Icreatepar)cipatoryexperiencesfornetworkedpublics,bridgingnewmediaconceptsandprac)ces,andIcouplear)s)cproduc)onwithawri)ngprac)ceasamodeofreflec)onandinquirytofuelthecrea)veprocess.Iwon’thave)metodaytotalkaboutmywri)ngprac)ce,andbesides,it’smorefuntoshowthevisualwork.Iwillfocusthisversionofthelightningtalkonmycrea)veprac)cewithcrowdworkers.
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Crowdworkersarelikepieceworkersofthe19thcentury;anetworkedversionofoutsourcing.
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MechanicalOlympicsisacrowdsourcedversionoftheOlympicgameswhereanyonewithanAmazonaccountcansignuptowork/playandanyonewhopressestheLikebuKonontheYouTubechannelcanvote.
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MechanicalOlympicsFreestyleSwimmer;DIY,Glitchy
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MechanicalOlympicsBobsled;Some)mespetsjoinin
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MechanicalGamesisaversionoftheprojectsforAbandonNormalDevicesinManchester,Englandwithseniorcommuni)esaroundthe)meoftheOlympicGamesinLondon
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Ihadanopportunitytoreviewmycollec)onofvideos,hundredsofthemfromthepast8years,whenIpresentedthisprojectattheDMAlastAugust.Ino)cedShamikGosh’ssonhasbeenpar)cipa)ngsincehewasliKle.Hereheisinthelowerrightcorner,nearlyateenager.It’sthishumanconnec)on,easilylostonvirtualpla\orms,thatIhavebeentryingtore-establishincurrentprojects.
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TwoyearsagoIhiredworkerstodonothing.Moreexplicitly,Ipaidthemtositforfiveminutes,thentellmewhatitwasliketogetpaidtorest.Ittookmefi`yhourstotranscribewhattheywroteaboutmedita)onontheflooroftheprojectroomatGrandCentralArtCenterinSantaAna,California.
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Viewersremovedtheworkers’words,renderingtheirthoughtsinvisibleastheyenteredtheprojectspace.Ontheheadsettheycouldwatchanendlesscycleofworkerschan)ng“Om,”anotherjobfortheworkersthatdeviatedfromtheusualtypeoflabortheyencounterofAmazon’spla\orm.OnthewallsofthegallerywereUSBdrives.AnyonewhovolunteeredtorechalkthefloorforhalfanhourwouldgetafreedrivewitharandomOMchantinstalled.
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WhenImovedhereIpaidworkerstolightacandleforsomeonetheylovedandlostonHalloweenevening.
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There’smoretothisstory,Idon’thave)meforitnow.Butthisbecameaninstalla)onmadefromrecycledamazonboxesandLEDcandlespurchasedonAmazon.
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ThisfallI’llbeinresidencewithSabrinaStarnamanattheCenterforCrea)veConnec)onsattheDallasMuseumofArtconduc)nganinterac)veinstalla)on)tled“TheLaboringSelf.”WearegratefulforprojectassistancebydoctoralcandidateLegciaFerreira.
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TheLaboringSelfdrawsparallelsbetweenunregulatedlaboranditseffectonworkers’bodiesintheIndustrialRevolu)onand“DigitalRevolu)on”ofthesharingeconomy.Itispar)allyfundedbyaCommunityProjectgrantfromHumani)esTexasandagrantforpursuingcivilandsocialjus)cethroughartfromPuffinFounda)onWest,Ltd.
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