“Google Image Search: The First Amendment” is an exploration into the visualization of language. Specifically, the piece explores the way tools such as Google Image Search have altered our visual understanding of words and text. The Google Image Search technology allows the user to search for images using natural language keywords and phrases. Does the use of this technology create a closer relationship between words and imagery, or does it further alienate the visual from the linguistic?
“Google Image Search: The First Amendment” was created by performing a Google Image Search for each word in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Using the search results, I created a visual narrative of this historical text. The imagery that resulted from this process ranges from the mundane to the bizarre. I selected the First Amendment because I am interested in revealing new meanings and representations of historically and culturally important texts. In particular, I think that First Amendment rights are facing a multitude of threats at this moment in time, and I hope that this piece will encourage viewers to examine the language and meaning of the document more closely. I intend to further explore these ideas in a series of pieces that will apply the same techniques to a variety of other seminal works.
Alexis Lloyd is a web designer, multimedia artist, and information architect with extensive experience in both educational and commercial projects. She has played a lead role in the creative and technical development of numerous award-winning new media projects for Columbia University, New York University, News Corporation, and the BBC, among others. These projects have included online courses, museum kiosks, interactive learning tools, e-journals, and educational websites. Alexis has a particular interest in the use of technology to visually communicate complex information and in new media as a vehicle for artistic expression. She is currently working towards an MFA in Design and Technology at Parsons School of Design and received her BA in Theatre from Vassar College.
For more information:
http://www.alexislloyd.com
http://a.parsons.edu/~alloyd