Thursday, February 4, 2010
Our tragic human flaw may be our desire for perfection. From plastic surgery to hippie communes, people are constantly looking to improve themselves and society. But, is a utopian society tangible or ultimately unattainable? The Spencer Museum of Art, 1301 Mississippi St., unveiled the exhibition “The Conversation VII: Utopia/Dystopia
Join the Conversation!
Utopia/Dystopia Questions
Is utopia an impractical dream irrelevant to our lives? Or is it a visionary plan delineating our current boundaries of the possible and providing a trajectory to cross those boundaries in the future?
Is there a clear demarcation between utopia and dystopia? Are our ideas about perfection indeed the best possible scenarios for our future?
Utopia/Dystopia Age of Technology Questions
How much does technology facilitate out lives and how much does it subordinate us to machines threatening us with the total deprivation of our autonomy?
In our pursuit of technological enhancement, where is the line between the benefit to the surrounding world and our own bodies and permanent damage to the world’s ecosystem?
Utopia/Dystopia The Ideal City/The Ideal Society Question
Where does the line between a fair public control and totalitarianism lie?
-Questions taken from Conversation VII: Utopia/Dystopia
,” on Monday to explore this concept.
From photographs to prints, more than 40 works are on display on the south wall of the 20/21 gallery. Each artist questions utopia as an expression of a communal dream.
The art is intended to promote discussion about western ideals of perfection, says Olena Chervonik, graduate research assistant with the Spencer. “Utopia is an embodiment of a perfect future as it’s envisaged by a particular society.”
Often, the distinction is not clear whether what mankind has created is improving or damaging society. Chervonik says the idea of a utopia depends on your point of view, which became the driving force behind the project. It becomes both a private concern and a social interest. “What’s perfect for one person might be a nightmare for another person,” Chervonik says.
The exhibition is divided into two sections. “The Age of Technology” explores the pre-modern world’s scientific and technological achievements. “The Ideal City/The Ideal Society” examines the creation of a perfect community.
You can create your own discussion and explore the exhibition, which is open until the end of May. Admission is free.
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