Computer Science by Duri Long
We present Pollite (Pollock-lite), an artificial abstract artist with the capability to evaluate,... more We present Pollite (Pollock-lite), an artificial abstract artist with the capability to evaluate, augment, and generate video game visual elements. Our system is based on a cognitive model of abstract artists built from self-reports and interviews. The main intelligence behind our system is a Convolutional Neural Net (CNN), a deep neural network approach that has shown great success in image tagging tasks and that can learn associations between shapes, colors, and concepts. We demonstrate initial results with our system across three case studies.
Proceedings of the 2017 ACM SIGCHI Conference on Creativity and Cognition , 2017
This paper reports on the design and evaluation of LuminAI, a socially interactive art installati... more This paper reports on the design and evaluation of LuminAI, a socially interactive art installation in which participants can engage in collaborative movement improvisation with virtual agents and other humans. LuminAI was used as a technical probe to study social interaction within interactive art at a local art gala during which over 100 participants interacted with the system. Video and interview data was gathered during the event and analyzed using thematic analysis to develop a taxonomy to guide the design of socially interactive systems involving humans and artificial agents. This taxonomy helped us identify areas where LuminAI was successful, where it needs improvement, and conceptual spaces we have yet to explore.
Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Intelligent User Interfaces Companion, 2015
Recently, there has been research on inferring user emotions. Like other inference research, it r... more Recently, there has been research on inferring user emotions. Like other inference research, it requires an iterative process in which what-if scenarios are played with different features and algorithms. Traditional, general-purpose data mining tools such as Weka have played an important part in promoting this process. We have augmented this toolset with an additional interactive test-bed designed for prediction and communication of programmer difficulties from user-interface commands. It provides end-user interfaces for communicating, correcting, and reacting to the predictions. In addition, it offers researchers user-interfaces for interacting with the prediction process as it is executed rather than, as in traditional mining tools, after it has generated data for a set of experimental subjects. These user-interfaces can be used to determine key elements of the prediction process, why certain wrong or right predictions have been made, and change parameters of the process. A video demonstration this work is available at http://youtu.be/09LpDIPG5h8.
Performing Arts by Duri Long
This paper builds on literature discussing Catalan ritual, contemporary Catalan theater, and the ... more This paper builds on literature discussing Catalan ritual, contemporary Catalan theater, and the relationship between theater and ritual beyond the Catalan sphere in order to explore the influence of Catalan ritual on Catalan theater and the implications this has on Catalan cultural identity. At a time when Catalan identity has become increasingly complicated due to relations with Spain, rising immigration levels, and the pressure of globalization, looking to the confluence of theater and ritual for answers is both natural and necessary. By identifying key thematic and symbolic elements that are present in Catalan rituals and conducting a case study of theater company La Fura dels Baus in order to examine how these elements appear in their work, this paper will establish that Catalan ritual has a clear influence on contemporary Catalan theater. Furthermore, it will argue that while La Fura dels Baus does not directly engage with questions of Catalan identity, the company does create a theatrical space in which identity can be defined. Theatrical spaces like this can help to clarify questions of identity and promote social unity, both of which are key issues in contemporary Catalan society.
This paper will build on eco-critical interpretations of Shakespeare’s work by discussing the con... more This paper will build on eco-critical interpretations of Shakespeare’s work by discussing the convergence of ecology and performance in Druid Theater’s recent production DruidShakespeare, an adaptation by Mark O’Rowe of Shakespeare’s Richard II, Henry IV (Parts I and II), and Henry V. The site-specific nature of the show and the use of natural elements such as earth, water, and fire in performance contribute to an eco-critical interpretation of Shakespeare’s history plays. Specifically, this paper will investigate how the site-specific location and the use of natural elements emphasize the symbiotic relationship between people and the land, showing both how human actions impact the environment and how the environment can play a role in human events. Natural elements are often unseen or hinted at through the use of prosthetics or sound and lighting effects in the theater, so by physically bringing nature into the theater, DruidShakespeare allows the environment to become an integral and very present character in the play. While not changing the message of Shakespeare’s work, O’Rowe’s adaptation of the scripts and director Garry Hynes’s use of natural elements in performance offer a new ecological take on traditional themes like kingship, divine power, and the realities of war. This paper will examine how DruidShakespeare deals with issues like what role the environment plays on the battlefield, how a king’s actions affect not only his subjects but also his land and the environment that he is exerting divine power over, and what consequences follow from abuse of the land. At such a pivotal moment in history, with climate change looming and the need for immediate action, re- interpretations of traditional works with an ecological focus like this one can help to provide deeper understanding of human influence on the environment and the consequences that will inevitably follow.
Art, as an expression of feelings, worldviews, and personal beliefs, is a reflection of our envir... more Art, as an expression of feelings, worldviews, and personal beliefs, is a reflection of our environment and how we interact with it. In this way, urban art such as rap music and graffiti can serve as a lens through which we are able to examine the state of the urban environment. Building on community literature that addresses the presence of nihilism in rap music, this work will establish that nihilism is a prevalent theme in the work of two artists: Tyler the Creator’s rap music and BANKSY’s graffiti art. By examining the growing subculture and appeal of urban art in relation to these two artists, this paper will argue that BANKSY and Tyler the Creator belong to a new wave of urban art, one that appeals to and originates from people of all races and classes. The current work will then examine these artists’ motives in including nihilism within their art in order to argue that the disillusionment and nihilism once found primarily within inner cities is now spreading to new frontiers. Using this analysis, the current work will raise questions as to the possible causes and consequences of this spreading nihilistic mindset.
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Computer Science by Duri Long
Performing Arts by Duri Long