In an age where narratives shape our realities and define our identities, this course invites participants to explore the profound potential of generative design and code as catalysts for social transformation. Through the lens of TouchDesigner, we will navigate the intricate tapestry woven from storytelling, language, and typography, recognizing these elements not merely as tools, but as vessels of love and agency that can ignite collective consciousness.
As we confront the politics of othering, rooted in colonial systems, and face the pressing crises of genocide, democide, and ecocide in the world today, art and technology become powerful tools to oppose the dominant narratives imposed by oppressive systems. One of the most powerful tools of the oppressors is their control over the narrative. This course challenges participants to reclaim that power and craft counter-narratives that resist, disrupt, and reimagine the structures of domination.
Drawing inspiration from the mystical reflections of Rumi and Ibn Arabi, we will embrace their view of love as a transformative force—one that transcends the individual and flows into the collective. As Rumi writes, “Let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you truly love.” In the spirit of Bell Hooks, we will explore how love, as a radical practice, can challenge and disrupt oppressive systems. Hooks reminds us in All About Love that “the will to love is a choice,” and this choice is deeply political.
Participants will engage in crafting dynamic, text-based compositions that play with meaning, form, and perception. Together, we will interrogate how code, as a tangible material, can transcend traditional narrative structures and invite new ways of seeing, feeling, and experiencing the world. Through the interplay of visual and textual storytelling, we will harness the power of generative design to articulate visions of hope, resilience, and change.
This course emphasizes both personal expression and our collective responsibility to create art that reflects our deepest values and aspirations. With each project, we will engage in embodied activism, allowing our creative practices to resonate with the heartbeat of the communities we inhabit. In doing so, we will strive to create work that is not only aesthetically compelling but also politically charged—art that speaks to the urgency of our times and the transformative power of love.
In this course you will be introduced to
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Creative programming in TouchDesigner
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Generative design techniques with a focus on text
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Real-time visual narratives
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Code poetry and visual literature
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Code as a tool for political and social change
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Conceptual approaches to typography and narrative design