A critique of, and response to what has been established without critical foresight.

Apr 19, 2007

Hmph...

In my mind, a memorial is a space open to the public, where one can physically visit and reflect; leave words, flowers, and teddy bears. After incidents that have occurred recently, the idea of a memorial has transcended into something else. Influenced by a different generation, a generation whose main source of communication involves a technological interface such as a cell phone or screen, their generation has redefined the way one grieves.

Facebook.com, a place where students socialize and posts pictures of their weekend debauchery, a place where potential employers do their research, has become a place no longer just about socializing. These pages of personal information, social habits, and networking turn into a space of memory. A memory of a person who has lost his or her life due to an unimaginable event, a webpage becomes a memorial.

If a memorial can go be beyond a wall or sculpture, how does that transcend with other aspects of architecture. Can a hospital be put online? A park? It’s happened. Cyberspace is our new land. Maya Lin spoke of her next memorial to be based on the internet. She didn’t have to create it, the new generation did. I’m sure this is not the first time this correlation has happened, but it’s the first time I’ve absorbed it.

Apr 18, 2007

RETREAT!

I propose an Astigma retreat one weekend durring construction.

We should all take a weekend in June to go float down the Guadalupe River in New Braunfels. A nice relaxing innertube and never ending beer will sound even better after a few weeks of camping in the hot Oklahoma summer. I volunteer Japser's house in Austin for accomodations. It is only about an hour away and he has two extra bedrooms and a very large living room. If we even leave on a thursday evening we could spend some time on 6th street, explore Austin and/or San Antonio, and float the river in time to get back to work on monday!

What do you guys think?

(we could even bring the company cat if Filpot insists)