Posted: November 18th, 2022

Contextual and Theoretical Studies 3 (Route A) (PU001707)

Unit Assignment
All Design School Courses
Unit: Contextual and Theoretical Studies 3 (Route A) (PU001707)
Assignment Information
Assignment Title:
Contextual and Theoretical
Studies A
Assignment Type:
Elemental
Weighting:
Dissertation (Essay): 80%
Artefact: 20%
Submission Deadline:
Element 1: Monday
23rd January 2023 by
3pm (GMT)
Element 2: Wednesday 25th
January 2023 by 3pm (GMT)
Adjusted Assessment
Deadline*:
Element 1: Monday
6th February 2023 by
3pm (GMT)
Element 2:
Wednesday 8th
February 2023 by 3pm
(GMT)
If you are using additional
timeplease notify us using
the following email:
CTSadmin@lcc.arts.ac.uk.
Submission Method:
Element 1: Electronic
submission via Turnitin.
One single PDF file.
Maximum filesize: 100MB
Element 2: Electronic
submission via Moodle.
One single file.
Maximum file size: 100MB
Anonymous Marking:
No: It is not possible for
this assignment to be marked
anonymously; however, it
will be internally moderated
in line with UAL policy to
maintain rigour and
fairness in assessment.
Date to expect feedback by:
Monday 6th March 2023
All feedback is indicative until
formally confirmed at an
Exam Board. You will be
informed of your results and
when these will be published
by email and Moodle.
How you will receive
feedback:
Via Moodle and the
Assessment Feedback tool.
Submission Queries:
If you have any difficulties
submitting your
assignmentcontact:
CTSadmin@lcc.arts.ac.uk
before the deadline.
*The Adjusted Assessment deadline is for students with Individual Support Agreements (ISAs).
See Assessment Guidance at the end of this document for further information.
Your Assignment
The dissertation represents the culmination of the Contextual and Theoretical Studies aspect of
your course. It gives you the chance to bring together the skills, knowledge and understandings
you have developed over previous years in an extended piece of academic writing based on the
dissertation proposal you produced at the end of CTS2. Your dissertation will demonstrate your
ability to plan and complete an extended research project, and to communicate the findings of
your research clearly and effectively. You will show an in-depth knowledge in your chosen field,
contextualise your work, and carry out effective analysis. Your writing will present an intellectual
position, and communicate it persuasively. You will also demonstrate, through the production of
a designed artefact, an ability to communicate your research through design. Your dissertation
is an important part of your university career, and it offers you an opportunity to show your
academic abilities in a summatively assessed project that combines your personal interests
with your subject knowledge and skills in enquiry, process and communication.
The Design School is committed to ecologically and socially responsible design. You can
refer to the Responsible Design Framework and talk to your tutor about how your research
and practice for this assignment can follow sustainable processes and have positive impact.
Project Brief
You decide the content of your dissertation, within the context of art, design, media and
culture. In consultation with your dissertation supervisor, and in dialogue with your peers,
you will complete a self-initiated research project that builds on your dissertation proposal.
Element 1 (80% of unit mark)
A written dissertation of 8,000-10,000 words (excluding title page, abstract, acknowledgments,
contents page, bibliography, image list and appendices).
Element 2 (20% of unit mark)
A designed extension, adaptation, visualisation or transformation of your writing as a standalone
digital submission.
Learning Outcomes
This assignment will be assessed against the four UAL assessment criteria Enquiry,
Knowledge, Process, Communication. See: arts.ac.uk/assessment
On completion of this unit you will be able to: How the learning outcomes are to be
evidenced in this assignment
Design and carry out a self-initiated research
project using appropriate research methods.
Demonstrate an ability to identify, gather and
analyse a diverse selection of sources to
develop an intellectual position. (Enquiry)
You will demonstrate your engagement with
enquiry through the use of sources and
research methods in the written element. You
will analyse the sources used to inform your
writing to develop your own independent
ideas and arguments. The analysis of sources
will also be evident in the selection of visual
languages used for the design of the artefact,
and your explanation of the research behind
it.
Identify, understand and apply knowledge of the
subject you are studying. Evaluate and interpret
the knowledge gathered to formulate a coherent
discussion. Show an awareness of and engage
with broader debates within the topic area of
the dissertation. (Knowledge)
You will show the reader that you have an indepth knowledge of the topic explored in your
writing through your discussion of current key
debates and concepts. You will come to clear
conclusions that address your main research
question(s). The design of the artefact will
also demonstrate this knowledge and it will
also be evidenced in your design rationale.
Explore processes, media, materials and
concepts to produce a dissertation that
demonstrates the potential for future
directions in your design practice. (Process)
You will choose appropriate forms and ideas
for the designed artefact, and deploy them in
a considered way that demonstrates a
coherent concept.
Clearly and persuasively articulate, structure
and present a dissertation, using required
academic conventions. (Communication)
You will demonstrate this in the structure of
your arguments and how effectively you
support these ideas with source materials.
Visual examples should be used to support
and develop your ideas in both your written
element and designed artefact. The design of
the artefact should clearly relate to the
subject-matter and ideas discussed using
relevant visual languages.
Costs associated with this Unit & its assessment
Work presented for assessment will be evaluated against unit learning outcomes using
UAL’s Assessment criteria. Increased expenditure on materials to realise your assignment
will not equate to increased grades in your assessment.
The college provides a broad range of resources to support your studies and to produce
work for assessment.
You can discuss your choices and likely costs with your unit leader prior to starting your work.
Assessment Guidance • The UAL Assessment webpage has detailed explanations of the five UAL
Assessment Criteria and the University’s assessment policies: arts.ac.uk/assessment
• The LCC Student Guide to Assessment provides a step-by-step guide to the
assessment process at LCC. The guide is in the Moodle site for your course:
moodle.arts.ac.uk
• Guides for online submissions are available in the Moodle site for your course:
moodle.arts.ac.uk
• Guides to Adjusted Assessment can be found on the Disability Service site:
Disability Service
Will cyberpunk eliminate the marginalization of the disabled
介绍
残疾人被歧视和边缘化已经成为了一个社会不容忽视的问题。残障人士身体先天或后天的缺陷被“标准化”。人们的身体被贴上了“标签”，健康的或者残疾的。这种差异在现代文化特别是在医学话语主导的文化中极端化了。不是健康就是残疾的分类方式潜藏在人们的深层观念中，继而形成了各种社会压迫和社会歧视。在游戏领域，随着电子游戏赛博朋克2077的发售，赛博朋克文化又重新回到大众的视野。赛博朋克题材作品作为科幻题材之一，在高度发达的科技与极端资本主义的背景下，其中的义肢改造是否会抹除人们身体上标签化的差别。过于娱乐化和符号化的赛博朋克文化也让大众忽视了其主题的严肃性与许多潜在的问题。本文在于探究赛博朋克中的义肢普世化的可能性，以及是否会解决残障人士的被边缘化问题。

