Allegory:A Tool for Augmented Reality

Richard Smyth, Ph.D.VM606 - Emerson College 15 March 2012

Definition of Allegory

The representation of abstract ideas or principles by characters, figures, or events in narrative, dramatic, or pictorial form.

A story, picture, or play employing such representation. John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress and Norton Juster's The Phantom Tollbooth are allegories.

Analogy

A symbol is to a photoasAn allegory is to a film

A photo/image is static (1-to-1)A film puts photos/images into motion

(symbols interacting)

Examples

In Pilgrim's Progress, Christian falls into the Slough of Despond, and Prayer helps him get out

Examples

In The Phantom Tollbooth, Miles jumps to Conclusions and must swim across the Sea of Knowledge to resume his journey

Allegory: Characters as Abstractions

Rhyme & Reason Lethargarians Christian Prayer

Allegory: Places as Abstractions

The Doldrums The Mountains of

Ignorance The Slough of

Despond

Allegory in Augmented Reality

American Plutocracy

http://johncraigfreeman.wordpress.com/2011/09/30/american-plutocracy/

AR Occupy Wallstreet

http://aroccupywallstreet.wordpress.com/

Allegory in Augmented Reality

The Goddess of Democracy

http://johncraigfreeman.wordpress.com/2011/06/28/goddess-of-democracy-in-al-tahrir-square-cairo/

Exercise 1: What Ideas to Store?

If you were a famous star, what would you rename yourself?

Think of three issues/ abstractions and write them on the sticky notes

Use the colored dots to vote on your preferences

Exercise 2: What Images to Use?

For the abstractions in Exercise 1, what are some images that could allegorically represent these concepts?

Exercise 3: Where to Store Them?

Brainstorm three places in Boston that are significant (i.e. have allegorical potential)

Brainstorm three places in the U.S.A. that are significant

Brainstorm three places in the world...

Exercise 4: Explore 3-D Warehouse

Ready-Made Allegorical Images?

Are there images you might be able to use in a project like this?

Contact Information

Richard Smyth, Ph.D. richard_smyth@emerson.edu rsmyth64@yahoo.com