Myfrienemies is a social networking site where anonymous users are connected to others who share dislikes of the same or similar types of people. Rather than create profile pages, visitors to the site can create anonymous lists of personal friend-enemies (frienemies) through detailed descriptions (testimonials) and labels (ex: cheaters, drunks, liars). Other people on the site can offer advice and commiserate with the anonymous testimonioals. If people dislike the same person, they can send personal messages to each other. To avoid inflammatory behavior, the site is programmed so that proper names are never revealed and bullying is disouraged. Myfrienemies aims to foster new friendships that are more similar to the bonds we make in a closed setting such as the office or academic environment; places where groups of disparate people find a common bond in their shared annoyance with a particular colleague.
description: Installation with web site, slide show and overhead projection
EBay Longing is a web site interface for engaging the desire for the “Other” through objects.
The site connects visitors to Afghani, Iranian, or Iraqi objects, such as coins and jewelry, which are being auctioned online. The desire for authenticity in these objects can be found in the descriptions provided by sellers. These object descriptions are juxtaposed with writings from US soldiers (and their spouses), journalists, Baghdad bloggers and classic Orientalist travelogues. The two narratives side by side reinforce the notion that wanting the Other’s shoes is different from wanting to be in them.
description: Web site, cellphone messaging service
Clip-FM allows users to send explicit and humorous animations via the web to a mobile phone. The pictogram animations are composed of 2-bit boxy pixel stick figures and symbols that express the ineffable. The plots of some of these mini-movies include: "Mom, Dad, I am gay" and "Your dog got hit by a car."
