Unit 1
🔘 non - human 🔘 ecofeminism 🔘 the "CULTUS" exhibition
non - human
On November 6, 2023, I engaged in a session with Eleanor Dare to discuss the topic of post-human photography. I found this lesson to be a fascinating exploration of post-human media. Our initial focus was examining the coordination of insects and analysing their influence on media technologies and the organisation of networked societies, including insights drawn from "The Exploit." The course familiarised me with many branches of posthumanism, including critical posthumanism, transhumanism, and posthumanities, which led me to reflect on how they can impact design and media.
The studies done by Monica Gagliano and Stanislaw Lem into plant intelligence and environmental memory served as my inspiration. As part of the course, I participated in an immersive project that allowed me to explore the natural world alongside a partner. This project provided a rare chance to observe and understand many entities' coordinated and expressive interactions.
Explaining posthumanism's definitions and many branches increased my knowledge of this philosophical and cultural trend. I started pondering the difficulties it poses to the belief that humans are the centre of the universe and have control over other living beings. The emergence of posthumanism at a time characterised by climate crises and conflicting intelligence frameworks grew more evident.
The course also explored the notions of the post-digital era and post-cinema, emphasising the ongoing transformation of media and its waning influence. Filmmakers such as Rithy Panh, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, and Hayao Miyazaki highlight their deliberate choice to embrace non-human and marginalised views, thereby questioning the dominant narratives around human experiences.
Upon finishing this course, I have acquired profound insights into numerous facets. To begin with, I have received a more lucid comprehension of posthumanist views. I have considered various philosophical frameworks, including Critical Posthumanism, Transhumanism, and Posthumanities, and their capacity to question conventional anthropocentric beliefs. This has compelled me to reassess our complex interdependencies with other life forms, technology, and the environment.
Conversations regarding the development and influence of media have prompted reflection on changes in society and culture. I have extensively explored the enormous impact of media on our identity, perceptions, and worldview, particularly in the era after the widespread adoption of digital and cinematic technologies, where media plays a significant role in reshaping our understanding of reality.
The discourse surrounding post-human photography has compelled me to reassess the production and comprehension of visual representations. I have pondered the ability of photography to depict viewpoints that are not human and the influence that these viewpoints have on our understanding of the globe. Photography has evolved beyond being solely a means of human observation and has become a more expansive form of artistic expression closely connected to technology and culture.
This has also motivated me to produce artwork centred around the mushroom motif. This course has stimulated significant contemplation on the interconnections among humans, technology, the environment, and culture. I have developed a heightened awareness of the significance of varied perspectives, environmental morality, and media culture, which will be crucial areas to explore in the future.