Skip to main content

Critical Art with Brain-Computer Interfaces: Philosophical Reflections from Neuromatic Game Art Project

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
HCI International 2021 - Late Breaking Papers: Cognition, Inclusion, Learning, and Culture (HCII 2021)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNISA,volume 13096))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

Commercial brain-computer interfaces raise interesting critical political-philosophical and artistic questions. Drawing on our research and experiences with the “Neuromatic Game Art” project, and using critical theory from philosophy of technology (Feenberg), among other theories, this paper examines the power relations involved in the use of commercial BCI and argues that BCI artworks simultaneously subvert and engage the hegemony narratives offered by the technological tools and their commercial environment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    https://neuromatic.uni-ak.ac.at/ Apart from the authors of this paper, the project team includes Stefan Glasauer, Charlotta Ruth, Georg Luif, Zarko Aleksic and Thomas Wagensommerer.

  2. 2.

    https://choosemuse.com/.

  3. 3.

    https://www.emotiv.com/workplace-wellness-safety-and-productivity-mn8/.

  4. 4.

    https://neuromatic.uni-ak.ac.at/blog/eeg-stylegan-installation-at-parallel-vienna/.

  5. 5.

    https://vimeo.com/36403730.

  6. 6.

    http://glkress.com/art-and-design/brain-art/brain-noise-machine/.

  7. 7.

    https://neuromatic.uni-ak.ac.at/blog/neuromatic-broadcast-compilation-documentary-research-film-release-online/.

  8. 8.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAZG5BU-JaU&feature=youtu.be.

  9. 9.

    https://people.ucalgary.ca/ einbrain/new/main.html.

  10. 10.

    https://bci-art.tumblr.com/post/172883734132/the-shape-of-thought.

  11. 11.

    https://people.ucalgary.ca/ einbrain/new/main.html.

Reference

  1. Acabchuk, R.L., Simon, M.A., Low, S., Brisson, J.M., Johnson, B.T.: Measuring meditation progress with a consumer-grade EEG device: caution from a randomized controlled trial. Mindfulness 12(1), 68–81 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Bashivan, P., Rish, I., Heisig, S.: Mental state recognition via wearable EEG. arXiv preprint arXiv:1602.00985 (2016)

  3. Brenninkmeijer, J., Zwart, H.: From ‘hard’ neuro-tools to ‘soft’ neuro-toys? Refocussing the neuro-enhancement debate. Neuroethics 10(3), 337–348 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Coeckelbergh, M.: Hacking Feenberg. Symploke 20(1), 327–330 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Coeckelbergh, M.: Introduction to Philosophy of Technology (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Coeckelbergh, M.: Moved by Machines: Performance Metaphors and Philosophy of Technology. Routledge (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Debord, G.: Society of the Spectacle. Bread and Circuses Publishing (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Deleuze, G.: Postscript on the societies of control. 59, 3–7 (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Dror, O.Y.: The scientific image of emotion: experience and technologies of inscription. Configurations 7(3), 355–401 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Dumit, J.: Picturing personhood: biomedical scans and personal identity (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Feenberg, A.: Subversive rationalization: technology, power, and democracy. Inquiry 35(3–4), 301–322 (1992)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Feenberg, A.: Between Reason and Experience: Essays in Technology and Modernity. MIT Press (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Gaver, W.W., et al.: The drift table: designing for ludic engagement. In: CHI’04 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems, pp. 885–900 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Geuss, R., et al.: The Idea of a Critical Theory: Habermas and the Frankfurt School. Cambridge University Press (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Gregg, M.: Inside the data spectacle. Telev. New Media 16(1), 37–51 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Kavoulakos, K.: Philosophy of praxis or philosophical anthropology? Andrew Feenberg and Axel Honneth on Lukács’s theory of reification. In: Arnold, D.P., Michel, A. (eds.) Critical Theory and the Thought of Andrew Feenberg, pp. 47–69. Springer, Cham (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57897-2_3

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  17. Kirkpatrick, G.: Transforming dystopia with democracy: the technical code and the critical theory of technology. In: Arnold, D.P., Michel, A. (eds.) Critical Theory and the Thought of Andrew Feenberg, pp. 117–138. Springer, Cham (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57897-2_6

