The haunted mirror of contemporary digital culture

The written thesis examines the ramifications of new technologies upon the individual: from digitisation, the internet, mobile phones, closed circuit television cameras, electronic media, recording devices, simulacra and technological mediation. I particularly look at how these phenomena affect one’s own sense of subjectivity, of identity, time-space coordinates, the imagination and social relations. I take a sociological, cultural view of these phenomena - reaching back to the history of old media devices (such as magic lanterns), and tracing a path to the present day, in an attempt to uncover the essence of some of these drives. The growth in electronic archiving of one’s life is also considered as a form of temporal self-distance, an attempt to control time, and lend meaning and significance to life events. The replacement of the real with simulacra is also investigated. This thesis argues there is a metaphysical quest to both extend our powers and expand our consciousness. There is also a seeking of something other, that can be witnessed in the close connection with the supernatural and the uncanny of many of our communication devices, and that a key characteristic of the nature and impact of the internet and digitisation (uncovered particularly by my studio work) is that it becomes about a state of feedback, of acoustic resonance, as a consequence of its instantaneous nature. The studio component comprises a series of ceramic sculptures; mostly figurative works, interacting with found objects. The ceramic works are hand-built, coiled and slabbed, bisque fired and glazed. The found objects included items discovered at antique shops, charity stores and second hand stores. I’ve also used two-way mirrors in some of the installations. A number of my studio works touch upon narrative and fairy tales as an entry point to delve into the ideas discussed in the thesis