ABSTRACT. In the era of simulated images and extended machine-interactive conversations, the question of how the imagination functions requires, ever more, disciplined theory. AI demonstrates that What You Want is not fully known or perhaps even knowable; instead, a dark mirror discloses its depths in sequences of dramatic, sometimes puzzling, sometimes surprising or even horrifying encounters. This session invites speculative engagement with Artificial Intelligence that go past the simplistic model of wishfulness to look for a new meaningful, unpredictable determinacy.
The ultimate goal of the workshop and preliminary events is to encourage a new kind of critical writing aimed to connect the fields of architecture and psychoanalysis. Currently, architecture theory writing emphasizes history over theory, case studies over discussions of methodology or philosophy. Writers in the Freudian-Lacanian field are divided, traditionally, between the clinic and academia, although there are many who are at home in both. There is no zone set aside for work that is specifically speculative, intentionally hypothetical, and purposefully focused on writing.
In hopes of building critical theory around writing that perches midway between empiricism of case studies and rigorously documented critical analysis, this project adopts Lacan’s own emphasis of lexis, style, as a counterweight to phasis, content. The aim is to develop a higher standard by exposing questions to a broader array of interests and cultural forces to equalize the value of clinical/personal experience and reasoned argument. The conjecture provokes at many levels. Its value should not independent of academic props and professional credentials. Writing, at this level, must take the long view.
before the workshop
The broad popularity of tiny houses has reduced them to consumer items, but the recent use of AI to generate tiny house options focus on the relation of desire to limitation, economy, and precision. We propose a series of zoom seminars, general discussions lasting 1–2 hours, in late spring and mid-summer; presentations invited but not required. Ghoochani and Kunze will introduce the topics and lay out options; participants do the rest. One possibility is to combine the results of the seminars and the VANDA workshop into a special issue of Psyche Extended.
workshop schedule
Anticipating 6-11 participants, the Tiny House Workshop will begin with percha-kucha-style presentation (20 “slides” @ 20 seconds each = 6.66… minutes); format may vary — completely animated, with sound-track, images accompanied by live narrative, narrative only, or performances, with or without narrative. After the allotted 60+6 minutes, directed discussion will answer to these challenges:
- What is the connection of the tiny house dream to AI’s ability extend desire?
- What do tiny houses reveal about desire, consumer fantasy, the need for escape (from what?)?
- Is there any foundational theory to address these questions?
Themes will be developed by groups to produce “proposals for future tiny-house research projects.” Each group will have approximately 10 minutes to present and discuss their goals/options.
Finishing up. Participants will freely discuss the impact, impression, and new avenues discovered through the workshop.