COURSE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES  
 
We associate metaphor with abstract thoughts and sentiments.  But research now shows metaphor to be central to all human cognition (a finding raising important questions concerning the flow of information).  How does metaphor facilitate instrumental knowledge (whether textually, visually, or otherwise)?  And how does metaphor mitigate new obstacles to clarity (including information overload and economic globalization)?

Our goal is to study metaphor as a factor in research, design, and communication.  But a key premise in this course is that certain dimensions of metaphor can only be experienced through their direct production.

Accordingly, we'll create metaphors through short experiments in digital art.  We'll then use these experiments (along with key readings on metaphor from philosophy, linguistics, and cognitive science) to formulate practical tools for institutional production. 

In the final assignment, participants will apply the results in one of two ways: 1) an improvement of usability in a text, website, interface, visual display, or information system; or 2) the engagement of a particular field of research (through a paper, study, or project addressing a specific element of metaphor).   

 

COURSE STRUCTURE

We'll trace the function of metaphor across three broad domains:

1. Human-computer interaction:
   Metaphor provides the bridge between human intellect and machine computation.  But which components of metaphor determine the effectiveness of a given interface design?   
          

2. Intellectual coherence:    
   Metaphor turns data into knowledge, yet it can also impede the flow of information.  How does metaphor relate to cross-cultural communication?  And how might metaphor help mediate the growing proliferation of specialized expertise? 
    

3. Collective value:
   Metaphor mediates between conflicting interests.  But how does an understanding of metaphor help us distinguish between the expansion and the distortion of collective values or organizational ideals?

 

MEDIA SKILLS

No prior experience in web design or web development is required.  Completion of assignments will involve the production of simple websites, but the necessary tools and instructions will be available either in class meetings, on the course website, or in the Department of Technical Communication computer lab.  (See the "media use" page for further details.)