Place: An Annotated Geography

Andrew Ellis, MFA ’11

thesis abstract

In Place: An Annotated Geography, I explore how we can use narrative in dynamic media to augment our experiences of physical spaces. In the development of my thesis, I’ve struggled with how technology has isolated us from one another. GPS and mobile technologies allow us to stay connected and oriented in space. However, too often they compromise our awareness of where we are.

Through case studies, I concentrate on site-specific projects and location-based media to create interactive experiences with our geographical environment. I consider how we define, document and experience a ‘place’ through psychogeography, mapping in the digital age, and narrative. While we define a place as individuals through our interactions in a place, they are also shaped by the stories we are exposed to. Narrative is our interface to a place.