User:Vitrinekast/Proposal

More recent version

Hello reader. I am +/- 1 - 2 weeks behind on writing project proposals. But i'll get there eventually. Sorry (but not really that sorry) for the mess.

Project proposal

• • 1 What do you want to make?**

I'll research ways of re-purposing abandoned media in the making of sound devices and performances. The first version was Printer Jam, a performance i did with riviera around printers and live coding. As a thesis project, I want to push this idea even further. Salvaging components and hardware from abandoned media to make new sound devices, as we for sure need electronic music after the inevitable apocalypse.

2 How do you plan to make it? Do the steps proposed sound feasible? Are there any steps omitted? TBA

3 What is your timetable? Does the timing of the project’s realisation sound feasible? TBA

4 Why do you want to make it? Is the motivation for undertaking the project clear? If not, how can this be improved? I really want to make sound devices, and I really want to try and compose with these somewhat unorthodox instruments.

5 Who can help you and how? Are there people in your network that might be of help in developing this project? I will collaborate closely with Riviera to make the performance, and make the performance on top of the klankserver, a server that she hosts.

6 Relation to previous practice: yes

7 Relation to a larger context: Is it clear how the work is embedded in a broader context of art works, theory, etc.?

8 References/bibliography: Are there any references or sources you feel are connected to this project?

Thesis

1 Intro aka WHAT do you want to research: Is it clear what this text is about, what is its central research question? 2 For each proposed chapter: Is it clear what this chapter will look into and is it clear how it relates and works towards answering the central research question? 3 Method aka HOW will you go about answering your research question: Is there a choice of research method and if so, is it a good fit with the central research question? 4 Mode of address aka HOW you want to tell your story.: Is there a choice for a mode of address and if so, does it fit the topic and method of the thesis?

Previous version

I want to write about the current state of repairs? Where we as consumers no longer own devices (or "stuffs"), we also no longer feel obligated to maintain those devices. Not only that, we as consumers are discouraged to repair or modify the devices. Afraid of losing warranties, we lose repair skills instead. I consider the ability to repair something an important skill.

There is already written loads around this topic. There is the Right to Repair movement, more focussing on politics, repair cafe's, where knowledge is exchange (and maybe some things are repaired), online platforms such as ifixit or other repair wiki's. So i'm not sure yet what this thesis will add to it, but i guess it's an important topic to me.

If your vacuum breaks there are , in my understanding for the general public, a few things you could do. You can take your shitty vacuum to a repair cafe where an unpaid volunteer will fix it or you could buy a new shitty vacuum and throw the plastics in a recycling bin, where a small percentage of your shitty vacuum might turn into a fairphone, but since your shitty vacuum is probably created out of mixed plastic, it will most likely be burned.

However, there are a few methods/practices/ideas/proposals around the ecosystem of this shitty vacuum. And i'd like to write about that too. (Celebration of end of life products)

The three issues i want to explore are:

- Being discouraged to repair
- (Celebration of) end of life products
- Media archeology? What to do with devices that have no use in it's intended design? (Yes, pushing printers in there).

Mode of address is personal/from my perspective.

also, it will be in markdown, not in wikisyntax