Index | Nicholas Wergin + Rachel Momenee

Nicholas Wergin 

First Reading:

1. From what you got in the reading, what is the definition of "index"? 

2 .It talks about an index as a footprint, medical symptoms, or the referents and shifters.  What is an index in an architectural sense?

3. Do captions on an image (index) effect the index?

4. Can a caption become an index on its own?

5. Is any image an index?

Second Reading:

1. It seems that the definition of an index changes from the first to the second article.  Are indexes a static entity or dynamic.  Does the definition change with the circumstances.

Rachel Momenee

First Reading:

1. What is the index's relationship to multiplicity? Does the notion of multiplicity cause a need for the ability to index?

2. Can the imaginary be indexed?

Second Reading:

1. When is something an index and when is it an icon ( image vs photo) or a symbol? Can something fall into more than one category?
2. How is an image or painting distinguished as continuous or discontinuous if it is not displayed in a physical manner? Is this act of distinguishing an act of indexing?
3. What does photo editing do to the way we perceive a photograph in terms of temporal distance? Does it shift the viewers perception of "having been there"?

"Agency of Mapping"

Mikich Questions:

Because locations of countries, states, and cities are so well known today is a map still considered mapping? 

What side of mapping is more important, analogous or abstraction?

Is the map meant for the designer or for his or her audience?

Why has mapping in design and planning not been advanced or experimented with?

What are pros and cons of the new mapping techniques; drift, layering, game-boards, rhizome?

Momenee Questions:

Is one of these four mapping types presented by Corner more relevant than the others in mapping the "dynamic multiplicity" of urban processes or are they each situational?

Must each of these mapping techniques (drift, layering, game-boards, rhizome) be performed in order complete a comprehensive analysis as part of the design process? Is there a technique that is missing from this list?

Mapping is a form of abstraction. In the design process of contemporary design and planning do you feel that it is appropriate to only consider the designer(s) cognitive mapping exercises or must this act of mapping also be performed the end user's and constituent groups involved in a project? (Drift vs. Game Board?)

What is the importance of graphic representation in the success of these mapping techniques?

What role do the enhancements in technology (i.e. powerful digital and animation media) play in furthering the potential of mapping and as a tool for discovery and exploration?

Exercise 01 Films

Rushmore
1. Wergin
2. Hass
3. Cano
4. Mikich
5. Causier

The Royal Tenenbaums
1. Allsop
2. Thao
3. Traver
4. Oh
5. Gomaz
6. Lutzow

The Grand Budapest Hotel
1. Binczak
2. Momenee
3. Raasch
4. Kleveland
5. Zahradnicek
6. Nelson
7. Lorenc

discussion questions

week 2: Abstract vs Mimetic

1.How much has to be taken away from the (a) particular object for it to become abstract? from "concrete" to "Abstract"? What has two Wheels with rubber linings, a chain, pedals, and a handle bar?

2. When does our perception of something become that of Abstraction? if you were to only take away the lacing of a football is it still a football if it maintains its shape? color? Size?

3. How do we differentiate between unknown objects? and to what extent do we carry out this unknown to become known to our new found perceptions of Abstraction?

4. It seems as though things with the most attributes are subject to become less abstract. We all become subject to change and notice change. where is the balance of abstraction? does more or less have to be taken away from the known? or can something of an object be added to? or does the object under a category of a another familiar object?

5. Is every Object abstract in some way or another? Can we pick the ONE attribute in any object that makes it abstract?

6. The blend of categorization can be as defined or undefined as we like. Where is the line that divides the category? what makes the object fit perfectly into its own place?

7. The alteration of a triangle shows us that no matter how many ways you try and make it different (altering the angle, making one side larger than the other, ect...) the sum of angles are always the same. If the attributes of different objects have all the same attributes and conditions what makes it abstract?

8. It seems as though the smallest alterations to an object become the most obscure and abstract. What is that makes us believe that what we are seeing is true to itself and to us?

9. Mathematics don't lie. we see it on paper written out as an equation and it makes sense to us. When the letters and numbers are stripped away from the object how do we believe something to be true when we only TOLD that the object holds its qualities when it doesn't look to be so? (abstract?)

10. Final question...What is Abstraction? is it the un-place-able object? is it the object that is obscured? is it our own unknown perception of the object? What makes something abstract?

Questions posted by:
-Miles Hass

Fall 2015 Discussion leaders

Week 02 - Gomaz, Hass
Week 03 - Momenee, Mikich
Week 05 - Momenee, Wergin
Week 07 - Lorenc, Allsop
Week 08 - Kleveland, Traver
Week 09 - Lorenc, Zahradnicek
Week 10 - Nelson
Week 11 - Lutzow
Week 12 - Oh
Week 14 - Cano, Raasch
Week 15 - Binczak, Thao