Reading Reflection: Aesthetics Beyond Buttons

Aesthetics Beyond Buttons -Monumental Attractions: Toward An Archaeology of Public Media Interfaces by Erkki Huhtamo

- What did you learn from this reading?

This article helps me to think about public display as media interfaces. With the advance of technology, the public display has evolved in many different ways. It is helpful to think about the next public media interfaces by learning about its history that has been caused by economic, political and social developments. It is inspiring to learn about the peep-show box and Magic lantern projections. They are obsolete, but they have their unique aesthetics which cannot be imitated by the current display. I would like to learn more about their operations. The interfaces can suggest a next media interface from the current personalized interface. The personalized interface often leads the superficial and fragmented relationships between people. If the interfaces are placed in outdoor spaces, the places could be a social media platform that spectators and information providers can interact in real-world situations.

- What was challenging, and Which questions remain?

I am curious about human beings that are always stimulated by visual attractions and how designs can escape from the economic competition.

First, I wonder why people always have a thirst for the visual spectacle. That means designers can easily manipulate the viewer’s attention if they know the general taste of humans. Dr. Susan Weinschenk, a behavioral scientist, states that human beings can’t resist noticing food, sex, or danger because they have evolved that way. She also mentions that humans have developed an ‘old brain’ first, and it is most interested in their survival. It doesn’t matter how hard people try not to notice these three things in their surroundings; people will always notice them. I think we can take advantage of using the visual spectacle that leads to a healthy and well-functioning society, but designers should not adversely affect the environment as much as possible by abusing them.

Second, Making profit is the priority for the businesses. It is not easy to separate the client’s needs and designer’s outcome. However, designers need to be aware of the negative consequences of excessive stimulation. Advertising is continually creating more stimulating images to attract public attention because we are surrounded by an incredible amount of information. Furthermore, I feel wrong about human desires developed in the direction of destroying the environment like the bright signboards mentioned in this article. We need to consider the surrounding match the interface with the environment.