Hansen

Mark Hansen's Bodies in Code presents the idea that the body is integral to virtuality and aesthetics. For Hansen, "all reality is mixed reality" -- that is, we relate to the world in "mixed" ways. Hansen defies the mind-body split, and examines several pieces of relational art to demonstrate his point.

Hansen definitely presumes an academic audience; even after reading some very difficult stuff this semester, I found myself struggling to get what he was trying to say. He assumes familiarity with digital theory as well as aesthetics, and I think Hansen also assumes that his readers have read his previous work (or other work that takes up similar issues). For some reason, I felt like this book was having a conversation with others that I wasn't privy to-- I don't know why.

Hansen believes that he is recasting the mind-body split into a reality infused with the bodily. Since we can't exist in the world as just a mind, we must use our bodies to take in the world. (Or something). In the digital age, it makes sense that Hansen tries to figure out a theory of aesthetics and relationality that takes digital technology into account.

I'd really like us to explain some of Hansen's points in finer detail. I read the selected chapters, but still have a very cursory sense of what he's getting at. (It's week 14).