Electronic Media Final Project Proposal

Items Involved

Then when the viewer is close to the safe, a robotic arm rearranges the letters to the other side where there is another camera, and this time the words:

The careful, calculated movements of the machine are meant represent the machines of production

By standing next to the work, the viewer can see the machines of production at work, and watching long enough reveal a hidden message of capitalism

This is a box, and it represents a secret / something unspoken

Capitalism is spelt on one side of the box and viewed through a security camera onscreen

I A M P L A S T I C

• Plastic has the connotation of disposable / fake
• many disposable / fake items come from a mass production of goods
• It is saying "I am plastic" or "I am fake" so it shows the false sense of security it can create when there is an economic bubble
• It also may create people who are false just to sell things
• Plastic is a large part of consumerism because it is cheap
• Plastic represents credit carts / also disposable

...Are formed on the screen below

to this

from this

• Electromagnet
• Magnetic letters
• Box that looks like a safe / actual safe
• Pan-tilt servo
• Raised stage
• Lights
• Two cameras
• Computer
• Sensor to discover the presence of a person

C A P I T A L I S M

CAM 05 4/16/2012 1:40 PM

CAM 05 4/16/2012 1:30 PM

...more importantantly one related to the government / money

I A M P L A S T I C

CAM 06 4/16/2012 1:40 PM

CAM 06 4/16/2012 1:30 PM

Potential Problem 1:

Robotic Arm Too Heavy for Servos

Potential Problem 3:

Magnet does not work perfectly

Potential Problem 4:

How do I find something magnetic?

Potential Problem 6:

Letters Spin While they are Being Transported

Potential Problem 2:

The arm doesn’t move well because of the wires connected to it

Potential Problem 5:

Letters do not fall into the right spot / multiple pieces are picked up at once

Potential Problem 7:

Difficult to work on with walls around

Economize the weight of the arm

Create a hollowed out arm, like a crane in the design

Are there stronger servos?

Only Magnetic on the corners?

Create magnet that is flat on the bottom (not just a nail)

Experiment with how to get the magnet to work every time

Reasearch ways of making the magnet stronger

Iron sheets that magnets attract to

Make the corners of the letters magnetic

Add walls last

Create a roof

Carefully attach wires to ensure full range of motion

Incorporate wire holders in the design to keep things clean

Use wires that move more easily

Create slots to hold the pieces in place

Make sure slots are deep enough to separate magnetic pull

Make sure that arm can lift high enough to exit slot

Fine tune strength of magnet

Goal

• The safe is representative of the governmental control of ideas
• Hidden inside the safe is a mechanized production
• The viewer does not know what is going on, until they approach it, thereby seeking out the information
• the cameras are used to reveal, and represent the role of media in society
• The fact that it is an anagram relates to the idea that "falsity/consumerism" are very much intertwined with the capitalist system, they are embedded in the name
• Hopefully my project is a funny and interesting way to spark a discussion about the issues of materialism and the false nature of a capitalist economy