Monday, April 6, 2009

Re: [Yasmin_discussions] social simulation and the body politic

Hi Roger, all,
 
So far we've been pointing on how/when new media affect the local behaviors, so we can analyze how artists can cultivate these phenomena.
As example of artworks dealing with the behavioral changes, I can for some points mention those of Maurice Benayoun, as this work http://www.benayoun.com/projet.php?id=92 that deals with the world emotions: giving shape to a world feeling filtered by the network.
A relatively older example (1973), and with the use of video, this Fred Forest's work can indirectly illustrate the issue: http://www.webnetmuseum.org/html/en/expo-retr-fredforest/actions/07_en.htm#text.
I also think about a fictive project imagined by Pierrick Sorin: In his video criticizing how the Government selects artists for public projects, he presented a new media device that raises a rainbow over the city; the rainbow is built up from data collected from the media and that express peoples' mood in this or that moment. The more people are doing well, the more the rainbow is completed!
 
Our discussion can also inspire artists to produce works dealing with these concerns…
Ricardo
 


________________________________
From: roger malina <rmalina@alum.mit.edu>
To: YASMIN DISCUSSIONS <Yasmin_discussions@estia.media.uoa.gr>
Sent: Sunday, April 5, 2009 12:05:08 AM
Subject: [Yasmin_discussions] social simulation and the body politic

ricardo, theresa et al

I am having some trouble connecting with our topic

NEW MEDIA: USER'S BEHAVIOUR, SOCIAL SYSTEMS, AND THE BODY POLITIC

It would help me if you could give me examples of art works that build
on new kinds of behaviour!
its a bit abstract to me and I am interested in good examples of new
media art projects that
really involve new kinds of user behaviour

I thought I would take this discussion in a different direction.

There is now a huge field of computer simulation of social behaviours,
for instance the work of
Axelrod:. I think there are a number of artists working also in the
field of social simulation systems=
( does anyone know of examples ?? )

there is the interesting simulation of wolf packs in a natural environment

http://www.wolfquest.org/

Learn about wolf ecology by living the life of a wild wolf in
Yellowstone National Park. Play alone or with friends in on-line
multiplayer missions, explore the wilderness, hunt elk, and encounter
stranger wolves in your quest to find a mate. Ultimately—in Episode 2,
coming in 2009—your success will depend on forming a family pack,
raising pups, and ensuring the survival of your pack.

I would be interested in knowing about the work of new media artists
using social simulation
software- it seems to me there are interested new areas to explore
connecting to the body politic

roger

here is some more info on axelrod


The Evolution of Cooperation generally refers to:

    * the study of how cooperation can emerge and persist (also known
as cooperation theory) as elucidated by application of game theory,
    * a 1981 paper by political scientist Robert Axelrod and
evolutionary biologist William Hamilton (Axelrod & Hamilton 1981) in
the scientific literature, or
    * a 1984 book[1] by Axelrod (Axelrod 1984) that expanded on the
paper and popularized the study.

This article is an introduction to how game theory and computer
modeling are illuminating certain aspects of moral and political
philosophy, particularly the role of individuals in groups, the
"biology of selfishness and altruism"[2], and how cooperation can be
evolutionarily advantageous.

Robert Axelrod (born 1943) is a Professor of Political Science and
Public Policy at the University of Michigan.

He is best known for his interdisciplinary work on the evolution of
cooperation, which has been cited in numerous articles. His current
research interests include complexity theory (especially agent-based
modeling), and international security.for "Behavioral Research
Relevant to the Prevention of Nuclear War".

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