Visualization of the organization: An aesthetic ecology for the city of Newark

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

12-1-2006

Abstract

Social systems are facing a new set of challenges in the twenty-first century. People from most disciplines have described their concerns in a similar way, yet use the terminology of their discipline. These concepts include "the appearance of dilemmas," "the boiling point" or simply "collapse." Terms like "turbulence," "fear of the future," "the unknown," and "emergence" are also common. Often times, short-term solutions are used to remedy long-term problems because they are the easiest to implement. This strategy however seems to exacerbate the problem or simply move it from one area to another. We have ventured far away from real solutions because of how we have been taught to think, as well as from limitations we put on how we communicate with each other. The foundations have been laid for systems thinking. This paper builds on them by suggesting systems research that uses aesthetics in problem solving. It is not just art itself that is advocated here but rather an expansion of what we mean by art to include all of the disciplines, as well as art as a way of doing things. If aesthetics is another form of communication what is its structure and how can it inform the development of organizations such as cities? Herein I am concerned with the current state of the city of Newark and seek alternative approaches to planning or design. Planning theories and methods of the last century do not work well today because they were founded on materialism and determinism that dates back to the Industrial Age. This paper suggests that we begin to embrace new ideas such as human movement systems, pattern recognition, and symbolism, while working towards collective transformation of the city. Much of this will involve the acceptance of multiple realities within a city and managing them by communicating through aesthetics.

Identifier

84875618563 (Scopus)

ISBN

[9781622767557]

Publication Title

50th Annual Meeting of the International Society for the Systems Sciences 2006 Isss 2006

First Page

1091

Last Page

1108

Volume

2

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