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  18. Lacan, J.: Les formations de l’inconscient. Bulletin de psychologie 6, 519–539 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Laclau, E., Mouffe, C.: Hegemony and socialist strategy: towards a radical democratic politics. Verso Trade (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Latour, B.: Science in Action: How to Follow Scientists and Engineers Through Society. Harvard University Press (1987)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Littlefield, M.M.: Instrumental Intimacy: EEG Wearables and Neuroscientific Control. JHU Press (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Lotman, J.: Culture and Explosion, vol. 1. Walter de Gruyter (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Lupton, D.: Critical perspectives on digital health technologies. Sociol. Compass 8(12), 1344–1359 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Lupton, D.: The diverse domains of quantified selves: self-tracking modes and dataveillance. Econ. Soc. 45(1), 101–122 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Meyer, U., Schulz-Schaeffer, I.: Three forms of interpretative flexibility. Sci. Technol. Innov. Stud. 2 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Mouffe, C.: Art and democracy: art as an agnostic intervention in public space. Art as a Public Issue. Open Mag. (14), 6–15 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Mouffe, C.: Agonistics: Thinking the World Politically. Verso Books (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Muñoz, M.: Infrafaces: Essays on the Artistic Interaction (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Novello, A.: A combination of gamification and DSP analysis to expose brain activity in EEG performances: the case of fragmentation-a brain-controlled performance

    Google Scholar 

  30. Parviainen, J.: Quantified bodies in the checking loop: analyzing the choreographies of biomonitoring and generating big data. Hum. Technol. 12(1), 56–74 (2016)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  31. Penz, O., Sauer, B.: Governing affects. Neo-Bureaucracies, and, Neoliberalism (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Prpa, M., Pasquier, P.: Brain-computer interfaces in contemporary art: a state of the art and taxonomy. Brain Art, 65–115 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  33. Radevski, S., Hata, H., Matsumoto, K.: Real-time monitoring of neural state in assessing and improving software developers’ productivity. In: 2015 IEEE/ACM 8th International Workshop on Cooperative and Human Aspects of Software Engineering, pp. 93–96. IEEE (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  34. Rancière, J.: Aesthetics and its Discontents. Polity (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  35. Ray, G.: Toward a critical art theory. Fly, 79 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  36. Spiel, K.: The bodies of TEI-investigating norms and assumptions in the design of embodied interaction (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  37. Spüler, M., Krumpe, T., Walter, C., Scharinger, C., Rosenstiel, W., Gerjets, P.: Brain-computer interfaces for educational applications. In: Buder, J., Hesse, F.W. (eds.) Informational Environments, pp. 177–201. Springer, Cham (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-64274-1_8

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  38. Stavrakakis, Y.: Challenges of re-politicisation: Mouffe’s agonism and artistic practices. Third Text 26(5), 551–565 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Stober, J.M.: Hacking as a playful strategy for designing the artistic and experimental BCI-VR game: ride your mind (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  40. Suchman, L., Suchman, L.A.: Human-Machine Reconfigurations: Plans and Situated Actions. Cambridge University Press (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  41. Winograd, T.: Computers and rationality: The myths and realities “.” Morelli, Ralph/Brown, W. Miller/Anselmi, Dina/Haberlandt, Karl/Lloyd, Dan (Hg.) Minds, Brains, and Computers: Perspectives in Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence, pp. 152–167. Ablex Publishing Corporation, Norwood (1992)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research paper is supported by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF): AR 581 Programm zur Entwicklung und Erschließung der Kunste (PEEK).

The first author extends her gratitude to Charlotta Ruth, Tim Reinboth and Baris Acar for their thoughtful comments to an earlier draft of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anna Dobrosovestnova .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Dobrosovestnova, A., Coeckelbergh, M., Jahrmann, M. (2021). Critical Art with Brain-Computer Interfaces: Philosophical Reflections from Neuromatic Game Art Project. In: Stephanidis, C., et al. HCI International 2021 - Late Breaking Papers: Cognition, Inclusion, Learning, and Culture. HCII 2021. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 13096. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-90328-2_38

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-90328-2_38

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-90327-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-90328-2

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics