6/1/08: Summer Assignment

Hi all and welcome to my MFA thesis blog.

My name is Tarynne Goldenberg and I’m a second year MFA student at Parsons the New School for Design in Manhattan. This blog will function as a way of tracking my thesis process from start to finish.

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Concept 1: Last semester, for my mini thesis, I started a project that explored the overuse of communications technologies, and the effect it has and will continue to have on the ways in which humans communicate in face-to-face (ftf) situations. Social (non digital) connections is something that has always been incredibly important and fascinating to me. I started my research by examining my own experiences growing up with AOL and how that has shaped my communicatory skills and understanding of social norms. For my project I created a company called Communico, that sold high-end, super techno-chic products that aimed to eliminate ftf communications altogether, and through the use of sarcasm shed light on the potential “dangers” facing younger generations of children who grow up using third-party technology mediators as main form of socialization. Although the project was originally done as a performance piece (much like an industrial) I want to explore the different places I can take this project, and see how far I can push the boundaries of how much people are willing to accept before they realize there the greater issue. 

Keywords or concepts: Text messaging, interpersonal relationships, social norms, technology, communications, community, shared understanding, internet, email, blackberry crowd, business elite, viral web campaign, imagination

Image: This is a thumbnail of one of the handouts I made. I plan on doing a complete design overhaul to ensure that it really speaks to the right audience and has the appropriate amount of “poshness.”

prototype4_leda1

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Concept 2: I’m very interested in the correlation between the increased production/use of ethanol and the recession in our economy. I think this is such an important topic because it’s not race, gender or socio-economic status specific issue, but something that truly affects millions. I think this piece is more than just politically interesting, but also has a definite emotional impact because the majority of people in the country are feeling the effect of the recession. I want to avoid global warming because I think it’s so overdone, and there is already a huge stigma attached to the topic. Ethanol and global warming has become such a trendy topic for not only politicians, but people everywhere as well, and I want to separate the “cool” factor from the real problem: what are the potential negative effects? Are there negative effects? Is ethanol a miracle substance that will save the future of the earth, or is it something that feeds into the fears of a society facing an uncertain danger? I want to be proactive in the preservation of the environment, but at what cost? I would like to do an animation that would also serve as a promotional piece for an informational and interactive website, but I’m not sure I would be satisfied with just that. I have yet to really be inspired by the limited amount of research I’ve done thus far, the physical realization of the concept is not solidified.

Keywords or concepts: ethanol, new deal/ government subsidized corn, wheat importation, al gore, renewable fuels, “green,” oil trade, agricultural economy, midwest regional politicians, car owners, home owners, people in the financial profession, not for profit organizations, recycling, medieval illuminated manuscripts, history and development of the earth, carbon footprint, political hypocrisy and manipulation

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Thesis Studio: Anezka Sebek // Writing Faculty Barbara Morris

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Email: tbgolden@gmail.com or goldt987@newschool.edu