Checking in...

Beat City is in a state of self-perpetuating corruption. It exists as a social construct predicated on the notion that actions can be predetermined and their outcomes will directly construct and manage the physical environment. Through a set of heirarchical policing strategies, a series of locally discreet scanners expose and track anomalies within the city. These anomalies might be thought to encompass a shadow network--defined as people who operate somewhere in between corruption and formal heirarchical control. The scanners alter the cityscape by leaving behind physical residue that becomes a territory for new modes of policing. While the residue is all that remains after a single policing event, it creates new boundaries of exclusivity. The anomalies must deploy ulterior tactics to remain invisible to the scanner. These tactics are informed by statistical data pertaining to the anomalies whereby responsive mechanisms of concealment can subvert the criteria for inclusion. To this end, Beat City is not about policing or scanning, but it is about the anomalies that give it life.

After scouring the library/internet/whatev it seems that the more I think about illegal immigration the more it makes sense (...in the context of Beat City). Previously I was trying to make the distinction between what considered illicit and what is illegal. This seems to tackle both. Why not...

DATA:

I found statistical data estimating the number of illegal immigrants (per capita) by state averagine to the tune of 1.7 per 100 people. (Source: US Citizenship and Immigration Services, field report, 2000). I figured this was a more reasonable number to work with in grasshopper vs 2mil+

GRASSHOPPER:

The current definition lacks any kind of (well functioning) containment. By that I mean, there isn't a time delay in between when the scanner finds the anomalies and when it collects them. Introducing the notion of "invisible anomalies" I think there can be some sort of proximity eval, where the anomalies would (probably) not be seen, but their modes of concealment would (eg- the interstitial spaces in the field (between the residue?)--cracks, holes... or a "sanctuary pocket".. etc..). I think it would help to develop a new pseudo-code..

FIELD MANUAL (for how to stay invisible):

I've been thinking about this as far as how it may be useful (not only to begin to relate these frames with events in the field), but in thinking about how I can begin to adapt the ghx def.. I put together some preliminary images of what I've been thinking so far (in the vein of a flight safety instuction card...)

Chapter One: "Hunker Down"




Chapter Two: "Stay Calm and Find the Nearest Exit"



Chapter Three: "If All Else Fails, Dazzle Them With Smoke and Mirrors"



The following images are from Ms. Tsukioka, a fashion designer in Japan who also has some ideas on how to be invisible