如今残疾人的现状。
根据《Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities》CRPD第一条宗旨:释义为残疾人即肢体、语言、听力、精神、智力或多重存在长期缺损的人，这些缺损与各种障碍相互作用，或可阻碍残疾人与健全人一样在平等的基础上充分和切实地参与社会。根据世界卫生组织在2011年发布的《World report on disability》的数据，世界上有超过10亿人患有不同程度的残疾。然而现如今残疾人仍是世界上被边缘化程度最严重的群体之一。一定程度上的残障会给人们的身体带来客观上的差别，这样的差别使得残疾人的就业率和贫困率远高于非残疾人。然而在2022年的今天，一套完善的义肢仍需要花费数千甚至数万英镑。无障碍设施被设计为为残障人士减少出行障碍和提供便利的设施。这在一定程度上给残障人士提供了帮助。 电子游戏的无障碍化确实给残障玩家的游戏体验做出了改善。 许多游戏在设置中加上了无障碍选项，例如色盲模式，声音可视化，以及巨大的字幕。微软甚至研发出了一款新的无障碍手柄，不同形式的残障人士可以通过高度自定义的按键和其他配套外设游玩游戏。然而还有许多的无障碍设施的不实用性给残疾人们带来了不便。在另一方面，无障碍设施也给残疾人带来了固有偏见。在‘正常人’看来，‘正常’被标准化，无障碍设施的功能被认为是让‘不正常的’残疾者‘康复’。这种非健全即残障的分类，对人类的身体进行着优劣排序，构成了压迫。世界卫生组织曾于2001年发布了《International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health》（ICF）。ICF指出，残障并不是只有少数人才会体验到的情况，每个人因为日渐衰老都会体验到不同程度的残疾状况。而这一倡议无疑是需要社会成员广泛的共情。但在这一理想情况实现以前，高度发达的义肢技术可能会改变残疾人的命运。其中赛博朋克是人类对此抱有的幻想之一。

