emergence

The Desktop by Steven Johnson

2008-02-05T22:17:00.000-06:00

Johnson's arguments bring to light some of the very issues we are having now with user interfaces and the 'desktop.' It's true that now even though it is so intuitive for the ones who grow up with the technology, we still have problems with the pointing and clicking and menus. There is nothing new about the platforms that come out now. Each version looks a little spiffier but it doesn't enhance our interaction or make it easier.

As far as those 'Quakespace' communities where they are tied by bloodlust, they still are as popular as ever (think World of Warcraft). However, we also have things like Second Life, where people can make miniatures of themselves, create communities, and even go to school. "The gift of built space" has become possible.

Project 1

2008-02-04T15:47:00.000-06:00

To the project

As We May Think by Vannevar Bush

2008-01-23T15:09:00.000-06:00

This could have been said in a page or two. Associations in the mind allow us to easily access information but it is so much harder to do so in databases that we create to share information with others. We are told and asked what is the best way to index and then search for an item.

This reading relates to our current project because we must also determine associations with our systems and see where those associations take us in our minds.

Tsuru no Origami

2007-05-03T12:37:00.001-05:00

This class has taught me more about art and life than any of my other classes have or ever will. It's nice to be able to be at peace while I'm in class. I think this is something that should be taught again because I hope other people will get to experience this too.

Tokonomas

Crane Origami

As a class, we folded 100 cranes for the Peace Park in Japan. The crane is a pretty difficult one to do with thick paper since there is a lot of folding required (and I can never get the beaks right).

Other pictures and info

objects on display

flowers and pots

Muga - project 06

2007-05-01T11:54:00.000-05:00

Muga has many interpretations. Mu is ‘not’ or ‘no.’ Ga is ‘one’s self’ or just ‘a self.’ Therefore, quite literally, it means without self. It can also be translated as selflessness.

In order to understand what I interpreted muga to mean, I had to spend a long time with myself. I think that was the first step to realizing the truth about muga. Once you get to know yourself, you can start taking away all those things related to or concerning yourself. All that’s left, then, is what comes naturally to you, what you do instinctually.

Muga is only experienced in a moment. It never lasts more than that because things done instinctually are just spur of the moment. Eventually you begin thinking again and then it is no longer not about yourself.

Certainly muga is about thinking about others and doing things for others. They are simple things like helping someone pick up something he dropped or holding the door for the people behind you. If you do something enough times, you will eventually do it without thinking or without having to be told to do it. It will come and pass before you realize you’ve done it and in that moment, you experience ichi go ichi e.

Muga is about ma. It’s about knowing when and when not to give or take space. Allowing people to breathe is also thinking about them.

Muga is about wabi-sabi. Since it’s natural and instinctive, it is also simple and beautiful.

Muga is about the various senses. We come to appreciate the senses through cooking but that is only when we are concentrating on the cooking and preparations instead of on ourselves. So, when we forget about ourselves, we see more, feel more, taste more, hear more, and smell more.

Muga is about the awareness that you achieve. As a participant in the tea ceremony, you are thinking and looking at everything else. It is only when you remove your self from the moment that you are able to concentrate on the details of the tea ceremony.

Muga, therefore, is both being without self and being selfless. It is both having presence of mind and letting your instincts take control.

You can also download this here.

Obentou

2007-04-19T04:42:00.000-05:00

It's amazing how much we were able to accomplish in two hours. Everyone received an obentou like the one above and with 21 of us, that was definitely a lot of work and a lot of food. Afterwards, we all washed and helped clean up the boxes so that they could be stored again. I never imagined that I would cook Japanese food for an obentou with that many people.

