CODE - The Evolution of Abstraction and the Crisis of Human
Identity
Humanity is undergoing an Evolution of Abstraction. The physical
forms and social and economic structures that have previously
defined human identity are disintegrating, often being replaced
by their symbolic representations. As these new modes of being
replace the old we are faced with a Crisis of Identity in that
assumptions about what it means to be human are challenged by
new technologies, social narratives and biological realities.
But every crisis presents an opportunity and at this critical
turning point in human history we have a unique opportunity to
rewrite the narrative codes that allow societies to self-organize
and prosper. and to re-synthesize what it means to be human.
In this presentation connections will be drawn between medieval
trompe l’oeil painting, cellular biology, insect robots
and reality television in an attempt to elucidate some of the
opportunities (and risks) that are posed by electronic and bio-technologies
and to examine the role of electronic media in both the writing
and re-writing of narrative codes.
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Steve Boyer
Steve Boyer is an artist, designer and theorist with over 25
years of experience developing technology and creating content
for interactive media. He has designed video games, electronic
toys, musical instruments, light and sound sculpture and robotic
architecture and has hands on experience in nearly every aspect
of digital production from assembly language coding to 3D modeling
and animation.
Currently, Steve is a visiting faculty member at the University
of California - San Diego (UCSD) in the Visual Arts Department.
He previously spent 6 years on the faculty of the Department
of Art and Technology Studies at the School of the Art Institute
of Chicago. Steve has a BA in Music from Northwestern University
and a Master of Architecture from the Southern California Institute
of Architecture.
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