there books or films that are essential for this topic? Approve the outline of the presentation with the class on 10 January. Please take these presentations very seriously. They have the potential to be an energizing catalyst for the project.

1.B - Ideas (Due 24 January)
Using collage as an image-making technique, convey the ideas for your section of the machine to the class. Present at least five, refined ideas for the core of your component. Present each idea on one letter-sized sheet of paper. We'll work toward fitting them together into one large machine during class.

1.C - Idea Refinement (Due 29 January)
Present the entire machine. Again, use collage as the image-making technique. What will be the aesthetic for the final machine? Will it be "improvised", like the original Goldberg machines, or will it have a more polished appearance? Show material samples and technology demos if possible.

1.D - Prototype (Due 26 February)
Construct a prototype of your component. Demonstrate it for the class.

1.E - Prototype Refinement (Due 07 March)
Run through of the Event. What is not working, what can be improved?

1.F - Event (Due 14 March)
Run the machine, document the event.

1.G - Documentation (Due 19 March)
DVD and Web archive of the machine.

 

 

Project 2: (TBD)
This project will explore direct human-computer interaction.

 

Artist Presentations

Develop a 15 minute presentation about one of the following artists. Focus on their work as related to the themes of the class:

. Laurie Anderson
. Diller Scofidio + Renfro
. Ann Hamilton
. Hans Haacke
. Lynn Hershman
. Rebecca Horn
. Allan Kaprow
. Rafael Lozano-Hemmer
. Ken Rinaldo
. Ben Rubin
. Jean Tinguely
. Rirkrit Tiravanija
. Krysztof Wodiczko

If you would like to present a different artist, it may be possible.
Make your selection in consultation with the Professor by by 10 January.

Each presentation should be a PDF document, 1024 x 768 resolution. On the presentation day, upload the PDF to the class server. Good presentations will be augmented with video, sound, and/or demos.

Follow this outline:

1 Abstract

2 Background
  What are the precedents of this person and their work?

3 Description
  A factual description of the person and her/his work

4 Analysis
  Why is this person important?
  What are the strengths of her/his work?
  What are the weaknesses of her/his work?

5 Conclusions

6 References
  Minimum of three books, articles, essays about the artist