the virtual

this is for internet and architecture.

theresa
m. arch I third year.

background info:
born and raised in new york
studied civil engineering and art history in undergrad.
for almost 2 years worked at landscape architecture firm in nyc (michael van valkenburgh associates)
have been at the gsd ever since.
past critics: marco steinberg, ron witte, ashley shafer, joe macdonald.

what i expect from this course:
a critical analysis of the role that the virtual world should play in our physical everyday.

here is the FIRST post on another blog that i have that is somewhat related:
september 12, 2005
virtuality
a way to keep my semi-public thoughts in one place. accessible at all times. stored in virtual space.
--
+nonsensical ramblings i want to remember+

slowly, what we were discussing in class, [in configurations of public space] specifically the virtual section, is slowly taking on more meaning.

i've never really been too invested in internetting. been chained to email, but never the whole blogging, sharing what i'm actually thinking with strangers thang. well not counting friendster, that wasn't blogging but more about checking up on folks and peeping into others' worlds.

interesting the concept of virtual community huh? key points that were constantly brought up [at least in my mind] were:
+ virtual communities are not true public spaces because inherently priviledge is embedded. it is not accessible by all. only the few, select few.
+ representation is filtered and directed. it's never truely open to democratic observation.
+ but the notion of it, being uncontrolled in theory, (after you have access) anyone can post, anyone can edit, anyone can make a website and carve out a small crevice for self expression, makes one think that it can be that last open frontier. but.
[but at this point does real public space really exist? for real for real? always red tape. always those kept out or in. someone controlling what's to be programmed in that space, dictating what is to happen, it's never decided by the people. civic spaces are only defined by select few public officials. what is true democratic public space? how can we achieve that? do we even want it?]
+ virtual space is only going to continue to grow (see, even i'm jumping on the bandwagon) how can we foster a truer sense of community within it? how can we exploit it, subvert it as a resource for our own good, without it being self indulgent and purely self fulfilling and self promoting and financially driven? always the question.

right now, it still seems too contrived. there's not enough of the unintentional interactions that make physical public spaces beautiful. you have too much control. can't let go.