Day 11

I am finding myself a little scattered brained today.  I don’t know what to attend to first and then once I start working on something I am easily distracted. As I am trying to get work done, emails are pouring in, people are trying to chat with me, I am getting Skype requests, and text messages – sometimes all at the same time.  I feel guilty for saying no or not responding because they are friends and family wanting to know how I am doing and they are only trying to be supportive. It’s a little overwhelming.  I am experiencing attention like I never have before and I am doing it under a microscope.  It’s all a bit much right now, but I know the novelty will wear off soon and then things will quiet down.

Being on display is the aspect of this project that gets people’s attention.  Which makes me wonder, what would it have been like if I did this from my own apartment?  I am pretty sure if I had done that, I wouldn’t be getting emails from my aunt in Wisconsin telling me she saw me on TV, fielding media requests, and I certainly wouldn’t be getting offers from strangers to come have lunch with me on the other side of a glass window.  But the most important thing is that I wouldn’t be getting comments on my blog or emails from people telling me how this has made them think about their own social media and cell phone use.

This is an art installation and not a scientific experiment so the findings are less important then the message.  Everyone may not see the value in this project, but as long as people are communicating about how they feel about these topics, Josh and I feel like we have accomplished our goal.

8 Responses to “Day 11”

  1. Dorothy Santos Says:

    Just wondering if you are familiar with Sophie Calle’s work?

  2. Cornelia Seigneur Says:

    Great to meet you today Cristin and Josh- I wrote a quick blog post on it and added one of your photos with your credit- having issues downloading mine. Will be in touch.

    Best, Cornelia

  3. Stephanie Says:

    Cristin,
    Wow! This project speaks volumes, on so many levels. I wish I could be “in the box” with you (I know, that would defeat the purpose)…what an incredible experience. I’m gathering only time will answer my many questions, but perhaps your project will lend insight to: Is sacrificing face-to-face (old fashion, in-person conversations) communcation going to eventually wreak havoc on society? Will our future generations be tech-savvy yet socially awkward?
    There’s something to be said of the hand-written letter or thank-you card, as well as being able to respond to the unspoken word of body language…

  4. Stephanie Says:

    Cristin,
    Wow! This project speaks volumes, on so many levels. I wish I could be “in the box” with you (I know, that would defeat the purpose)…what an incredible experience. I’m gathering only time will answer my many questions, but perhaps your project will lend insight to: Is sacrificing face-to-face (old fashion, in-person conversations) communcation going to eventually wreak havoc on society? Will our future generations be tech-savvy yet socially awkward?
    There’s something to be said of the hand-written letter or thank-you card, as well as being able to respond to the unspoken word of body language…
    Be Well and Much Love, Stephanie

  5. Jammie Says:

    Fantastic idea! I just saw you on CNN and had to check this out. I think it is a brilliant idea. I am 23, so I am part of that generation that relies on technology. Call me old fashioned but I could do without a lot of this technology we have so readily available to us. I will be telling my friends about this! Again great idea and kudos.

    Namaste,
    Jammie

  6. Public Isolation Project « The Dude's Story Says:

    […] her blog, Cristin has talked about how she feels constantly distracted in the past, but tonight she wrote a really great post about how multi-tasking isn’t working […]

  7. Essie Says:

    Wow! What an interesting project. I just wanted to respond to the idea that this is an art installation and not an experiment. No researcher could get permission to run this as a scientific experiment, I expect! The ethical responsibilities of researchers would probably prevent this sort of extended isolation, particularly for random research subjects.

    I think I’d like to come see you. As another commenter noted, I am 23 years old and sometimes imagine that facebooking somebody is enough interaction. Clearly it isn’t.

  8. Cristin Says:

    @ Dorothy – I am familiar with Sophie Calle. I admired her work. I also like an artist named Nikki Lee that reminds me of Sophie Calle, but there styles are very different from what I am trying to do here.

    @ Essie – I looked into someone doing an evaluation on me before and after, but timing wasn’t on my side and there a lot of ethical issues they would have had to deal with. Again, because the intent is not to be scientific, I decided it was fine to evaluate myself and share those findings.

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Cristin Norine and Joshua Jay Elliott