Tokonomas

Obentou Preparation

I wish I could've taken pictures during the process of making the obentou but I was manning the chicken. The chicken turned out really nice and we got splattered by hot oil while we were cooking. ^_^

Other pictures and info

flower arrangements from the ikebana class

The Last Tea Ceremony

2007-04-12T15:14:00.000-05:00

This tea ceremony certainly shows us the culmination of what we've learned about making tea for others and about having tea made for us. Gunji-sensei performed the tea ceremony for us, with Daniel as the main guest. We properly bowed to one another, sat respectfully, and gave our full attention while the tea was being made. Many of us missed some part of the cleaning up since we went to whisk tea for our classmates and then served them. All the movements at the end are reduced by one less stroke. So, instead of cleaning the chashaku three times, Gunji-sensei only cleaned it twice.

Tokonomas

things to note about the informal room

Other pictures and info

nothing on display this time

flowers in the kitchen

Haiku - project 05

2007-04-05T14:50:00.000-05:00

Haiku

Haiku - revised

The poem we used:

branches wave vigorously
as if inviting us to stay--
let's go indoors already

Megan and I chose a haiku that is somewhat playful. The typeface we used is also light and airy to match that. Using multiple layers, we created the various objects and made them smaller as the movie clip progressed to give a feeling of moving back into space.

We wanted to be as simple as possible; we used only the space we needed and kept the number of things we wanted the viewer to focus on to a minimum. We used fading to give a sense of solitude and quietude to the piece.

Westernized Wagashi

2007-04-04T01:05:00.000-05:00

It was hard coming up with a dish that everyone would enjoy and could eat in one or two bites. I finally decided on mint chocolate snowballs. They came out of the oven pretty tough on the outside but slightly soft on the inside. Since I made it almost two days beforehand, they softened quite a bit. There was a really nice texture to them. Add powdered sugar to the tops and the unique mint vanilla taste made them much more enjoyable than just regular chocolate ones.

Tokonomas

the semi-formal tokonoma was the same as the previous visit

informal room was closed

The Feast

i'm a person who can't stand strong flavors for too long
- glad there was a variety of tastes (sweet, salty, tangy) to mix and match
- the foods with more bread helped absorb some of it as well as cleanse one's palette
the presentation, the choice of foods that went into the dish, the preparation
- very well thought out for most of them
- some were simple on the outside but held a nice surprise on the inside
in the end, most of us were too full to eat all of it
- there was even a tiny bit of sake to go with the meal
- in honor of the sakura blooming around this time of year

Other pictures and info

various molds and sweet making utensils

a Spring garden

Sweet Making

2007-03-31T01:03:00.000-05:00

We learned to make two types of sweets (wagashi): the kind you get from filling a mould and the kind you have to spend a little time cooking. I don't have any pictures of the process but I can still remember how they taste. To be honest, I not a fan of sandy/grainy candy. It leaves my mouth dry.

Tokonomas

Sweet Making Process

your heart needs to go into making the wagashi
- the creation requires thought
- each food item will be unique due to the touch of the human hand
- however, taste, sight, smell -- the senses -- must not be sacrificed
molds are hard to come by now
- there aren't many who are skilled at carving the shapes into the wood
- the shapes are often flowers or leaves; usually natural objects
- the thinner top piece fits onto the bigger block by lining up the pegs
- the mixture is packed tightly into the shapes
- to separate the grains from the mold, you hit the block hard against the table twice
- gently drop the finished objects into your hand and place on the plate
the griddled anko-filled cake was made from green tea dough, a sprinkle of tea leaves, and red bean paste
- the making of the dough and the griddling took at least half an hour
- the anko is made into spheres and the dough is wrapped around it with a minimal amount of flour
- some tea leaves are pressed onto it and it is flattened slightly onto the griddle
- the final product turns out slightly moist in the center while bread-like on the exterior

Usable Haiku for Project 05

2007-03-29T01:25:00.000-05:00

The following were presented before the class:

the crinkle of wrappers
hot tea bites the tongue
on a gusty day
branches wave vigorously
as if inviting us to stay--
let's go indoors already

Chadou - project 04

2007-03-27T08:50:00.000-05:00

Chadou [The Way of Tea]

This is the version I was able to come up with after my finished file got corrupted. I was originally able to make the colors of the 'souls' change with each move but I can't remember how I got it to work.

