Lecture 01: The Body in Space — Ecological Perception & Real-Time Pose Tracking

Conceptual Framework & Theory

How does the human body relate to the physical world, and how does computational technology reshape that relationship?

In this foundational lecture, we challenge the cognitivist view that perception is internal image processing. Drawing upon Ecological Psychology and Phenomenology, we consider the body as an active organism directly perceiving affordances—action possibilities offered by physical and digital space.

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Studio Blackboard Canvas

• Interactive Canvas: 🚀 Open Week 01 Studio Blackboard in Underscores
• Obsidian Note: Full drawing data and lecture references on the Week 01 Studio Blackboard.

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Art Historical Precedents & Anatomy

1. Monumental & Grotesque Anatomy:

   • Damien Hirst — Hymn (1999–2005): Transforming toy anatomical figures into colossal architectural sculptures.
   • Paul McCarthy — Chocolate Blockhead: Deconstructing cartoon pop figures and bodily scale.
   • Robert Fludd — The History of the Two Worlds (1617): Mapping macrocosmic cosmic geometry to human perceptual anatomy.

2. Choreography, Notation & Costume Transformation:

   • Loïe Fuller — Serpentine Dance (1891): Merging the dancer’s body with swirling silk and projected electric light.
   • Oskar Schlemmer — Das Triadische Ballett (1922): Bauhaus geometric costumes converting performers into kinetic spatial sculptures.
   • OpenEndedGroup — Loops (2001–2008): 3D optical motion-capture dance portraits of Merce Cunningham.

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Real-Time Vision Tracking & Creative Tech

To translate physical bodily motion into computational puppets and reactive environments, we utilize Pose Estimation algorithms:

• MediaPipe & TouchDesigner Integration: Tracking 33 3D skeletal landmarks from standard webcams at 60 FPS without wearable sensors.
• Code Repository: torinmb / mediapipe-touchdesigner (GitHub).
• Live Studio Stream: TouchDesigner Body Tracking Video Tutorial.
• AI Assistance & Tooling: Anthropic Research on AI-Assisted Coding.

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Interactive Code Prototypes & Shaders

• p5.js Live Sketch: p5.js Web Editor — Fullscreen Sketch
• Codevre Interactive Shader Sandbox: Codevre Shader Sandbox

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Required Literature & Primary Sources

• Lobo, Heras-Escribano & Travieso (2018): The History and Philosophy of Ecological Psychology.
• Robert Fludd (1617): Utriusque Cosmi Historia.

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Associated Studio Assignment

• Entity (Due Week 3).