05 - 2018
ISOLATED UTOPIA. Royal Academy of Art, The Hague. (KABK) INSIDE: Master of Interior and Architecture
Studio3: Corrupted Space Tuters Anne Hoogewoning Gerjan Streng Benjamin Foerster-Baldenius Jillian Chen
Yunkyung Lee.
Intro.
Contents. Intro.
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Living alone in a country I have never been before, I sometimes feel like I am quite obsessed with my social network services. Due to loneliness, I cannot stop checking my Instagram and Facebook feed to get the feeling that I am still connected with my friends and family through tiny electric devices. Though, each time I checked SNS, afterwards I felt much lonelier than before because I compared my life with other’s
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Nomadic Lifestyle & Off-grid Living
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Energy Stealer
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and felt jealous that they hanged out together without me. Since I can keep in touch with them and see their pictures, I cannot enjoy my personal life in the present anymore. At the same time, I have noticed that I cannot be perfectly separated from this virtual world for my studies, getting useful information from school for instance and buying products. Therefore, I started to wonder how social media affects my life and how I can live in an autonomous and independent way without digital devices. My utopian concept starts from these questions.
Isolated Utopia
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Yunkyung Lee.
Digital-Panopticon
Digital-Panopticon.
While people browsing on the Internet, their data
others are living better. This leads people to feel much
answer this question, it is necessary to be aware of the
histories and cookies are tracked and recorded
loneliness and socially isolated in comparison. For
mechanism that how the technology and the Internet
unconsciously by the system or government. In the
example, according to the research that published in
have influenced on people in a negative way. Due to
case of surveillance done by an individual, if someone
American Journal of Preventive Medicine, around 90%
the development of technology, the Internet and digital
viewed my personal information on Facebook, I would
of young adults in the United States visit social network
devices are omnipresent and the distance between
never know. Just like the inspector in the panopticon
website such as Facebook at least once a day. They
people are shortened. On the other hand, the frequent
who seems invisible for the prisoners, similarly, our
tend to substitute social media use for face-to-face
exposure to the virtual world acts as a catalyst for the
internet activities are always being observed by
interactions. This could be associated with the cause of
new type of Panopticon – Digital Panopticon.
any anonymous internet users. However, we can also
mental health problem like depression. (Brian A. Primak,
monitor the others’ information at the same time. In
2017) In this situation, people cannot be emotionally
other words, cyberspace has become the hotbed of
autonomous from what others doing. They might lose
the mutual surveillance. In the context of the mutual
their ability of self-determination due to the constant
surveillance, people are more likely to live under the
comparing and caring how their life looked like through
pressure as a result of comparing themselves with
the social media. Consequently, how can we overcome
others’ life. Moreover, people who are frequently
the circumstance on excessive exposure to the social
exposed to highly distilled, unrealistic portrayals on
media? There is two possible ways to prevent us from
social media are more vulnerable to the belief that
the addiction of social media use.
Originally, Panopticon is the model of prison specialized Isolated Utopia 2018
to control the inmates, which was proposed by Jeremy Bentham in his book Panopticon; or The Inspection
House (1787). A typical structure of panopticon prison was built in a shape of an octagon with individual cells along the circumference of the building. There was an inspection tower constructed in the centre of the prison but with the strong light from the top, it was invisible to the prisoners. Through this strategy, the prisoners were aware of they were under surveillance, but none of them did not know when they were monitored. This mental state of being watched without being able to see [figure 1] Elevation, section and plan of Jeremy Bentham's Panopticon penitentiary, drawn by Willey Reveley, (1791)
the inspector could make the inmates regulate their own behavior to avoid punishment. (Brignall, 2002) With this in mind, digital Panopticon works fundamentally the same mechanism as the original Panopticon, yet without a tangible structure. With wireless technology, the Internet can be viewed from almost anywhere on the planet. Only those that refuse to use the technology will be free from being observed. Even if individuals do not use the Internet, friends, family, and peers may use it thereby extending some of that social control over nonusers. (Brignall, 2002)
[Figure 2] Comparison between original Panopticon and Digital-Panopticon
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Yunkyung Lee.
First of all, how social media affects my life? To
Nomadic Lifestyle & Off-grid Living. Off-grid Living.
