COLLECTIVE WISDOM: Co-Creating Media within Communities, across Disciplines and with Algorithms
The open review period for this book has concluded. The authors and the MIT Press wish to thank all of our reviewers for their contributions.
Why co-create and why now? Collective Wisdom is a first-of-its-kind field study of the media industry, that maps works that live outside the limits of singular authorship. While the concept of co-creation is entering the zeitgeist, it is an ancient and under-reported dynamic. Media co-creation has particular relevance in the face of today’s myriad of challenges, such as the climate crisis and threats to democracy. But it is not without risks and complications. In this study we look at how people co-create within communities; across disciplines; and increasingly, with living systems and artificial intelligence (AI). We also synthesize the risks, as well as the practical lessons from the field on how to co-create with an ethos grounded in principles of equity and justice. This qualitative study reframes how culture is produced, and is a first step in articulating contemporary co-creative practices and ethics. In doing so, it connects unusual dots.
By Katerina Cizek and William Uricchio, with co-authors Juanita Anderson, Maria Aqui Carter, Detroit Narrative Agency, Thomas Allen Harris, Maori Holmes, Richard Lachman, Louis Massiah, Cara Mertes, Sara Rafsky, Michèle Stephenson, Amelia Winger-Bearskin, and Sarah Wolozin.
DOI: 10.21428/ba67f642.f7c1b7e5
Welcome to this living, online version of Collective Wisdom, open for community review and discussion. We thank you for your generosity and time. Please do respect the code of conduct for commenting, and reach out to us privately if you’d prefer. Please also see our on-going series about Collective Wisdom at IMMERSE, where we published bonus content and original responses.
Why co-create and why now? This first-of-its-kind field study identifies trends, opportunities, and challenges to help advance the understanding, the risks and recognition of co-created works and practices — efforts that function outside the limits of singular authorship.
by Katerina Cizek, William Uricchio, Juanita Anderson, Maria Agui Carter, Thomas Allen Harris , Maori Holmes, and Michèle Stephenson
What is co-creation, and who co-creates? Co-creation resides within a diverse ecosystem of practitioners and systems of knowledge. Chapters include a conversation about co-creation and equity by five media makers of color.
by Katerina Cizek, William Uricchio, Louis Massiah, Cara Mertes, and Amelia Winger-Bearskin
What are the risks and opportunities? Veteran co-creators have developed many strategies, informed by a long history of defining collective protocols, practices, and pathways that hold partners accountable to each other.
by Katerina Cizek, Detroit Narrative Agency, and William Uricchio
How do people co-create within communities, in-person? Includes a brief history of documentary practices, participatory media, and the rise of art collectives. Features an extended conversation between members of Detroit Narrative Agency.
by Katerina Cizek, William Uricchio, and Sara Rafsky
How do people co-create within communities on digital platforms? Emerging technologies offer both new forms of connectivity and ethical challenges for co-creation. Featured chapter: overview of collaborative forms of journalism, between reporters, organizations and with readers.
by Katerina Cizek, William Uricchio, and Sara Rafsky
When co-creation teams cross disciplinary lines, they embark on parallel paths of discovery rather than privileging one discipline’s priorities over the other. Features the history + potential of labs, incubators, residencies and permanent experiments that go beyond disciplines.
by Katerina Cizek, William Uricchio, and Sarah Wolozin
Can humans co-create with non-human systems? Increasingly, artists, technologists and journalists are working with living systems, such as cells, mold, planetary scale systems, artificial intelligence (AI) as well as technological infra-structures. Is it co-creation?
What's the key to co-creation? Veteran co-creators say it involves supporting and investing in process, not only in deliverables and products. We identify six key recommendations for next steps in the field.
This research and field study was produced at the Co-Creation Studio at MIT Open Documentary Lab, and is made possible by the contributions of many individuals and organizations. The study was funded by Just Films of Ford Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, with contributions from Ryerson University, IMMERSE, and MIT Comparative Media Studies/Writing.