Haiku * by Prof. Gurga

2007-03-16T20:56:00.000-05:00

It's interesting all the thoughts and emotions that are brought forth by reading a haiku. It makes you wonder what the writer was thinking and what that imagery actually means to you.

Tokonomas

Haiku Process

use your surroundings as inspiration
- take the senses and the feelings and put that into the poem
- actually take time to note everything around you before starting the poems
the poems themselves will not always be recognized
- it is only a haiku when someone appreciates it
- you throw away whatever isn't recognized
- descriptive haiku that doesn't tell you how to feel is the best
poems presented before the class:
branches wave vigorously
as if inviting us to stay--
let's go indoors already

the crinkle of wrappers
hot tea bites the tongues
on a gusty day
other poems I wrote:
green hidden
among last year's leaves
water pours in buckets

a painful breath
while in a glass cage
the rain has started

delicately woven fabrics
shine in the lamplight
but mother says no

Other pictures and info

additional items on display

Hade, Shibui, Iki, Wabisabi - project 03

2007-03-11T20:58:00.000-05:00

Hade

Iki

Shibui

Wabi-Sabi

There were three layers to this project. First was the way the weave was cut. Second were the colors used. Third was the type of paper that was used.

The two corrections that I need to make are the colors for iki (one of them needs to be black) and the presentation of wabi-sabi (the threads are already weaved in, so the extra cut is unnecessary).

The detail of the design for the shibui piece is lost in this picture. It's even hard to see in person but you can definitely feel it if you touch it. The texture of the wabi-sabi piece is also very soft.

Incense * by Prof. Moore

2007-03-09T20:54:00.000-06:00

I was unable to take pictures of the equipment and the containers that were passed around. However, for this experience, I think it will be most memorable through the smell of sandalwood.

Tokonomas

Incense

the shavings of the wood were placed on a square plastic sheet above the charcoal
- the rounded lump of charcoal is buried under the sand/soil
- the soil forms a triangle above this, upon which the sheet sits
when breathing in the scent, there are rules of decorum
- the main guest, who sits to the left of the host, breathes out to the right whie the remaining guest breathe out to the left
- one hand grips the thumb of the other hand to form an enclosure over the incense
- you can also hold the container around the mouth with both hands to make an enclosure
- only breathe in the scent at most three times
incense originally used to hide odor in other countries
- in Japan, fashionable to have scented clothes or hair
- eventually became a game in which guests smell several unidentified incense and guess what they are

Other pictures and info

what would be a fire pit if fire was actually allowed

additional Hinamatsuri images

various dolls on display

Hade, Shibui, Iki, Wabisabi - project 03 draft

2007-03-02T02:20:00.000-06:00

Iki

Shibui

Wabi-Sabi

I feel that the wabi-sabi one isn't working very well. It's too crass. The design for iki works but the colors are incorrect. Shibui still needs to be simpler - in color and design. Hade will be two vibrant colors in floral patterns and the design will be larger squares.

Chadou [Informal-Informal]

2007-02-27T02:13:00.000-06:00

I didn't take as many pictures of the things that we covered today. It was kind of special because we got to witness the hinamatsuri and make ocha for our classmates. I didn't realize how difficult it is to whisk one bowl of tea really well. I will certainly try my best to explain what I have no pictures to show.

Tokonomas

Iki-Style Tea Ceremony

the ceremony is performed in front of a large group of people, who are seated in rows of chairs
- the guest of honor is placed in the frontmost seat on the right
- appears much like a presentation of sorts
the tea utensils are brought out in a rectangular box
- comes with a tray to hold them as they are taken out and set aside for use
- the whisk has a cover
- an extra cloth for the guest to put underneath the bowl as she/he picks it up
- miniature candy container with rock candy, which originated from the Dutch
the hot water comes directly from a teapot
- there is a place to heat the teapot on the table itself, which forms a semi-circle around the person performing the ceremony
- instead of a large pot from which water is scooped out of

Hinamatsuri

the entire display

the father and mother; also refers to the emperor and his wife

the daughters

musicians

soldiers and special trees

servants

row of offerings/dowry

bottom row

Other pictures and info

study of patterns and designs in the Hinamatsuri display

Hinamatsuri-related objects

today's candy was too rough for me

Chadou [Semiformal-Informal]

2007-02-26T17:54:00.000-06:00

In such a tiny room, we were able to fit nine people. It made me very aware of myself and my movements. It may be commemorated as the first day that students were served in that room. The way the sunlight came in through the slatted windows made an interesting play on the walls and the lighting of the room.

