1) What does it feel like knowing that so much ice used to be here, but is now gone? Is it hard or easy to imagine this site being so different?
I don’t have a strong emotional feeling, but a sense of mystery and supernatural rises when I was here and as I connecting to what I see in front of my eyes to the unfamiliar history happened a long time ago. Cannot really imagine if I had a chance to go back to that time, how giant the glacier would look like if I stand there and how massive it is. It is hard to imagine how many things had happened here, because back to the very early ages this whole island was covered by ice. Now, so many artifacts crowded here, buildings were build. Even underground was used for transportation.
2) What sights, sounds, smells, structures and materials around you provide evidence of the Anthropocene?
The whole surrounding is artificial actually. The park, the road leading to the massive stone, the staircase carved in the schist. The plants around there are designed and arranged with human intention, they are designed in the way they are influenced by human. Even the materials are all natural, but the structure that allow people to go there, visit there and interact with different objects there are all made with artificially and in the way are evidence of the Anthropocene.
3) Do you feel like you have contributed to material realities that indicate the arrival of the Anthropocene? How/why/when?
I mean, yeah. As someone living in the modern age, you are influencing the natural world while you are utilizing every resources you’re provided or available publicly. I remembered the example Jamie made at the beginning of the semester, the pollution came from fridge and hairspray is doing harm to the atmosphere which can lead to horrible danger to human. And as you use your electronic devices, the power supplied these devices might be from burning coal, which again is producing harmful pollution.
4) Do you think the public should be aware of the Anthropocene?
Yes I do think so, public should be aware and be educated with basic knowledge of human’s impact (either good or harmful) on the natural world we rely on. People should be informed how their daily choices and behaviors would influence on our environment and potentially how it would change our future.
5) What kind of climates do you think are possible in New York City’s future?
More flooding, without doubt. Because people are now beginning building more resilient facilities trying to protect this island. Seeing from current conditions, it seems like the weather will is going to be more extreme. I made this guess without the reference to any specific scientific reports, it’s just an assumption after knowing the hurricanes aftermath in recent years. But they are possible. And the weather is going to be more unpredictable I think. Because it has been so irregular in recent years. And one day it might turn to be extremely cold, but who knows? Anyway, we should get ready for that.
PART 1: Create a poetic work using the observations you gather in Central Park (words, original photography, drawings, sound recordings, and/or found objects) to
aesthetically express the transition in climate that has unfolded in this spot over
the past 10,000 years. A glacier, the urban city we see today — and an uncertain
climate future. This can be a poem, a text/image piece, a drawing or an audio/video
piece. Please post this on your LP with a paragraph describing what you made and why.
A poem. I wrote poem because somehow wanna challenge myself in creative writing, never wrote poem in English before.
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In the solemn silence,
Continent covered by massive glacier,
bears nothing but infinite paleness.
Below the surface, along the currents,
in an unreachable fissure, ice
carved codes on the soaked schist.
It stayed as a secret since then.
One that would never, and could never
be ciphered, as the writer went recluse
under the sea.
Puzzled are tiny two-eye creatures
gazing and standing in the park.
Figuring out the strange message
under the sun, showing on the rock.
One day, when the schist meets the ice
again, the secret would be understood
again. As the code carving continues
again, the world would be quiet
again.
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Basically I started with the traces left by glacier. I think it is a direct connection that we can use to draw ourselves to the existence of that old age. Um… so that is the poem. It’s hard to explain LOL.
2) List three design/object ideas + sketches for your final project. Describe each idea, thinking through what you think will need and use over the next fifty years, given what you have learned in this class (a result of the great acceleration/climate change)? Describe how each of these designs/objects/ideas would help you (or make your life more easy, beautiful, useful etc.)? How might these ideas might meet the Long Life Design criteria? What systems and materials are they reliant upon in order to exist? Are these systems threatened by climate change?
An interactive graphics showing you all the picture of endangered animals or species that is going to distinct. It will likely arise people’s awareness to protect the environment and stop destroying the nature, the habitat of the diverse species.
An AR app that will detect where you are at Manhattan, and show the visual effects of the flooding on the street. It will arise people’s awareness and how their life will be affected by the flooding.
A module electronic products like phone or music player that allow users to update and easily repair their devices on their own. So it is more long life design because they are able to be used for a longer time.
