Contemporary Considerations
(Asynchronous - Online Only)
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Where We Stand: Backstage Gender Equity
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Kristen Morgan, Jennifer Rock
Our investigation focuses on a relatively unexplored area of concern—equitable representation of women, trans, and non-binary theatrical designers, craftspeople, and technicians. This historically male-dominated field has been extremely slow to address issues of gender equity, even as the U.S. theatre industry is perceived by outsiders to be a diverse and welcoming industry. In this manner, Theatre mirrors other creative industries, from film and television, to fine art, to computer animation and video game development. Over the last two years, we conducted video interviews with female-identifying and trans/non-binary folks with careers in theatre design in large US cities. Our subjects ranged from young artists to mid-career designers to Broadway legends. In this paper, we discuss our analysis of the interviews which reveal an interesting spectrum of ideology about the current state of affairs and how to best address inequities.
Featured Man-made Crystals: A Review of their Historic and Contemporary Context and Use View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Sofie Boons
This paper reports on the history and use of man-made crystals for jewellery in a contemporary context. The cross-disciplinary contextual review traces human fascination with gemstones back centuries, and covers key developments in their ‘imitation’. The infiltration of these man-made crystals in the market sparked the development of the discipline of gemology, through which they are often painted in a negative light. With innovations in the growth of man-made crystals revolutionising other industries (engineering, technology, etc.) , and their distinction from mined crystals increasingly more challenging, the paper reports on the terminology prescribed to the industry to describe man-made and mined crystals. These descriptions, which include ‘natural’ and ‘real’ versus ‘synthetic’, are interrogated in relation to key texts and a need for the identification of an alternative terminology is proposed. The jewellery industry remains apprehensive about the influx of man-made crystals, and only a small number of man-made crystal suppliers are growing crystals for the purpose of creative exploration beyond the imitation of mined crystals for jewellery. Through the review of artefacts, where man-made crystals have been used, their ability to enable creativity is highlighted, and their further future creative possibilities explored.
Facebook Wars: You're Either with Us or Against Us View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Jarrod Sansom
The cultivation effects of television viewing have been studied extensively by George Gerbner and his colleagues. However, there appears to be a lack of research exploring “whether the worldview of social media users exhibits a certain degree of cultivation due to the content they are exposed to on social media” (Nevzat 2018, p. 10). My research explores the effects of Facebook use through the lens of cultivation theory (see Gerbner & Gross 1976). Although academic research on the cultivation effects of Facebook use is still in its infant stage, conflicting ideas have already emerged. Some believe Facebook has replaced television as the medium which binds diverse communities together into a shared culture (Hermann 2016). Others claim the social networking site divides users based on content preferences (Nevzat 2018). My 2019 honours project concentrated on users’ perceptions of Muslims in Australia. The findings suggest that Facebook content, if consumed habitually or in the absence of critical thinking, can cultivate one-sided perceptions on contentious social issues. This in turn can result in hostile constructions of ‘us against them’ attitudes among groups with differing opinions on such issues. These cultivation effects of Facebook use indicate a possible division in society that transcends competing viewpoints on contentious social issues. The ‘us against them’ trend contradicts the cultivation effects of television viewing where researchers claim that twentieth-century audiences ‘mainstreamed’ towards shared attitudes and beliefs. I have commenced doctoral studies to explore this division further and am now focusing on the climate change debate in Australia.
Multisensory Experience: Applying Inclusive Design into Museums Focusing on People Who Are Blind
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Shouaa Alrajeh
Visually impaired people explore their environments in a unique way. Many art museums are primarily focused on the visual arts; therefore, the experience is limited for some visitors. A museum offering a full sensory experience specifically created for the blind results in a heightened experience for all. The intent of this project is to explore alternative methods of interpretation with the architecture spaces and improve the effective experience within the museum. By introducing innovative technologies, methods and thorough code analysis and investigation this museum creates a multi-sensory experience. This design and spaces planning focuses on the disabilities, specifically blind people and people with sight problems. Beside improving the visitors experience to explore, interact, and learn through joy and excitement.
Aesthetics of Sustainability View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Paolo Grazioli
Design has the responsibility to create a new aesthetic philosophy that takes into consideration the damages to the environment created by its collusion with the corporate strategy of creating “un-needed” needs that lead people to purchase products that display a seductive appearance with a poisonous content. Designers, and corporations as a consequence, should aim at evolving a new, more mature aesthetic models reflecting the ethic model of sustainability.
Biomes 2020 3D Virtual Gallery: Taking Conservation to the Community Through Art in COVID Times View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Bernadette Drabsch, Simone O'Callaghan
The Biomes 2020 3D Virtual Gallery was created as part of a larger research project exploring how artists and designers can work with scientists to communicate important messages. A cross-disciplinary team of University of Newcastle academics from the School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Psychology and the School of Creative Industries collaborated with local stakeholders Hunter & Central Coast Development Corporation, Hunter Local Land Services, Landcare and the NSW Government Department of Planning, Industry & Environment and international partners from Ars Electronica in Linz, Austria, and to develop strong and creative science communication strategies. The team had originally planned a physical, interactive exhibition, which was transferred to a virtual one in response to COVID 19 limitations. In a short period of time they created the Biomes 3D Virtual Gallery, which was featured in Ars Electronica 2020 Gardens. Upon completion user testing was done to understand artist creation of artworks for 3D virtual galleries, curation of content, design of the gallery itself in a games engine, and audience experiences of artworks in online 3D environments. As a first completed iteration that has gone live to public audiences this NTRO has been instrumental in testing and refining designs for future use. It was the first time in Australia that Amazon Web Server was used for distribution and exhibition of artworks through a 3D virtual gallery run using Unity, so it is innovative in the use of technology for new and unexpected purposes.
Art Thinking: A New Model for Transdisciplinary Collaboration View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Kristefan Minski
This paper brings new perspectives on the unique activity of collaboration in a transdisciplinary lab context and which has involvement from a variety of external stakeholders across government, industry and academia. The research was conducted at the internationally renowned Ars Electronica Futurelab located in Linz, Austria. In recent times, the problem-solving methodology of Design Thinking has been at the forefront of creative innovation discourse. However, upon investigation, the term collaboration is seemingly applied in this context for undertakings which are more akin to cooperative or coordinated roles and structures. A review of work from internationally renowned Art-Science labs reveal that there is indeed a difference between a Design Thinking approach and an Art Thinking approach which has developed in recent years. The presentation will discuss a new model that merges two systems of creativity; one that is an open-ended, experimental and ongoing collaborative culture with the other which is a coordinated, closed-ended and structured approach to problem solving. The implications of which can provide avenues for policy makers across a range of fields and enquiry with the potential to weave both cultural and business aspirations together to form a unique innovation ecosystem.
