Comments on: Visual artefact http://edc11.education.ed.ac.uk/gracee/2011/10/15/visual-artefact/ part of the MSc in E-learning at the University of Edinburgh Sun, 11 Dec 2011 12:20:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Grace Elliott http://edc11.education.ed.ac.uk/gracee/2011/10/15/visual-artefact/#comment-30 Grace Elliott Fri, 21 Oct 2011 05:33:02 +0000 http://edc11.education.ed.ac.uk/gracee/?p=125#comment-30 Hi Jeremy, This exercise certainly got me thinking about my dependency on words. Like I've said before, words are easier for me but I have to be taught to read images. My initial intention was to have a central pic (the universe) with the others branching off but it turned out not to be an option so hierarchical it became. I was indeed trying to connect otherworldliness with what is happening now, express how creative we can be but also how controlling. Due to 'technical difficulties beyond my control' I had difficulty downloading pics and that messed up my planned order. It was an interesting task and fun to do, technology frustrations aside. Hi Jeremy,

This exercise certainly got me thinking about my dependency on words. Like I’ve said before, words are easier for me but I have to be taught to read images.

My initial intention was to have a central pic (the universe) with the others branching off but it turned out not to be an option so hierarchical it became. I was indeed trying to connect otherworldliness with what is happening now, express how creative we can be but also how controlling. Due to ‘technical difficulties beyond my control’ I had difficulty downloading pics and that messed up my planned order. It was an interesting task and fun to do, technology frustrations aside.

]]> By: Jeremy Keith Knox http://edc11.education.ed.ac.uk/gracee/2011/10/15/visual-artefact/#comment-29 Jeremy Keith Knox Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:13:14 +0000 http://edc11.education.ed.ac.uk/gracee/?p=125#comment-29 I like the idea of the mandala as a kind of map, or representation, of the universe, and this gets me thinking about a kind of visual representation of the digital territory. It seems like this is what a lot of the visual artefacts are about, mapping the confusions and disorders of technology, and/or the enlightened and progressive. There is also something about symbolic meaning here, in the glyphs and emblems that signify specific things to those with knowledge of Buddhist teachings. Much like stain glass windows in the West, I am reminded of historical forms of literacy which question the dominance of printed ‘text’. I was also interested in how you structured the images here, and its seemed to reflect a kind of hierarchy, and in a way the cartographic dimension of the mandala. The larger images at the top seem to represent the more ethereal, while the lower seem to depict more earth-bound practices? I like the idea of the mandala as a kind of map, or representation, of the universe, and this gets me thinking about a kind of visual representation of the digital territory. It seems like this is what a lot of the visual artefacts are about, mapping the confusions and disorders of technology, and/or the enlightened and progressive. There is also something about symbolic meaning here, in the glyphs and emblems that signify specific things to those with knowledge of Buddhist teachings. Much like stain glass windows in the West, I am reminded of historical forms of literacy which question the dominance of printed ‘text’.

I was also interested in how you structured the images here, and its seemed to reflect a kind of hierarchy, and in a way the cartographic dimension of the mandala. The larger images at the top seem to represent the more ethereal, while the lower seem to depict more earth-bound practices?

]]> By: Ania Rolińska http://edc11.education.ed.ac.uk/gracee/2011/10/15/visual-artefact/#comment-27 Ania Rolińska Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:11:44 +0000 http://edc11.education.ed.ac.uk/gracee/?p=125#comment-27 The bright light indeed looks like networks, connectivity, the beginning and the end - could that be the liberation, the remedy for the dystopic maladies? The bright light indeed looks like networks, connectivity, the beginning and the end – could that be the liberation, the remedy for the dystopic maladies?

]]> By: Grace Elliott http://edc11.education.ed.ac.uk/gracee/2011/10/15/visual-artefact/#comment-26 Grace Elliott Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:39:30 +0000 http://edc11.education.ed.ac.uk/gracee/?p=125#comment-26 Thanks Ania - I knew you'd get it. I was having such trouble downloading pics so I had to re-think what images to use and as I had the mandala on my computer I felt I could use it. The bright light is the universe, but I also thought it looked similar to the image of a network, symbolising creation, existence and connection. I love your idea of a cyber-madala. Thanks Ania – I knew you’d get it. I was having such trouble downloading pics so I had to re-think what images to use and as I had the mandala on my computer I felt I could use it. The bright light is the universe, but I also thought it looked similar to the image of a network, symbolising creation, existence and connection.
I love your idea of a cyber-madala.

]]> By: Ania Rolińska http://edc11.education.ed.ac.uk/gracee/2011/10/15/visual-artefact/#comment-25 Ania Rolińska Tue, 18 Oct 2011 09:56:02 +0000 http://edc11.education.ed.ac.uk/gracee/?p=125#comment-25 I like the way you incorporated the Bhavacakra as a metaphor. I think it creates an extra number of interpretation layers: the co-existence of 'bads' and 'goods' when considering technology, their various effects and consequences (well depicted in the images in your tumblr tapestry) and the difference (dystopia vs utopia) being rendered transient and impermanent. Would the bright light at the top symbolise liberation as the moon in the mandala? Also, the mandala was originally created to help 'ordinary people' learn more about Buddhist philosophy. In a similar vein, our visual artefacts could be helpful in communicating various messages to a wider audience, couldn't they? Studying the Buddhist wheel of life, I think it could be an interesting exercise to use the mandala as a basis for creating another visual artefact, a cyber-mandala, what do you think? I like the way you incorporated the Bhavacakra as a metaphor. I think it creates an extra number of interpretation layers: the co-existence of ‘bads’ and ‘goods’ when considering technology, their various effects and consequences (well depicted in the images in your tumblr tapestry) and the difference (dystopia vs utopia) being rendered transient and impermanent. Would the bright light at the top symbolise liberation as the moon in the mandala?

Also, the mandala was originally created to help ‘ordinary people’ learn more about Buddhist philosophy. In a similar vein, our visual artefacts could be helpful in communicating various messages to a wider audience, couldn’t they?

Studying the Buddhist wheel of life, I think it could be an interesting exercise to use the mandala as a basis for creating another visual artefact, a cyber-mandala, what do you think?

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