This is the exploration of a system: social norms. We construct norms in order to have a societal and cultural framework, yet they also construct us as individuals. Contextualized as an influential factor to our perception and interpretation, social norms are a counterpart to memory.
Delving into the system, I broke down and investigated its different components, relationships, technologies, and mechanisms of regulation. I was then able to abstract the system of norms, both visually and conceptually, to understand its potential implications, and eventually re-imagine its functions.
The first phase of the project was presented in the form of a ‘dossier’, a non-linear collection of findings, insights, questions, and interpretations.
The second phase of the project consisted in creating a situation for others to experience the re-imagined system.
The installation is a reproduction of a scene of the everyday – a dinner date – and allows for two distinct audiences: one participating, and the other observing. The decor is meant to be recognized as familiar and suggest a set of appropriate behavior, language, and conduct.
This is the invitation, prompting people to visit the installation.
The two people sit down and engage with the setting as they normally would. They are, however, wearing headphones, while the observing audience controls what they are hearing through a 'soundboard'. The auditory component is a deviance from social norms, asking, or rather tempting the participants to disobey what is considered normal, or accepted. Creating an experience that is not only physical, visual, and auditory, but also juxtaposes different perceptions, the objective is to make them experience deviation and abnormality, in order to perceive the barrier norms create in our lives.
Individual project done in the context of Prof. C. Latina's Technology II studio, Pratt Institute, Fall 2016. Research, ideation, process & development, visual explorations, HTML & CSS code, sound design, and installation.