Maria Stangel, MFA ’12
thesis abstract
Name: Maria Stangel, MFA ’12
Thesis cover
I am researching the factors that influence social behaviors in public paces. More and more, people separate themselves from their surroundings by their headphones, personal electronic devices, and have become more connected to their online community than to their real world neighbors. Becoming a part of a community can be a challenge as living with mobile technology distances us from each other. I am curious about the unexpected moments that inspire strangers to share attention and momentary experience. These mysterious feelings, which allow sudden emotional communication between two human beings fascinate me. During my thesis research, I have been investigating how spontaneous connections are initialized and what role “play” has in facilitating these moments. I believe that we can take advantage of digital media installations in order to encourage interaction between people.