Tokonomas

A More Personal Tea Ceremony

the walls are papered to protect people's backs
- the paper is shorter on the preparer's side since usually not close enough to it to get dirty
- which is also why the the area where people sit to be served is much higher
- the walls are usually made from mud
as shown in a previous posting, the roof bamboo is exposed
- there are openings near the fire pits for the smoke to escape
- when the bamboo are replaced, these soot-covered ones are often used to make tea utensils
a screen was meant to set apart a place for teamaking in a large room
- within a camp-like setting or a rectangular/square room where everything happened and no separate rooms were quartered off
- different screens used depending on season; mostly to match
fire pits were usually part of a large cooking area
- the pot for the hot water was hung so that are pots could also occupy the space at the same time
- unlike in this room, there would be soil underneath the entire floor and in the fire pit
- the heat given off by the fire itself would also warm the participants
dirt walls are supported by bamboo lattice
- exposure of bamboo will produce a different visual appeal (for window)
- variation in size and width of spacing also add to this effect

Other pictures and info

upclose pictures of display bowls from last class

garden and rain spouts around Japan House

wagashi paper for today

Chadou [Formal-Informal]

2007-02-15T20:37:00.001-06:00

Today, formal / semiformal chadou was performed for us. It's interesting that there is the appearance of the event never happening: the tea ceremony is to begin from nothing and to end where we started, at nothing. Yet we still leave with something: a feeling and experience that can't be forgotten.

The clothes; the slow, deliberate movements; the utensils; and the ceremony itself are things that I won't be able to explain clearly, written or otherwise.

Tokonomas

scrolls with hidden meanings are always harder to understand
- for the most part, I understand that the scrolls were emphasizing our concentration on the tea ceremony during the time that we were there
- the semi-formal scroll was about letting go of extravagance?
on this special occasion an incense container (well, some kind of container) of elegance

Performing the Tea Ceremony

by no means, an accurate account or something that can reflect the feelings of being there.
- A bowl was brought out with a towel and whisk inside.
- The chaire was brought down from the top of the shelfing and placed next to the bowl. These items were moved around as the water bowl was brought out and the lid holder was taken out of it.
- The metal chopsticks (just sticks?; used to poke the 'coal' of the fire for the water) were taken out of the tall container and placed to the left side of the shelving.
- The lid was removed from the heated water pot and the whisk and towel were taken out and set on the ground and on the top of the lid, respectively. Hot water was put into the tea bowl and the ladle was placed upside down on the edge of the pot with a tap.
- With the heated water, the whisk and tea bowl were cleaned. the top of the chaire and the tea scooper were cleaned with a cloth carried by the preparer.
- 3 scoops of tea were put into the bowl and a lil more than half a ladle of hot water was poored into the bowl. The whisk was used until the tea became frothy.
- Clean chaire lip and put cap back on.
- Clean tea bowl and whisk with cold water.
- Clean chaire lid and scoop with cloth.
- A ladle of cold water was put back into the hot water to replace what was used during the ceremony and more water was brought out to fill the cold water container.
- Once everything was done, everything except the water bowl was put back in its place. the chaire and the scooper were left for the guest to view while the preparer went to clean up the dishes.

