When We Know We're Being Watched

A find from the Wired blog "Alt Text." It makes one think about our constant state of vigilance, and our new reliance upon it.

A link to the Posting.

Troubling News for the Aspergers Community

Simon Baron-Cohen contributed this Op-Ed to the NYTimes today, and it offers a glimpse into the continued obstacles confronting families and individuals diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome. The APA is considering an overhaul of the Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis, and planning to lump all those affected under the same umbrella.

If this comes to fruition, the label of "Aspergers" may cease to be, and a community will be forced to learn a completely new system of services.

READ THE ARTICLE

A Needle Woman by Kimsooja

A Needle Woman by Kim Sooja (30 seconds silent short)
Uploaded by OUTVIDEO. - Discover more animation and arts videos.

Brooks: The Young and the Neuro

David Brooks of the NY Times opined today about what he witnessed at a recent gathering of social-centric neuroscientists. In reviewing what he learned, he observed that many new findings relied upon the notion that "consciousness is too slow to see what happens inside, but it is possible to change the lenses through which we unconsciously construe the world."

Brooks goes on to say, "The hard sciences are interpenetrating the social sciences. This isn’t dehumanizing. It shines attention on the things poets have traditionally cared about: the power of human attachments. It may even help policy wonks someday see people as they really are."

Perhaps, with Brooks' attention being shining upon the field, a boost in excitement will follow.

Article permalink: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/13/opinion/13brooks.html

Emotional Touch

What are we looking at?

Icon of Truth or Metaphors of Deceit?

Relational Sports

A Few Articles

"theanyspacewhatever", a review of the show by John Kelsey.

New Beginnings, an interview of Tim Griffin with curator for the 53rd Venice Bienale
Artifacts, by Tim Griffin

A Piece on Theory of Mind

Tehching Hsieh (b. 1950)
One Year Performance, No. 2 (1980-1981)






The performance artist, Tehching Hsieh (b. 1950), during the late 70s and early 80s, embarked to experience art in its most extreme. Beginning with a piece for which he lived outside for a year, the artist theoretically tethered himself to his studio, by agreeing to punch a time clock every hour, on the hour, for a year.



If we think of what this would entail, to actually consider the logistics of the piece, it grows ever more impressive in its scope. How many times do we run a quick errand that take longer than expected? How many meals do we eat out with friends? How many times do we visit family out of town? How many movies do we see?

It's the voluntary denial of these simple pleasures that makes this piece resonate, even today. The dedication is the art.

Theory of Mind is an intriguing aspect of this piece. You must put yourself in this person's shoes to "get it." What was he thinking? How difficult was it for him to make these sacrifices? What would it feel like to wake up to punch the clock every hour? What sorts of stress were self-induced? So many aspects of the piece, which are not evident in the video record but nonetheless a significant part of the work, could be lost if one is challenged by issues concerning Theory of Mind.

What are the implications in this work for those on the spectrum? What can I, as a neurotypical, learn from these implications? Does it strengthen or diminish the power of the piece?

K. Goes to the Theatre

And yet on it goes...

Hedgehogs and Foxes

Mapping Buzz: What does popularity look like?

Oscar Winning Animated Short: La Maison en Petits Cubes

The other kind of smart - The Boston Globe

The other kind of smart - The Boston Globe

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Art as Instinct?

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Denis Dutton

Colbert Report Full Episodes
Paul McCartney Appearance

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