A Mimetic Method: Rendering artificial intelligence imaginaries through enactment

TY - JOUR

T1 - A Mimetic Method

T2 - Rendering artificial intelligence imaginaries through enactment

AU - Erslev, Malthe Stavning

PY - 2022/10

Y1 - 2022/10

N2 - How does a practice of mimesis – as dramatic enactment in a live-action role-playing game (LARP) – relate to the design of artificial intelligence systems? In this article, I trace the contours of a mimetic method, working through an auto-ethnographic approach in tandem with new materialist theory and in conjunction with recent tendencies in design research to argue that mimesis carries strong potential as a practice through which to encounter, negotiate, and design with artificial intelligence imaginaries. Building on a new materialist conception of mimesis as more-than-human sympathy, I illuminate how LARP that centered on the enactment of a fictional artificial intelligence system sustained an encounter with artificial intelligence imaginaries. In what can be understood as a decidedly mimetic way of doing ethnography of algorithmic systems, I argue that we need to consider the value of mimesis – understood as a practice and a method – as a way to render research into artificial intelligence imaginaries.

AB - How does a practice of mimesis – as dramatic enactment in a live-action role-playing game (LARP) – relate to the design of artificial intelligence systems? In this article, I trace the contours of a mimetic method, working through an auto-ethnographic approach in tandem with new materialist theory and in conjunction with recent tendencies in design research to argue that mimesis carries strong potential as a practice through which to encounter, negotiate, and design with artificial intelligence imaginaries. Building on a new materialist conception of mimesis as more-than-human sympathy, I illuminate how LARP that centered on the enactment of a fictional artificial intelligence system sustained an encounter with artificial intelligence imaginaries. In what can be understood as a decidedly mimetic way of doing ethnography of algorithmic systems, I argue that we need to consider the value of mimesis – understood as a practice and a method – as a way to render research into artificial intelligence imaginaries.

KW - Mimesis

KW - LARP

KW - Sympathy

KW - Artificial intellige

KW - More-than-human,

KW - Fiction

KW - Imaginaries

U2 - 10.7146/aprja.v11i1.134305

DO - 10.7146/aprja.v11i1.134305

M3 - Journal article

SN - 2245-7755

VL - 11

SP - 34

EP - 49

JO - A Peer-Reviewed Journal About

JF - A Peer-Reviewed Journal About

IS - 1

ER -