If we cannot be apart from the
The official definition of a nomad is a
To b e i n g d e v i a t e d f r o m D i g i t a l
technology and the Internet because
member of a people that travel from
Panopticon, the existence of
of the prevalence, how about
place to place to find fresh pasture
electricity would be an obstacle to
making a restriction of the physical
for its animals and has no permanent
quitting to use electric devices. But
environment? Without access to
home according to Oxford dictionary.
in the city, electricity is connected
the energy sources and the city
They have a freedom of choosing
everywhere through the energy grid.
infrastructure, people could make
where they go to live and when they
It is addictive and convenient so,
a regulation to use electric devices
move to another place. In my utopia,
it is difficult for people to control
themselves. By living as a nomad,
the citizen should be a new type of
their desire to access to electricity
people can keep a distance from
nomad - an individual nomad to be
when they are living in the on-grid
others physically to prevent others’
autonomous to being influenced by
situation. So, getting off from the city
disturbance. Also, by living off the
others. They would repeat the routine
infrastructure such as electricity
grid, they can gain an inconvenience
that living alone and approaching the
grid would be a solution to escape
to access to social media and
city centre. Keeping physical distance
from the surveillance that happens
the technology due to the lack of
from the city infrastructure and
on the Internet and social media. In
electricity. These discomforts would
being isolated would be exclusive
the off-grid situation, there would
help to improve the quality of mental
others’ opinion such as fashion trend
be a restriction and coercion of use
health of people who are stuck in the
that highly polished by the media.
of electricity due to the limitation of
mud of virtual world.
This could help people to be free
accessibility to the energy grid. This
from the life-long competition that
limited amount of electricity would
usually happens in the middle of
be only allowed to use for people’s
society. However, unfortunately, face-
basic needs such as lightening and
to-face communication is inevitable
cooking. This would lead them to be
as a human. If someone has been
independent from electric devices
isolated for too much time, he would
and Digital Panopticon. Therefore, the
suffer from mental illnesses such
citizen in my utopia should live in the
as insomnia. (Brian A. Primak, 2017)
off-grid situation in usual time.
Yunkyung Lee.
Isolated Utopia 2018
Nomadic Life.
[Figure 3] Diagram for explaining why nomadic life and off-gird living.
This is a fatal problem to humans. As a prevention of morbidity, the citizen who lives in my utopia should be able to decide how often they have
Q
a social interaction with others and nomadic life would support it. With the possibility of social interaction people are going to be much relaxed and would reduce the anxiety and
Then, how about the appearance of the citizen who lives in my utopia based on nomadic and off-grid lifestyle? How can these two kinds of lifestyle affect to them and their daily life?
stress that comes from being alone. Therefore, nomadic lifestyle would be one of the major strategy of living in my utopia.
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Energy Stealer.
From the evolutionary perspective of human being, I started to come up with the idea of futuristic human species – “Energy Stealer”. A person who is living without a settlement and foraging a little amount of electricity from the energy grid for surviving. In the near future, some people would start to proclaim to live a different way with others by being against to use the technology and electric devices. However, they do not give up all the convenience of the civilization, which means they find a way of using the existed city Isolated Utopia 2018
infrastructure such as electricity grid to maintain their Yunkyung Lee.
basic needs to survive. Therefore, people start to adjust to the circumstances given to them and to extract a bit of electricity from the grid that they can easily see in the street such as transmission lines, street lights and so on. Energy stealers are evolved to obtain a special skin, equipment, and habits to improve their life. Donna J. Haraway, the professor at the University of California, United States, said in her text The Companion Species “that man makes himself by realizing his intentions in his tools, such as domestic animals (dogs) and computers (cyborgs), is evidence of a neurosis that I call humanist technophiliac narcissism.” (Harraway, 2003) This could imply that human is evolving not only throughout their body but also in their tools and surroundings. To give an illustration, I intend to embody the characteristics of Energy Stealer. [Figure 4] Imagination of Energy stealers characteristics.
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Characteristics of Energy Stealer.
Skin.
Portable Wire& Stealing Tool& Battery.
