Live Blogging from iDMAa Day 3: The International Perspective

Bright and early this morning (8:30 a.m.) we are kicking off with a session with a focus on the international perspective. Featuring Lars Qvortrup with the Royal School of Library and Information Science in Copenhagen, who is the author of the Hypercomplex Society (pdf link) (a book I will be utilizing in my Technology: A Disruptive Force course in the spring).

His presentation was on Digital Art, Hypercomplexity and Creative Knowledge.

Hypercomplexity is about how the human being as the center of the universe is changing. He used great examples from art. Moving from the view of God, to the view of the human being, to a the view of more than one point of observation.

The challenge of hypercomplexity it would seem is that because there are multiple points of view, each individual has to find a reference point and is continually questioning their point of view in comparison to others. Which means there needs to be a way to manage the complexity -- putting yourself into the roles of others and continually adapting to change. Therefore complexity applied to complexity. Studies are done because the more you know the more you know that you don't know! Not to come to completion!

In my language? There are no guarantees. Change happens. Be prepared to realize that you don't know anything and that you won't ever know it all and that is ok.

What does this have to do with Digital Media?

Consider the screen as a point of view or "privileged" point of view. We sit and we watch in front of the screen. But if you consider virtual reality (like Second Life) we move within the screen and beyond the screen. We are also changing our perspective by being within the virtual world. We move from spectator to a spect-actor: One who watches AND acts. (This is very similar to the schematic discussion from yesterday).

The example is in the field of digital art -- interactive art. Rather than stand and just look and appreciate the art, you begin to interact with the art -- depending on the vision of the artist. Again, a change of your point of view. The art is no longer a static piece, you become a part of the art and both an observer as well as an actor. And then, you may not just interact with something in the virtual world, but you interact with yourself!

Um...WOW!

The impact here is that you can no longer keep the act of practice (technology, science ) and the act of interpretation (art and humanities) seperate -- in higher ed that is the equivalent of merging the democratic and republican parties into one! And yet, it's been a theme of this converence. Convergence. Creating interdisciplinary curriculum to prepare our students for this new way of thinking. Students should take courses in programming, art, and business if they are to be able to be successful in the marketplace.

It's beginning to happen. I wonder if our universities and if our potential students are ready for it.