HUMANITIES EXPERIMENTS

Existential Dilemma Vacuum Tube, side view The following pieces are early prototypes of experimental machines designed to detect, measure, capture or store a variety of theorized energies not yet recognized by conventional science. Ironically, while many of these energies are held in conceptual esteem by the humanities and social sciences, these disciplines also do not contemplate the possibility of their physical existence. Examples of energies that are explored in experiments are the social contract, irony, existential anxiety, doubt, and romantic love.
Below is the rationale for the first image.

DILEMMA AVOIDANCE VACUUM TUBE

Instructions: The viewer reads the offered texts within the vacuum into the "vacuum
feedback loop microphone". After multiple readings, the collection crystal is worn or carried on the body to release and disperse metaphysical anxiety energy.

Theory: All human anxiety has its roots in the principle dilemma, "Is there meaning to human life and what is its nature?" This question is a priori unanswerable but this doesn't prevent humankind from burning mountains of time, energy, and creativity attempting to find an answer.
The DILEMMA AVAIDANCE VACUUM TUBE provides us a protective tool that inoculates humans from addiction to this question. Readings create a buildup and release dynamic whose energy imprint is transferred to the quartz collector. This energy is created by the "anxiety shear" instigated by the "release phase" at the end of the tube. This metaphysical anxiety release energy (MARE) can be measured in Mangstroms. Minute amounts of mangstroms are released through the tube and into the collector upon each reading. Depending on the metaphysical anxiety potential present in the individual reader, between 2 and 20 mangstroms are released and collected. Approximately 40,000 mangstroms or between three and five thousand readings will charge a two pound quartz crystal. When pulverized this charged powder will provide metaphysical anxiety protection to a family of four for approximately 20 years depending on level of anxiety present.

Prospects: By helping to alleviate the human addiction to meaning, the ADVT may be an invaluable pain reduction-pleasure enhancement tool. Tests are underway however to determine whether minimal levels of metaphysical anxiety are necessary for optimum human functionality.