As a Participant in the Tea Ceremony

turn bowl towards you when you drink
always turn front of bowl back towards preparer once you are done
made a loud sip when you are finished
bow to the person next to you when you drink before them
a sweet is always brought out before the tea is served; we ate small manju today (anko)
bow when you receive sweet and receive tea. bow when you return empty bowl of tea
look at items with elbows on knees and items as close to ground as possible to keep from dropping
never put lid of chaire on ground, may scratch lacquer

Other pictures and info

various ocha-making utensils

the snow on the way to Japan House

Shin, Gyo, So - project 01

2007-02-13T10:40:00.000-06:00

shingyoso

For me, movie theater popcorn has a very rich taste and since I don't go to the movies often, it's very hard to obtain. For that reason, I find it to be more shin. Microwave popcorn is something that everyone can eat and the variety of flavors available gives everyone an option. There is also a buttery taste to the popcorn that becomes an aftertaste. The availability and feel of the popcorn are what make the microwaved kind gyo. Finally, plain popcorn is so. As it comes straight out of the microwaveable container, it's very bland and rather dry. It has this very rough texture and hardly any flavor but it's still likeable as popcorn once some salt and flavoring is added.

I don't like the way the images turned out. They are rather fuzzy and that was due in part to the camera's abilities to focus. Also, the lighting wasn't the same for all of them. I think that would have united them a little bit more. I haven't taken a photo class yet and this project made me wish I had.

Wabi-Sabi

2007-02-12T20:45:00.001-06:00

#1 - This one is really hard to tell: there is a lot of white space in the image and the bowls which the jello-like sauce are in are chipped and old (or at least have the appearance of being old). It can't be said that this is natural; it is noticeably contrived in shape and texture. Although if left like that, the food will decay but it won't be attractive. not wabi-sabi

#2 - this image definitely portrays the natural beauty and textures of the forest. However, it seems embellished as far as the shadows make the trees look taller and bigger than they are. I think that the view itself could be considered a one-time experience because the sunlight will never be exactly like that again and the spot from which you look at it will never be that exact same spot. The forest will eventually change too. The color and asymmetry of the piece is also very natural and the foreground space is also very large. wabi-sabi

#3 - the snow-covered branches and the way the snow is still falling lightly conveys a moment in which one should be awed and a little sad. The snow will last forever nor will those branches remain as they are. The details are hard to discern but that makes it a simple image. Everything looks natural except for the lake; it doesn't look like water. The colors are also these whites, browns, and muted greys. I lean more towards wabi-sabi.

Ma, Shin, Soe, Tai - project 02

2007-02-12T05:13:00.000-06:00

seems a lifetime ago . . .

Overall, I wanted to create a space and trap you in that space and once you left, you wouldn't be able to repeat it (however, for grading and crit purposes, I let it start over).

The index page is only there to lead you in the direction of the chosen space [ma] (the pop-up window). There are nine individual webpages to it that give depth to the space. Each page has its own shin, soe, and tai.

The stacking of the pages is meant to build a story on itself.

I'm still trying to work with the images and stick to one or two basic backgrounds. The placement and sizing of the words are the most difficult; although it should be easier considering that I'm working in a limited area.

explanation - what we had to turn in as part of the final; very complicated compared to what is written above

Bigaku

2007-02-10T23:45:00.000-06:00

Today, we had tea at the beginning of class instead of at the usual break halfway through. Little experiences like these are what we live for . . . I think that in itself was very wabi-sabi because we had just come in from the cold, which we don't like very much to drink hot tea. So we couldn't say that we hate this kind of weather in that instant; it was a moment in which we were glad for the cold weather and the hot tea.

Tokonomas

the scrolls were much livelier today
- the words had feeling to them in the way they were drawn
- for 'michi/tao,' I think the way you walk on that road is what makes it pleasing and special
- the semi-formal scroll was created along the same lines as what I wrote above
- the zen circle is 'an expression of the moment'; "the opening symbolizes that the Enso is not separate, but is part of something greater" - Wikipedia
although the place where the flowers were is considered part of the tokonoma, the focus still seems to be on the scroll

Other pictures and info

the vases from last class

semi-formal room's pot was uncovered

first chance to see the formal room's firepit being used

Chabana

2007-02-04T06:35:00.001-06:00

We had the chance of putting together a chabana and placing it in one of the tokonomas. It was an odd and exciting at the same time. Design was really at work in these pieces. To think that we won't get to see them anymore . . .

