A cognitivebased formalism

1

The aesthetics of the anti-aesthetics.
The Aesthetics of Play conference. University
of Bergen, Norway October 2005 David
Myers
2

The baby, assailed by eyes, ears, nose,
skin, and entrails at once, feels it all as
one great blooming, buzzing confusion --
William James
3

The baby, assailed by eyes, ears, nose,
skin, and entrails at once, feels it all as
one great blooming, buzzing
ANTI
4

The baby, assailed by eyes, ears, nose,
skin, and entrails at once, feels it all as
one great blooming, buzzing
ANTI
5

The baby, assailed by eyes, ears, nose,
skin, and entrails at once, feels it all as
one great blooming, buzzing
ANTI
6

OTHER
7

SELF
OTHER
8

OTHER
SELF
9

OTHER
SELF
ANTI
10
OTHER
SELF
ANTI
OTHER
representation
11
OTHER
SELF
Familiarization of OTHER
ANTI
OTHER
language
representation
12
OTHER
SELF
Familiarization of OTHER
ANTI
OTHER
language
representation
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Diagram 1
OTHER
Habitualizes the senses
Familiarization of OTHER within natural language
natural Language anti-SELF
Representation of OTHER as anti-SELF
SELF anti-OTHER
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OTHER
natural Language anti-SELF
SELF anti-OTHER
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OTHER
natural Language anti-SELF
poetic Language anti-linguistic SELF
SELF anti-OTHER
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Diagram 2c
OTHER
natural Language anti-SELF
RE-representation reflexive, recursive
poetic Language anti-linguistic SELF
anti-language
SELF anti-OTHER
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Diagram 2d
OTHER
Habitualizes the senses
natural Language anti-SELF
RE-representation reflexive, recursive
poetic Language anti-linguistic SELF
anti-language
SELF anti-OTHER
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Diagram 2e
OTHER
Habitualizes the senses
natural Language anti-SELF
RE-representation reflexive, recursive
poetic Language anti-linguistic SELF
anti-language
Dehabitualizes the senses
SELF anti-OTHER
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The Relationship of Literature to Language.
natural language
The DOMAIN of habitual, conventional representatio
n
new (novel) representations
poetic language
anti-conventional representation
resulting in Defamiliarization, which
references and therein reveals habituation.
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The Relationship of Games to Semiosis.
natural semiosis
The DOMAIN of representation
natural language
new (novel) experiences
computer games
anti-representation
resulting in Familiarization, which models and
therein reinforces habituation.
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experiential SELF
O T H E R
natural language
poetic language
semiotic SELF
anti-conventional representation
digital games
anti-representation ? immersion
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semiotic SELF
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OTHER
semiotic SELF
mind
body brain
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Real world immersion
Real world perception
interface
OTHER
semiotic SELF
mind
body brain
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Real world immersion
Real world perception
interface
OTHER
semiotic SELF
games
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Real world immersion
Real world perception
interface
OTHER
semiotic SELF
games
interactivity
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Real world immersion
Real world perception
interface
OTHER
semiotic SELF
games
interactivity
anti-rules anti-representations anti-experiences
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Virtual world immersion
Virtual world perception
interface
semiotic SELF
games
interactivity
ANTI-ICONS
ANTICON A sign that references only itself.
ANTICON A sign that references only a
referencing process, or semiosis.
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anti SELF
Virtual world immersion
Virtual world perception
interface
semiotic SELF
games
interactivity
ANTI-ICONS
ANTICON A sign that references only itself.
ANTICON A sign that references only its
referencing process, or semiosis.
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natural language
poetic language
willingness
Semiotic SELF
computer games
interactivity
Experiential SELF
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Functions of poetic language.

• Natural language familiarizes the OTHER.
• Natural language habitualizes the senses.
• Therefore, we are unaware of the function of
  natural language.
• Poetic language is derivative of natural
  language.
• Poetic language is language-referential (or
  self-referential).
• Poetic language defamiliarizes natural language.
• Poetic language dehabituates the senses.
• Therefore, we are aware of the linguistic
  function of poetic language.
• Poetic language evokes the OTHER.

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Functions of digital games.

• Semiosis familiarizes the OTHER.
• Semiosis habitualizes the senses.
• Therefore, we are unaware of the function of
  semiosis.
• Digital play is derivative of semiosis.
• Digital play is semiosis-referential (or
  self-referential).
• Interactive digital play RE-familiarizes the
  OTHER.
• Interactive digital play RE-habituates the
  senses.
• Therefore, we are unaware of the semiotic
  function of interactive digital play.
• Interactive digital play constructs the agon, or
  anti-Self.