Very cool -- I love that you're focusing your model on the aesthetic and emotional side of architecture as well as the mechanical side. There's no doubt the former is harder for a machine to wrap its head around, so I appreciate the challenge you're taking on. I don't know much about computers, but I'm still definitely curious as to how you're teaching a machine to have an aesthetic sense.

Very interesting! I definitely agree with you about the power of mythology -- there is only so much that explicitly written words can capture. This is an idea which has reared its head in my project too: irony, just like mythology, often operates in a realm that goes beyond literal semantic meaning; one of images, feelings, and brush-stroke connections. I also love what you said at the end about narrative archetypes -- the specific ones that you mentioned are definitely relevant to our current political climate (although I think they're also relevant to nearly any political climate in history). 

Hi Justin,

So cool that you're reading some Benjamin -- I've really enjoyed what I've read from him previously. I definitely agree about the importance of establishing consistent and concrete definitions in philosophical work. Since philosophy is all about stacking together precise arguments, precision is very important. I wonder if, in your work, you discovered that different thinkers you're reading have slightly different definitions of foundational concepts, or if they all use a similar definition. Working with differing definitions takes a lot more creativity and interpretation!

Hi Jacques, 

I definitely relate with your struggle to begin writing -- this is one of my biggest challenges too! I also find it very interesting that the focus of your research is shifting as you discover what it feasible to learn about, and what data exists for you to analyze. Adaptability is great, and I believe that sometimes our projects end up directing us, instead of the other way around. It's cool how your project shifted focus to statistics on immigration -- this is definitely an important and relevant shift in focus.

Hi!

Like I said when we spoke earlier, I think it's so so cool that you'll literally be the first person to look at the archive of Báez's papers!! I also definitely resonate with what you said about learning to do archival research -- I might also end up doing some archival research for my project, so I'm possibly in the same situation as you are. I would love to hear about your experience digging through the archive at some point during the program :) I wish you the best of luck and lots of fun for your project!