record

Thesis Info

LABS ID
00015
Thesis Title
Dr
Author
Keith Armstrong
2nd Author
NULL
3rd Author
NULL
Degree
PhD
Year
2003
Number of Pages
NULL
University
Queensland University of Technology
Thesis Supervisor
Prof Rod Wissler
Supervisor e-mail
NULL
Other Supervisor(s)
NULL
Language(s) of Thesis
English
Department / Discipline
Academy of the Arts/Creative Industries
Languages Familiar to Author
English
URL where full thesis can be found
NULL
Keywords
new media arts, ecology, environment, socio-political, action, ecosophy, ecosophical, praxis,hybrid arts, cross-disciplinary practices, performance art and science, art and technology, site specific installation practices, interaction, design interactive
Abstract: 200-500 words
This study is an investigation in and through media arts practice. It set out to develop a novel type of new media artistic praxis built upon concepts drawn from the disciplines of scientific and cultural ecology. The rationale for this research was based upon my observation as a practising new media artist that existing praxis in the new media domain appeared to operate largely without awareness of the ecological implications of those practices. The thesis begins by explaining key concepts of ecology, spanning the arts and the sciences. It then outlines the thinking of contemporary theorists who propose that the problem of ecology is a critical issue for the 21st century, suggesting that our well-documented ecological crisis is indicative of a more general crisis of human subjectivity. It then records an investigation into particular strategies for artistic praxis which might instigate an active engagement with this problem of ecology. The study employed a methodology based in action research to focus upon the development and analysis of three new artistic works, ‘#14’, ‘Public Relations’ and ‘transit_lounge’. These were used to explore diverse theories of ecology and to hone a series of pointers towards Ecosophical arts/new media praxis. This journey constitutes an emergent theory for new media space design. The thesis concludes with a toolkit of tactics and approaches that other arts/new media practitioners might employ to begin working on the problem of ecology.