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Thesis Info

LABS ID
00929
Thesis Title
Mythologies exploring clean technology development through the classification of technical objects using Chinese Five Element Theory.
Author
Helena Wee
2nd Author
3rd Author
Degree
MFA Computational Arts
Year
2019
Number of Pages
University
Goldsmiths, University of London
Thesis Supervisor
Supervisor e-mail
Other Supervisor(s)
Language(s) of Thesis
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URL where full thesis can be found
Keywords
Abstract: 200-500 words
Five stories about the development of clean technologies are told from an elemental point of view. In Taoism the five Chinese elements: wood, fire, earth, metal and water; are said to be the constituents of everything in the universe. It follows from this that technical objects would also be made up of different proportions of the five elements. The technologies are analysed from the perspective of a classifier looking to discern the elements from which they are made. The stories explore the internet, search engines and mobile phones, lead acid batteries and electric vehicles, rare earth elements, Bitcoin and hydroelectric dams, and are told by a multi-subjective entity. They explore relationships between humans, technology and nature, showing the hidden cost of these technologies to marginalised human and nonhuman enities. Mythological technology stories are combined with interactive performative storytelling utilising graphics combining ancient shan shui painting and generative computational art. Whilst the stories are being told by computational voices, machine learning results in periodic displays of texts in the style of ancient Chinese poetry. Chi and the elements are manipulated through movement and gesture touching on references to tai chi, shan shui painting and Taoism. Machine learning and generative graphics are used by the entities to ask questions about how clean technology industries really affect the environment, landscape and others. Full text with prototype interactive graphics can be found at: https://www.helenawee.com/elements/wood.html https://www.helenawee.com/elements/fire.html https://www.helenawee.com/elements/earth.html https://www.helenawee.com/elements/metal.html https://www.helenawee.com/elements/water.html https://www.helenawee.com/elements/phaseshift.html https://www.helenawee.com/elements/references.html An explanation of the Chinese Five Element Classification System can be found here: https://helenawee.com/elements/fiveelementclassification.html Screenshots from updated graphics and summaries of texts can be found here: https://www.helenawee.com/elements/fiveelementalmythologies.html