The Making of ReConstitution 2012

"Obama was listless up there". "Ryan’s grasp of the facts is tenuous," & "Biden was clearly unhinged." — some quotes from talking-head political pundits in reference to the recent televised Presidential and Vice Presidential Debates. A lot of the ‘analysis’ coming out of the 24 hour news cycle is often little more than self-reinforcing hyperbole and subjective name-calling. But what if there was a way to cut through the candidates’ and news agencies partisan smoke screens and see what was really going on inside the minds of our would-be leaders? Was Obama really daydreaming during the 1st debate? Does Romney actually believe anything that comes out of his own mouth?

Sosolimited (http://www.sosolimited.com/)'s answer was ReConstitution (http://reconstitution2012.com/), a web platform that uploads, processes, and distributes closed captioning data from the 2012 Presidential Debates in real time. Using some real ‘science’, a line or two of JavaScript, and a heavy dose of CSPAN-2, they’ve built a forensic app that cuts right to the chase and allows viewers to see deep into the psyches of the men competing to be Mr. USA.

Sosolimited will provide a behind the scenes look at this recent project, created in collaboration with the Creators Project, researchers at the University of Texas Austin, Bocoup, and Tim Branyen.

Pizza and beer will be provided courtesy of our friends at Hopper (http://www.hopper.com/)!

About:
Sosolimited is an art and technology studio founded in 2003 by Justin Manor, John Rothenberg, and Eric Gunther. The three met at MIT where they collectively studied physics, computer science, architecture, arts and music. They are joined by Lauren McCarthy and Sam Kronick. Today their practice operates at the boundary of art, design, experience and information.

Sosolimited creates interactive installations, applications, and live performances. These projects incorporate elements of dynamic typography, video manipulation, computer vision, sensor technologies and sound design.

Sosolimited performed ReConstitution, an award-winning live remix of the US Presidential Debates. Past clients include IBM, HBO, LG, Cirque du Soleil, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, L'Oreal, Honda, and the Nobel Peace Center. The studio has performed and exhibited artwork at Ars Electronica, Transmediale, Walker Art Center, Shanghai Biennial, ICA Boston, and the Cartier Foundation.