Rendered Mashup

 

    During my critique session, the feedback I received on this model was that it could be a little

more interesting. The initial object only included the computer and the hand, so when I was

creating the final and slightly rearranging the hand, I added the computer mouse to imply more of

a scene. I am happiest that I chose a glass material for the hand. I chose glass instead of an organic

or opaque texture because it creates an immaterial and otherworldly appearance. I wanted to create

the appearance of something part of the digital world or bending out of the computer screen itself.

So the glass was a healthy middle ground when the idea of a “digital” texture as I imagined it was

not an option.

    Otherwise, I hadn't received much feedback on this object, because I planned to do another one. When my initial plan fell through (the object wouldn’t explode in the way I had hoped, so I couldn’t separate many of the materials as I had hoped) I switched to this object, but I struggled a little again. I am unhappy with the unsatisfying way this object exploded as well. I wanted to color the keys differently but the computer was less smooth than I had thought and it was difficult to separate individual pieces like the knobs.

    
    When I consider this creation in terms of Remix Culture, it seems relatively simple compared to some of the other objects I chose from. I like this creation because of how well the two objects I am combining fit together. A hand reaching through the screen may be a familiar visual, and their combination is not too complex, but it is also evocative of something new. The combination of technology and life is a common sci-fi or horror staple, so I am also being influenced by preconceptions of ideas like this in popular media. This reminds me of Read/Write Culture and the fact that it’s okay if my idea is not the most original, because everything is unoriginal in some way, and appropriation is how new ideas form. In a society so full of intellectual appropriation, I see this remix as a valid contribution. The ideas that inspired this piece include the concept of the digital becoming physical and specific movies like The Ring. The juxtaposition of real and unreal or physical and digital holds this concept together. I emphasized the differences between the hand and its surroundings through my choice of materials. The transparent glass and reaching form versus opaque plastic and static shapes is what makes each piece of this object distinct.