Fingers in the outlet: a self-reflexive investigation of 'bricolage' as a method of engagement in new media arts, through domestic hacking practices
Date
2013-09-26
Authors
Gates, Nathan Oliver
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This
research
report
consists
of
two
components:
a
written
report
and
a
practical
body
of
work.
The
written
component
is
a
theoretical
examination
of
the
concept
of
bricolage
as
put
forward
by
Claude
Lévi-‐Strauss
in
the
text
“The
Science
of
The
concrete”,
as
an
alternate
process
of
knowledge
production
in
its
potential
as
a
methodology
for
digital
arts
specifically
relating
to
hardware
hacking
practices.
This
first
chapter
consists
of
a
close
reading
of
this
text
in
which
I
explore
the
underlying
concepts
that
bricolage
hinges
upon
to
better
understand
it
as
a
methodology
and
process
of
engagement.
The
second
chapter
concerns
the
relationship
between
digital
arts
and
science
in
terms
of
their
individual
use
of
‘method’
and
how
it
affects
their
conceptualization
of
‘knowledge’.
This
is
carried
out
by
examining
the
philosophical
underpinnings
of
the
scientific
method,
in
association
with
a
‘hacking’
case
study
looking
at
art
practice
as
research.
In
the
third
chapter
I
briefly
isolate
three
key
characteristics
of
bricolage
as
methodology,
as
a
starting
point
in
understanding
the
movement
of
bricolage
as
a
process
of
inquiry.
The
second
component
of
this
report
consists
of
a
practical
inquiry
into
the
viability
of
bricolage
as
method
of
production
within
a
hardware
hacking
practice.
It
is
incorporated
into
my
written
research
in
the
fourth
chapter
where
I
discuss
the
resulting
body
of
work
in
relation
to
bricolage
as
a
model
for
research
based
practice,
and
as
a
mode
of
inquiry.
Description
Thesis (M.A.)--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Humanities, Dramatic Arts, 2013