I am a senior graphic design student at the California College of Arts
and Crafts in San Francisco. This summer I have been preparing for my
thesis (final semester - woooo!). I am hoping for approval on a thesis
addressing the similarities between biological viruses and ideas. Here
is pretty much where I am at right now:
Idea as virus (one or more memes make up the code conatained within a
mind virus) --
If language is one of the means by which these ideas (memes) are
spread and graphic design is a visual language then graphic design is
part of the virus -- I believe that graphic design often makes up the
sticky protein shell of a "mind virus" and effective design will also
be a part of the viral code itself.
This analogy is largely based on the following definition of a
biological virus:
"Viruses are unlike bacteria or germs because they are not living
things; they are simply protien shells containing genetic material.
The attacking virus uses its protective sticky protien casing to latch
onto a healthy cell and then inject its own genetic code, essentially
genes, inside. The virus code mixes and competes for control with the
cells own genes, and, if victorious, it permanantly alters the way the
cell functions and reproduces. A particularly virulent strain will
transform the host cell into a factory that replicates the virus."
(Rushkoff, Douglas. Media Virus.)
I want to create a piece that will act as an immunizing agent against
memes. Education would be the primary objective of such a piece. The
piece itself should act as a sort of mind virus. One of the main
questions that I am concerned with right now is -- what medium would
funtion most effectively for such a project? Some things which I have
been concidering include -- trading cards, web site, magazine, video.
I'm leaning toward designing an interactive magazine.
In addition to our proposal we must address the following:
Your topic and why you are chosing it.
How you will begin your exploration.
How you will measure your progress.
How you will define you audience.
How does your thesis relate to graphic design? (Specifically, why is
your investigation of merit to the profession)
Keep in mind that this is a Graphic Design project and not purely a
research project.
Also keep in mind that I've still got a couple of weeks to get
together my *initial* proposal.
Any input or comments would be *deeply* appreciated!!!
Gary D.
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