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 * INCUBATION - Weeks 2 - 4**

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 * This is an exploration period where you work more closely with the course main themes (identity, creativity, visuality) and techniques (hypertext and image collages) which form the basis for the following implementation phase. Have a look at the three tasks below. **

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=Task 1: Objects Hypertext (Week 2)=

media type="custom" key="11861196" In this task you will explore two short texts about Albert Einstein. The texts are biographical, that is they tell us about Einstein’s life but they do so in an unconventional way. See the summaries below to get a rough idea how they approach the topic.

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media type="custom" key="11861752" As you can see, Einstein seems to have experienced something in his childhood, which somehow summarises his whole life or demonstrates the dominant theme. For the purpose of this course, this dominant theme is called //a wide scope image of one’s life//.

To get a better understanding of the story, you will be working in two groups (Group 1 will deal with @Holton text and Group 2 will do @Briggs text - your tutor will let you know which group you are in) and turn the text into a hypertext

Your task is to annotate the text - each of the group members will add hyperlinks to at least one visual and one textual object (either self-created/written or found on the web). The hyperlinked artefacts should somehow explain the meanings from the original text. These might be literate or figurative (metaphors, symbols). They should not be dictionary definitions of the words though. You should be working on the hypertext together by giving each other support when making decisions whether the annotation enriches the original text in a meaningful and creative way. When your hypertext is finished (end of week 2), study the other group’s text and their annotations.

Write up a reflection entry for your blog – //How did you establish the connections between the hyperlinks? What difficulties did you encounter, what decisions did you face, how did you solve the problems, what benefits for learning did you derive when working on the hypertext task?// Visit others’ blogs to read about their experience. Engage in a conversation with at least one colleague.

=Task 2: Objects Research (Week 3)=

Watch the two videos below in which David Gauntlett explains his research into constructing identities visually. In the project he and his research team collaborated with the Lego Group to explore the ways in which creative construction of objects can unlock feelings and insights into everyday experience. Most notably they asked a diverse range of people to build metaphorical models of their identities, in Lego.


 * Video 1: Representing identities (lego blocks) - Part 1**

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 * Video 1: Representing identities (lego blocks) - Part 2**

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David Gauntlett's research covers a range of interesting issues like visuality, visual culture, creativity, reflexivity - if you want to know more about the project, visit his website **Artlab**.


 * Things to consider:**

‘Visual culture is concerned with visual events in which information meaning, or pleasure is sought by the consumer in an interface with visual technologies’ (from Artlab Mission page ). According to Artlab one can notice a visual turn, a turn towards creativity, the visual and the imagination. They also suggest the audience might interact with the visual in two different ways, passively and actively.

//How do you understand visual culture and what is its significance for you personally? How do you participate in the visual culture? Is there a place for visual culture at university? Why (not)? Please illustrate your answers with specific examples, including references to your own context.//

Write up a blog entry. Visit other people’s blog, as usual keep the conversation going by asking questions and challenging others’ opinions.

=Task 3: Objects Creation (Week 4)=

This activity draws on the tasks and themes from the two previous weeks. Using the stories I want you to engage in the task of visual identity construction.

Following Einstein’s example, look for your own material in form of childhood experiences, encounters with people, scenes seen, things acquired, etc. Look for memories that express an abstract theme, that could reflect, or rather simulate, your images of wide scope (the dominant theme). Be creative, be bold in making and/or imagining the connections!

Following Gauntlett’s project, create your identity site. It doesn’t have to be built with Lego blocks (although if you own a set, go for it). You can create a video or a collage or any other visual method – your imagination is your only limit here. See this video entitled [|Identity Box] if you need more inspiration but remember use your own context as you are building your own story.

Embed the artefact in your blog with a reflective entry, explaining your choices.

As usual, explore and appreciate your colleagues’ work by leaving comments with constructive criticism.