First, they are specialized in accessing to the electricity
Energy stealer is developing a new type of skin for
To steal electricity, Energy stealer always carries
sources in the city infrastructure. The Most of the
the safety reason. Reaching to electricity sources is
their own portable wire, metal tool, and a battery that
sources that are exposed to the upper ground are much
always quite peril because sources have a possibility to
directly attached to the electricity sources which is the
higher than Energy stealer’s average height – such as
be killed by an electric shock. So, they started to wear
most hazardous and important part. All the equipment
transmission line, street light, tram line, and electricity
specialized material on the surface of their body for
should have a portability, mobility, and flexibility. So,
charger for cars. In order to reach to the electricity,
insulation – for example, rubber, plastic, or wood piece
they carry on a roll of wire on their back, grab the
Energy stealer started to exploit tools to make their
et cetera.
metal hook or stick to ground electrical facility with
body extended. This tool would help them to push beyond
rubber gloves and draw a portable battery to store
their limits and exceed our corporal boundaries. (Feuvre,
electricity that collected from the grid. With these tools,
2016)
they collect a small amount of electricity for a living and roam the city when they need the technology or the Internet.
[Figure 5] Finger Gloves – Rebbeca Horn (1972)
[Figure 6] Still from Performances 1, showing Shoulder Extensions – Rebecca Horn (1972)
[Figure 7] Evolution – Lucy McRae and Bart Hess (2008)
[Figure 8] Electricity theft in Lalitpur, Kathmandu
Therefore, these specific equipment makes Energy stealer looked like a new humankind and reflects their way of living on it. In addition, how Energy stealer’s daily life is going to be? There are two possible scenarios of their life – on-grid situation and off-grid situation.
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Yunkyung Lee.
Isolated Utopia 2018
Body Extensions.
Taking a lecture
Exchange tools skills
Participate in other activities..
knowledges experiences materials “FUB” activities
On-grid Situation. Energy stealer is also human so, he is inherently born
Furthermore, some of them make a kind of flea market
as a social creature. Sometimes, he needs face-to-
to sell the material that they made or their art piece.
face interaction with other people. For this reason,
In this facility, some voluntary lectures and workshops
there is a gathering place for Energy stealer who lives
also happen. After sunset, all of Energy stealer hang out
in all different location. This basement for Energy
together, have some drinks, and stay all night. In the
stealer acts as not only a community place but also
next day, most of them decide to which direction they
exchange place. In the on-grid situation, Energy stealer
want to go and say goodbye each other. Again, it’s time
can go to the closest basement which usually located
to go back to the off-grid life.
Drawing Writing Reading Listening Working with laptop&phone
Transmission Line
Tram Line
Electricity Charger
Street Light
in the city centre and exchange their own tools, skills, and knowledge to collect electricity much efficiently.
Narrative #1
+
On-grid
Basic Electricity Use
Exploit FUBʼs Energy
Go to sleep
Wake up
=15Wh/day
Cooking
cooker : 317kWh/year
=870Wh/day
Storing
A+bar fridge : 100kWh/year =270Wh/day
Charging
Laptop : 30kWh/year
=82Wh/day
Phone : 2kWh/year
=5.4Wh/day
Taking a lecture
Exchange tools
Distance from the city
Lightening LED bulb : 6kWh/year
skills
Participate in other activities..
knowledges
Electricity Usage
experiences Drying hair Shower
Lightening Fridge
Cooking
Doing Breakfast the dishes
materials “FUB” activities
Go to FUB
Cooking
Dinner
Doing the dishes
Social interaction Hang out with others
Lightening
“FUB” activities 21.25
Time Line
00.00
01.00
02.00
03.00
04.00
05.00
06.00
07.00
08.00
09.00
10.00
11.00
12.00
13.00
14.00
15.00
16.00
17.00
18.00
19.00
20.00
21.00
22.00
23.00
24.00
04.45
Shower Getting foods
Cooking
Breakfast
Electricity Usage
Doing the dishes
Energy Stealing & Storing it
Move to the city
Coming back & Getting foods
Cooking
Dinner
Doing the dishes
Using electricity stored during daytime & Free time to do activities
Lightening
Drawing Writing Reading Listening Working with laptop&phone
Go to sleep
Wake up Distance from the city
Transmission Line
Narrative #2
Off-grid
Tram Line
Electricity Charger
Street Light
+ [Figure 9] Virtual daily schedule of Energy stealer – off-grid and on-grid
Off-grid Situation.
