Creative Technologies and Interdisciplinary Collaboration: A case study on the Aspen Movie Map

Many narratives have been established around Aspen Movie Map: about the interdisciplinary research lab where it was created, its pioneering interactive interface, or the concept of user empowerment and virtual travel. A predecessor of Google Street view and other navigation technology, it was one of the first tools where users could navigate freely through a virtual map. The creativity and innovation of this project resulted from artists and engineers working collaboratively. The question of the work practices and co-creative exchange between artists and technologists has not been analyzed in depth. ‘Collaboration’ and ‘innovation’ are often not clearly defined but presumed as positive attributes in themselves. However, this project along with other early art and technology collaborations has been critically reviewed in its emphasis on novel interfaces and disregard of a potential socio-political or cultural impact. An analysis of collaborative practices at this research lab can potentially offer new insights to the interpretation of Aspen Movie Map and, more generally, the overall conception of early art and tech labs. In my paper, I analyze the movie map in its collaborative practices to understand how artistic ideas influenced the project in its creative research outcomes.