THE END!

the site: www.criticalm.org/surveys

fine tuning the m.d.o.s. resource

it's been a while and there's quite a bit of blog updating to do if it is to hold notes to the [full circle] full experience. But first, I am almost done with the Doncaster resource! So, for now, this post to give space for comments and suggestions, even for the name [the m.d.o.s game?]. Feel free to comment here or send your thoughts any other way we discussed

...

I know ... this is outside the parameters of what we plan to do ... [perhaps even impossible to do] yet, I may just have to give it a go ... to get it out of my system. perhaps I can do it as a note or a doodle, a factional intervention before returning to collaborative beauty, justice and power ... somehow though, it does seem to fit in? you think? [perhaps, i'll just get up early!]

part II: cannon hall

back on line: cannon hall tomorrow.
have been reading through all the comments as a way of getting back into things and am really happy that we're going back to doncaster next week as well. I may ask for a diagram|drawing, or simply an account, to show some trajectories of thoughts and to query what's left, residual or otherwise, from thinking ... [and from] thought itself?

exhausted ...

and truly excited!

we made it!!!
don't know what I'm most excited about but can't wait to see what new collaborators J&J decide to do with the installation of survey cards! And, can't wait to hear more thoughts, new thinking, ideas ... and general responses.
For now though, off for a couple of days break feeling pleased, while letting all the thoughts, ideas and discussions buzz about in my head ..!

survey

Great responses to your survey so far! In my head a whole new museum is coming into being, full of people's most desired objects. But then, the difficult bit is when you have to argue for the object's inclusion (and necessarily exclude others) - the idea that your object has to earn its place.
I like the moment before you actually have to make your choice, when everything is open-ended.

SEEKING ANSWERS: Most Desirable Object Survey

been in the studio, testing out ideas through images, boxes and diagrams. I have billions of notes, scribbles and images but it would be really interesting if we could get some more feedback from the MDO Survey to use directly as texts ... or as additional [and specific] thoughts or observations.

Answers as comments on the blog would be fabulous! But, although Joe [thanks!] has been brave and left the first comment, I appreciate that not everyone will feel comfortable 'blogging' or want to go this public with their thoughts and ideas. Therefore, [in moving into mail-art] has also been considering sending a set of post card templates, fully furnished with return stamps, to give as many -- or just another -- options for reply as possible.

Either|or, feedback to the survey -- and ideas for how you want to give feedback -- most appreciated. "doncaster: what say you?"

yesterday ...

Yesterday, alone on site and still fuzzy about how to approach creating a diagram that considers -- and even begin to visually reflects -- all of the (potential and actual) expertise that continuously is exchanged and drawn upon within the museum.

thinking the obvious thought: if expertise is exchanged through and because of the object the same may be true of the notion of expertise itself. Thus, a return to the object may eventually prove to be the way of making the object obsolete (obviously!! I'm an academic!)

begin to test by returning to the idea of the object existing within or outside the collection: in particular, what is absent (lost or mislaid?), what potentially informs the collection by its absence, and what -- exactly by it's absence -- becomes desirable?

as a result of initial testing, the line of questioning regarding absent objects turns into debates about the favourite object and then becomes a fully fledged survey when we reached the Most Desirable Object through the question: There's a box. There could be anything inside it. What do you most want it to be?
... and (as a challenging addendum and to maintain the rigour of the process) how would you argue for the inclusion of the object into the collection or its [re-introduction] into the display?

for me, it is from this last part that the machine or game diagram will eventually come. and, it is here that the expert reasoning truly exists and things become really interesting -- and accessible: through the object but outside the object.

so far the arguments has been for:
the return of the bog chair (currently removed by the order of high raking official)
crown jewels, gowns and big cars (alluding to a glamourous part of Doncaster past)
art deco jewellery (currently located in the V&A)
the miner's lamp (that's mislaid or missing)
the almost extinct bittern, the locally extinct sturgeon and the 'most probably there but never discovered' bog-body.

objects that all highlights personal and professional interests and passions but within the collection also (visibly):
returns rightful ownership [includes "it's mine -- give it back!"]
redresses the gender balance within the display
gives the opportunity to rethink the display and broaden its interest
highlights [a personal passion for] a deserving cause
and finally, objects or specimens that further their own cause, secure their own salvation or ultimately assist in saving temselves [by adding weight to an argument and protecting a particular site or environment from development or demolition]

People need more time to think, so I agreed with Fiona to email the question and then she'll distribute widely.
Witness the publication of the "Most Desirable Object Survey" [MDOS].

and, and, and ...

re. the interview: would potentially be interesting to have separate sentences, stanzas of arguments, deductions and reasons recorded for transcription and use on labels [box photographs and ... (value) maps] Peter's talk about the 'pointless' object (making it non-pointless by default), being a case in point?

we should do this more often, you know! I'll bring the mini-disc tomorrow.

getting around the object?

although the object is beginning to retreat again, I'm still thinking about this: how to get from the concept to the visual?

I'm thinking that perhaps, one way will be to begin with the object already in place, the (staff) personal object (the tea cup? the object to save in an emergency?) plotting it's relative position onto the map?
Perhaps, rather, a place to start would be with a first question: what would be the most desired object? is it already here .. if not, then where? how would you argue for it's position, display, prominence or even inclusion into the collection?
Perhaps it is possible to plot or track the journey (9-5) from desk to favorite on-site location, view or ..?

I like the idea of the interview (the potential of an empty box as prop or aid) I like the idea of ending up with a map, that although based upon the expertise circulating wihin the institution, plots sites of 'personal' rather than -- or alongside -- 'scientific' interest?

Perhaps some of the Doncaster Experts will offer a comment, a reply, a suggestion ..? anybody ..?