/ dummy variables / performing computation about cognition as an act and the aesthetics of command lines as plots

Notes on the performance plot dummy variables, march 2009.

Underlining the aesthetical aspects of cognition as something you can stage and perform, this performance plot refers to the metaphors of computation, counting and measurement. Gestures are presented as cognitive units and performative plots as experimental measurement units of spaces or situations.

The performance is based on audience‘s participation. A minimun audience of 20 participants is recommanded. The performance plot is called dummy variables and will run for approx. 15 min. Mainly it is about performing identities by computing.

The plot structure is given by sequential exercises. The exercises are based both on abstraction and coordination (between pieces of the body & language driven activities). The main language of the performance is English. In non-English speaking or non-European countries the plot is supposed to be bilingual.

A dummy variable is a numerical variable used in regression analysis to represent subgroups of the sample in your study. In research design, a dummy variable is often used to distinguish different treatment groups. In the simplest case, we would use a 0,1 dummy variable where a person is given a value of 0 if they are in the control group or a 1 if they are in the treated group.
http://www.socialresearchmethods.net

A dummy variable is a variable that takes on the values 1 and 0; 1 means something is true (such as age < 25, sex is male, or in the category “very much”). Use of dummy variables usually increases model fit (coefficient of determination), but at a cost of fewer degrees of freedom and loss of generality of the model. Too many dummy variables result in a model that does not provide any general conclusions.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indicator_variable

1
Warming up. To performe is something you are supposed to be training for. To warm up the attitude of a dummy variable means to understand - bodily - the nature of zero & one. Fist is zero, thumb is one. Neutral is zero, smiling is one. To be simultaneously zero&one is also given.
2
The experience with the body is alternated with the verbal definition. To define more with the language will force to experience more with the body.
3
Audience members are forced to embody the rules of zero (sitting) & one (standing).
4
Call for properties. Audience members are expected to use themselves as objects of computation. They will embody zero or one in different perspectives declaring their actual state for statistical pursue: they will compute if they are female, young, rich, unemployed, european, smokers, cyclists, terrorists... or not.

dummy variables is directed by the plot designer supported by her staff (2 or 3 persons): supporters are covering different functions, like the translation into the host language, the check of the running time, the counting of ones.
Performers and audience participants are acting infront of a split-screen projection where they can follow themselves on video and the actual plot definition as a text. All the video streamings are supposed to be recorded; the survey data of each session can be recovered from the corresponding videofootage.

dummy variables was performed May 30th 2008 at KHM Academy of Media Arts in Cologne, August 3rd 2008 at Huan Tie First Line Art District in Beijing (china), March 16th 2009 at the Department of New Media Art of China Academy of Art in Hang Zhou (china), April 22nd 2009 for Mühlenkampf & art cologne at Domplatte Cologne.