Date of Award

Spring 6-2-2018

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

Department

Jewelry and Metalsmithing

First Advisor

Tracy Steepy

Second Advisor

Timothy Veske-McMahon

Third Advisor

Arthur Hash

Abstract

This fictional dystopian society is the background of my work: In the year 2057, Earth’s environment has been deeply polluted, humanity has come to rely on external survival tools to live. BioVice as one of the largest bioengineering company in the world, committing themselves to the production of the most advanced survival tools.

There are two production lines in the BioVice Company. One is the economy line which targets the majority, especially the middle class; while the luxury line targets the wealthy and the elite. The designs of both production lines have futuristic appearances, combining forms from clinical devices and elements of the human body. The imitations of body parts relate to the function of the devices, which refer to the Bionic techniques. The polished surface and mechanical components refer to the quality of massproduced products. To some extent, the luxury line products offer more advanced functions to ensure a better life quality and longer lifespan. BioVice also provided extra VIP services for their luxury line clients, for instance, free weekly health report and free maintenance. At the same time, the luxury line products have more streamlined design with nonfunctioning features to emphasize the social status by creating an exquisite look.

Through my works, I hope raise questions from the gap between the two lines through different materials, different products durations and extra services behind the luxury lines. By showing the contrast between two production lines and highlighting on the paradox in our life, I question the quality of life in postmodernist society, how consumerism affects our values, and how wealth relates to the right to live.

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.