Tokonomas

as always, the items within were related to the subject of the lecture
the atmosphere when viewing the tokonomas is now very different
- seems almost like a monastery, with the quietude, the uniformity
- it's very calming to see the rows of people in front of the tokonomas
- and even more calming to be a part of it and look at everything
- very different from the bustle of the first few times

Informal, Semi-formal, and Formal

the ceilings mentioned last time (semi-formal, formal)
rooms seem extremely spacious with most of the screens taken out/hidden (semi-formal, formal)
the informal room was closed, like it was out of service for the winter

Chabana exercise

the flower arrangements were beautiful but i couldn't get pictures of all of them since my camera ran out of battery
it was interesting to note that despite the shape of the container, the flowers were able to match and even accent them
round containers should not go with round boards
we used the containers sitting on the display wall (arranged in order of shin, gyo, so)
tools we used:
our arrangement:
everyone else's:

Other pictures and info

the garden still looked well put together even though the flower-bearing plants are dead
the freshly fallen snow contrasted oddly with the greenness of the place, like it is still living despite how cold it was

Ikebana

2007-01-27T05:42:00.000-06:00

To be able to watch the process in the span of few hours makes me hope that I will be able to doing some that good and that fast someday.

Tokonomas

the scrolls were definitely related to ikebana
- ichi go, ichi e (semi-formal) clearly reflects how fleeting the process and product of ikebana are
- we will only get this chance to see the ikebana process and to view the flowers before they wilt
- hana (informal) embodies a tulip or some kind of flower in the strokes

Informal, Semi-formal, and Formal

two rectangles opened slightly in the rice paper of the sliding doors across from the entrance (informal)
formal room also has a place to heat water
rooms seem bigger and wider with the screens in the middle gone (semi-formal, formal)
the ceilings of the semi-formal and formal rooms are
- perpendicular to each other
- but the beams are penpendicular to the grain of the wood
a screen around the area for the tea utensils (semi-formal)

Other pictures and info

smell of incense stronger than usual
display of fans from last time replaced by zodiac animals

informal room

the flower arrangements

Shin, Gyo, So

2007-01-26T13:59:00.000-06:00

I've been in Japan House many times before (more specifically, the intro to Japanese aesthetics Discovery course), but I never really looked looked at everything. It's amazing what new things you notice just by paying a little more attention.

I focused on getting the details of the room. I'm thinking of going by senses on the next few visits. The following is everything I wrote down but there are some things I only documented in images. So, I'll post and caption those.

Informal (So)

in comparison to the other rooms, amazingly square
- the tatami circles around the center of the room, where one tatami mat's end meets the other's beginning
sense of hierarchy:
- scroll is main focus
- accessories are flowers and/or containers (barely noticeable)
only florescent light comes from alcove
material is rough:
- bamboo aka raw material
- as they are; not refined at all
entire room forces you to be humble
- you must be close to others; share space with them
- uncomfortable to stand in since the ceiling's barely above my head
- entrance is so low, must bow in order to enter
ceiling skylight
window is slatted, so even if opened, view is cut up

Semi-formal~Formal (Gyo)

the tokonoma arrangement is somehow much more aggressive (?)
- the branches come down at an angle and fill up a lot of the space
- the central image is square and small (rising sun = new year)
- i feel like my attention is drawn to the pot in the corner because of the branches
- simplicity and hierarchy together makes you want to look at it more
has a place to heat the water for the tea

Both Semi-formal (Gyo) and Formal (Shin)

the step seems unsturdy because of the shadow under it
- this in turn makes the ground of the rooms seem more solid
more refined than Informal
large ceiling light
- uncomfortably low; directly above head
slatted windows are at the very top

Other pictures and info

the Formal tokonoma