web collections

Collecting things is a natural human tendency. Our early civilizations are often referred to as "Hunters and Gatherers". While lots of stories and discussions (perhaps too many) revolve around heroic tales of killing big animals, one might argue that the more important work that has sustained our species was simply collecting things that were useful or edible. Gathering can also be a helpful part of learning or adapting to our environment:

"By collecting the set, or by mastering in details some area of the world, one gains the assurance that reality is not limitless, that one can grasp it. By learning about something exhaustively, one gains the security that the world is in principle knowable. So one reduces the thread that one is insignificant or at the mercy of an unknowably vast reality."

-Kieran Egan, The Educated Mind, p. 87

Collections can be all manner of things: objects, artifacts, living, dead or plastic. They might be thoughts or images: drawings, photos, writings or typings. I will argue that a collection, not matter how small or "irrational" has some kind of logic and system of categories by which the contents are organized and by extension connected to each other.

Assignment: Make a web site that is a collection. The collection need not be exhaustive or authoritative but you should be able to explain how the things are organized, presented and how the user (archivist or visitor) will access the archive. You can be scientific or rational but it might also be interesting to use systems or mythology or magic to organize your contents.

You are welcome to work in groups but the scope and ambition should reflect the number of collaborators.

You can use any and all HTML/CSS (or even Javascript) and embed any kind of media you see fit: photo, video, sound, pixels & vectors. But try to be original and be mindful of copyright. Your work and ideas are the most interesting.

Enjoy your work!