Narrative #1
On-grid
Energy stealer spends most of their time in the off-grid
the electricity sources with the tools. He sneaks up the
situation. Their daily life in this situation is based on
sources, steals electricity, and stores it. This behavior
minimizing the used amount of electricity. For minimum
would be the majority part of his daytime. After
use of electricity, they use limited electronic devices
collecting enough energy for him, he would come back to
such as cooking and lightening at the meal time. The
his place and enjoy his break time with electricity that
daily life of Energy stealer starts at 6.00 in the morning.
he has got in the daytime to draw, write, or read. These
After waking up, he can get some veggies and fresh
activities are related to the creativity so he can create
ingredients from the closest food sources – farmland,
a piece of artwork with this time and bring them to the
Exploit FUBʼs Energy
Go to sleep
Wake up
Distance from the city
Electricity Usage
Drying hair Shower
Lightening Fridge
Cooking
Doing Breakfast the dishes
mountain, or river et cetera. Then, he starts to leave his Go to FUB
“FUB” activities
Cooking
habitat and gets a little bit closer to the city to reach to
exchange place later on. Social interaction Doing
Dinner
the dishes
Lightening
Hang out with others
21.25
04.45
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Electricity Usage
Shower Getting foods
Cooking
Breakfast
Doing the dishes
Move to the city
Energy Stealing & Storing it
Coming back & Getting foods
Cooking
Dinner
Doing the dishes
Using electricity stored during daytime & Free time to do activities
Lightening
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Isolated Utopia.
References.
From my perspective, to achieve the perfect freedom
Nevertheless, there are several obstacles to be
and equality in the society, every individual should be
isolated physically and mentally from others due to
separated from others. Grouping with all kind of people
the innovation of technology. For instance, via smart
always occurs controversy like that they take into
devices and social media, many young generations would
account each other’s preferences, opinions, culture, and
be easily connected with each other yet still feel lonely,
backgrounds. Meanwhile, to the extent that hierarchies
as known as subjective social isolation, or perceived
are inevitable. And in general, people can hardly be
social isolation. (Brian A. Primak, 2017) This perception
themselves when they are with someone unfamiliar.
of being socially isolated and lonely is related to the
1.
Article; Extending Bodies, Lisa Le Feuvre, Tate Modern Art Museum, 2016
http://www.tate.org.uk/context-comment/articles/extending-bodies
2.
Body building, Ava Aghakouchak, Interactive architecture lab, 2016
http://www.interactivearchitecture.org/body-building.html
3.
Discipline and Punish, The Birth of The Prison, Michael Foucault, 1975
Social Media Use and Perceived Social Isolation Among Young Adults in the U.S.,
In the isolated situation, however, there would be no
under surveillance. That is to say, the Digital Panopticon.
4.
comparison, disturbance, hierarchy, and competition
To avoid the negative impacts from the social media
2017
with others. Also, being alone would encourage people
where usually feature highly-distilled and unrealistic
Brian A. Primack, Ariel Shensa, Jaime E. Sidani, Erin O. Whaite, Liu yi Lin, Daniel Rosen,
to look back on their life and to concentrate on their
portrayals, some people start to live in a different way
own values and preferences which have been influenced
by reducing the use of electric devices. As a result, the
by others through the social media. Only when totally
Energy Stealer is born in these circumstances. Though
being alone, people can start to live autonomously and
paradoxically, Energy stealers want to be segregated
independently from society. Therefore, isolation would
from the virtual connection with the electronic devices,
be the starting point to grab freedom and equality.
the face-to-face social interaction is the essential
Jason B. Colditz, Ana Radovic, Elizabeth Miller, American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
5.
The Companion Species Manifesto: Dogs, people, and significant otherness
(Vol.1), Haraway, D. J. , Chicago: Prickly Paradigm Press(2003)
factor for living as a human. So, by taking nomadic and
6.
off-grid lifestyle, they acquire the ability to regulate
ISSN : 1572-5558 Tom Brignall III, Tennessee Tech University 2002
The New Panopticon: The Internet Viewed as a Structure of Social Control
a distance between the electricity-free life and the electricity-depend life. What’s more, they start to evolve by optimizing their speacialised equipment such as skin, tools, etc., in order to meet their standard lifestyle. All things considered, the new type of humankind has been
7.
The Transparent Society, Transparenzgesellschaft, Byung-Chul Han, 2012
8.
Panopticon; or Inspection House, Jeremy Bentham, 1987
born and there will be more and more Energy Stealer living in the isolated utopia in the near future. It is a matter of time to see them evolve through my design.
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Yunkyung Lee.
Isolated Utopia 2018
overuse of social media and the insecurity of being
ISOLATED UTOPIA 2018
YUNKYUNG LEE.