Info

Software is culture, software is art, software is social. As our lives become increasingly automated, we can use the word “software” to think about any program, system, or tool that structures, mediates, or intervenes in the world around us. How do the systems we live within affect our relationships and communities? 

Over the course of 10 weeks, you will work through a project development cycle to create a piece of “social software” of your own conception. You are encouraged to interpret “social software” in any way that is meaningful to you. Final outputs can take any form, they need not be code-based—though ideas of code may offer a lens for interrogating our assumptions and expectations of software. For more context, please visit the Social Software website.

This is a project-based working group, facilitated by artist Lauren Lee McCarthy. The group meetings will include time for prototype testing, peer review, and discussion. Members must commit to attending at least 4 of 5 of the meetings, which will take place at UCLA Broad Art Center from 12–2pm on 10/8, 10/22, 11/5, 11/19, 12/3. In addition to individual outputs, a small publication containing the group’s work over the cycle will be created with contributions from each member.

Proposal

If you would like to participate, please send your proposal to lmccart@ucla.edu by September 1. Proposals can be expressed in any way you like but should be a single pdf and address the following questions:

1. What is the social software you’d like to develop over this cycle? 

2. Who is the intended user, audience, or community of this social software?

3. Why are you interested in developing your project in the context of this cycle?

4. Describe your practice (briefly). If you are a student, please specify your academic program and year.

You are welcome to include sketches, diagrams, images, or other media within the file to convey your ideas.

You’ll receive a response to your proposal by September 5. In order to keep the cycle focused and give adequate time to each member, we may not be able to accept all applicants. We plan to hold future cycles that will offer new opportunities for participation.