After the introductory presentation we were given a task to choose one object and begin to decode it, to discover what the objects really are. We discussed within the introduction about mind mapping and using it to decode objects to place them into different meanings according to their meaning, narrative, associations and iconography. We spoke about how each object we interact with has so many different aspects and meanings beyond the first look. For example, one of my chosen objects was a joker from a deck of cards. Initially the meaning of the card is purely based within the deck of cards, however the further you delve into the meaning of the decoding of the card, the more becomes clear. The narrative of the card brings about more thought about it and makes you think about it in more detail, what games has it been played in, what is it made of, where was it made and when? Every object has more to it than meets the eye, and this part of the presentation helped show me how to look into everything with more of an open mind to decode them and look deeper into the each aspect of the object.
The task we were set was to decode a chosen object within a group, to think about the object and its functions, the materials it was made with and how can be viewed in different narratives and contexts depending on the placement of the object.
Our chosen object was a steal and glass bowl shaped item. After some discussion we figured out the object was a ‘conductor’ found up high on pile-ons. We discussed the function of the conductor and how the materials it was made out of helps it to carry out its function. The variety of materials also give more to decode when it comes to the textures, as well as the colours.
We were then set with placing that object into a space to bring out the interesting features we discovered whilst decoding it. We thought the most successful way to display our object would be to use light and electricity throughout, as diffusing electricity is its original function. Our displays would be taking the original function of the conductor and make it more interesting using lights, sound and other electrical features. Overall I think all the displays ended up with very interesting design and aesthetic, the idea of taking a fairly standard and very functional object and placing it into a different context.
Overall the session inspired me to look at objects in different lights, even the most mundane and functional items can be decoded and looked at in a way which takes them out of their initial narratives and places them into new scenarios in which they can be perceived in a completely different way.
Ben Jackson 