[artinfo] Art/Technology/Politics

[Christopher Csikszentmihalyi]

Call for Graduate Applications

Computing Culture Group
Art/Technology/Politics
MIT Media Lab


The Computing Culture Group at the MIT Media Lab is an Art and
Technology research group focused on embedding poetic and political
considerations in the development of new technologies. Research projects

have ranged from technologies to confront a changing U.S. Government
(OpenGIA, txtMob) and right wing anti-immigrant fascist groups (Freedom
Flies), to complications of gender and control in domestic appliances
(Blendie), and techniques for creating electronic instruments in a
post-oil apocalypse (Synth From Nothin'). Our mission is to refigure
what engineering means, how it happens, and what it produces. Drawing on

fields from the humanities, like Science and Technology Studies, we
create new technologies that function as instances of material power,
but also as exemplars of what future goals engineering should pursue.
Our page may be found at [http://compcult.media.mit.edu/].

We are currently accepting applications to the Masterís in Media Arts
and Sciences graduate program. The MAS is a two-year program, during
which a student spends half their time on course work and the other half

on their directed art research. Tuition is fully funded, and students
receive a significant stipend to live on. The program and funding are
open to students of any nationality.

Students may be trained in either art or science and/or engineering, but

should show crossover. For instance, an art student should be an
accomplished programmer, have machining skills, or be able to design and

fabricate electronics. An engineering students should have done several
art projects, worked with a professional artist, or shown their ability
to author radical or unexpected technologies. More information on the
MAS program may be found at [http://www.media.mit.edu/mas/#masters].

Information about the process is available at
[http://www.media.mit.edu/mas/apply.html] and application forms may be
obtained from the MIT Graduate Admissions office
[http://web.mit.edu/admissions/www/]. Applicants must indicate on the
application form (question #2) the department of Media Arts and Sciences

-- we are a separate program and not part of another department at MIT.
"Area of research interest" should indicate Chris Csikszentmih·lyi
(Computing Culture) as well as two other research groups. Application or

admissions questions may be directed to Media Arts & Sciences (e-mail:
mas at media.mit.edu, tel: (+1 617 253-5114).

Completed applications must be submitted by December 15th for the
following Fall semester. The principal components of an application are:

academic transcript(s), the applicant's statement of objectives, a
portfolio, and three letters of recommendation. GREs are not required.
International applicants are required to submit an official copy of
their TOEFL scores to MIT. The MIT institution code for TOEFL scores is
3514. The Media Lab does not have its own department number. Scores
should be sent to MIT Graduate Admissions, department code 99. The
Program in Media, Arts & Sciences requires a minimum TOEFL score of 600
(paper-based) or 250 (computer-based).

Computing Culture also requires the submission of a portfolio of
relevant work. Portfolios should be web-based, but DVD, CD, and other
formats are accepted. Any additional materials should be sent to the MAS
program, not directly to Chris Csikszentmihalyi.