赛博朋克意味着什么。
人类社会其实一直朝着赛博朋克的方向所发展。赛博朋克可以被拆解为Cybernetic和punk两个词。Cybernetic是当今资本理论之一，而punk意为反叛，cyberpunk意为反控制论。赛博朋克概念的诞生要追溯至1950年战后社会繁荣的状态。社会取得了短暂的繁荣与稳定。但是劳资关系的冲突打破了这一局面。因此当时的社会科学家们为资本主义提出了很多资本理论。但是这些资本理论都有着相似的核心，信息论，系统论和控制论。其中的控制论就是多数赛博朋克作品的主要的灵感来源。劳资关系的冲突使资本家们确信，人类劳动力的脆弱性和不可信任性造就了不稳定因素。人类劳动力应当被不断弱化，最终直至被剔除。与此同时，信息革命也使信息技术高速发展。机器与AI将会取代工人的位置，劳工将会失去岗位，和工作价值。事实上，日本的很多企业都正在实施控制论。企业的大多数劳工只会接受低成本和简单的培训，复杂的工作已被生产系统所取代。这不仅为企业节省了培训成本，让劳工的可替换成本降到最低。在无法完全替换掉“活人”的前提下，让劳工的价值也降到了最低。当这种情况普遍发生，并发展到极致时，赛博朋克就会到来。由于机器与AI替代了劳工，精英阶级统治了社会。底层的劳工由于失去了工作的价值，要么变为无所事事的存在，要么就让自己的身体商品化产生价值———包括但不限于保镖，雇佣兵，夜店工作者，性工作者等职业。这些职业产生改造自己身体的需求。人们通过电子化，机械化自己的肉体，以获得更高级的能力。

赛博朋克中肉体的概念。
电子化，机械化义肢的普遍应用是赛博朋克世界观常见设定之一。它们在某种意义上就是无障碍者的未来形态。接受了芯片植入、器官替换、义肢替换的人，又被称为赛博格（cyborg），赛博格是人与机械、人类智能与人工智能、碳基与硅基的融合体。因此，cyborg将有望彻底解决残障问题。当任何身体部位残缺与损坏都能得以‘修复’时，非残疾即健康的观念也会随之消失。每个人都可以安装上cyborg义肢时，即使在医学上，残障者与健康者的区别也将不再存在。Donna Haraway在《A cyborg Manifesto》中宣称，‘There is nothing about being ‘female’that naturally binds women. There is not even such a state as ‘being’ female, itself a highly complex category constructed in contested sexual scientific discourses& other social practices. ’Donna Haraway的观点同样可以延伸到残障人士身上。cyborg技术让未来人间接地承认了这样一种观念：每个人都需要不同程度的无障碍设施来支持，因此每个人都处于残障和健康之间。但这只是理想情况。

赛博朋克是否会让残疾人变得更好。
在赛博朋克的世界中，义肢的普遍使用的确消除了人与人在身体上的差异。机械和电子给我们的身体带来本没有的便利。但是在身体上的不平等的矛盾却被转化到了阶级矛盾上。先天的身体残障已经无法定义身体的好坏，但取而代之的是，义肢的优劣。义肢在赛博朋克的世界中是寿命，外貌，健康，体能，阶级以及权力的显化，而资本是决定义肢质量的重要因素。那时，人们已经不在意文化观念上的偏见，不论是涉及残障，还是性别或者别的什么。因为，所有的偏见都露骨地折叠为基于统一标准的偏见，这个标准就是金钱。义肢的优劣与功能完全依赖于金钱。

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