final reflection
Final reflection
My original idea for this project was to map abandoned spaces in New York City, from the historical perspective. I wanted to know why they were abandoned and by whom. So, these abandoned buildings for me were the representation of that people that does not exist, but that is as important to the existence of history.
In my research, I found out that they way more abandoned, empty spaces in the city that I imagined, While in the same time homeless raising records and thousands of vacancies waiting to be habituated again. I decided to research for people that have reclaimed those abandoned spaces in the city.
It was very interesting to see the different visions that people have toward the empty spaces, and to see the possibilities of creation; the vision of what it can become. It was great to get information first hand and have the opportunity to talk to member of the community where does abandoned spaces exist, and also to talking with groups or organizations that through direct action had changed the paradigm of what a space is and the possibilities of what it can become. All of the using different mediums, direct action like the squatters, or participatory art involving the community like No longer empty, or through showing the authorities possible path of different ideas for the future of abandoned spaces through those spaces and negotiating with the authorities
For me, it was very interesting to discover the different ways that the different people, groups or organizations reactivate those spaces.
Some of the points to all this different organization agree is that:
1. Have an open vision a to challenge that vision of the establishment where they decide the value and use of spaces and find other vision and imaging other possibilities
2. Work in groups,
3. Be organized and have a common goal
4. Negotiate with the authorities
5. Be constant
When it came to put all my data into the URT, I was excited to see everything coming together even though I knew that if was going to have some frustration moments figuring out ways to do that, I was interested in seeing the different narratives that the project can produce, and the different entry point to the project.
With the possibilities of this project to create alternative narratives, it reminded me of the novel “Hopscotch” by Argentinean writer Julio Cortazar, which it can be read either progressively, as a regular book or according to a “Table of Instructions” designated by the author, or giving the change and the decision to the reader.
Those possibilities give to project a different dimension and a bigger range of questions and possibilities. I most admit that I struggled trying to figure it out the best ways to interconnect the different ‘stories’ in the map, and I feel that the main reason is that I was still feeling strange to this new medium, even though I enjoyed greatly I wish I had more time get I really enjoyed this new experience, from methodology research to a multimodal presentation, even though this semester I felt that I needed more time to get familiar got the URT. Nevertheless, I definitely will continue exploring the medium.
Thanks, Hugo! You certainly did employ a wide variety of methods in this project — and that variety is reflected in the myriad modes of representation you apply on your map. I’m glad, too, that you see the wider potential for multimodal scholarship to add “dimension” to our research” — and top open up “a bigger range of questions and possibilities.”