Imperfection study: regularity-irregularity
"A healthy thyroid is homogenous", Dr. G.A. told me, as she was looking at an ultrasound image. She and other researchers are busy collecting data from volunteers with healthy or unhealthy thyroids, in order to understand the data generated by the LUCA device. The regularity of the thyroid's structure, its homogeneity, can be revealed by photonic absorption and scattering patterns, and will be one factor used in converting the device's readings into diagnostics.
The notion of homogeneity resonates with my interest in imperfection as an aesthetic concept. In a time-based medium like music, any exploration of imperfection first requires to establish a corresponding perfection, as a point of reference. For example, an irregular rhythmic structure is easier to perceive, and more meaningful, when it follows a regular one.
Part of what I'm trying to do in this residency is to map the outputs of the LUCA device onto musical parameters. Until now, I was hoping to map every data point into sound parameters, but this discussion with Dr. A. raised a different set of questions in my mind: how does the homogeneity of the thyroid revealed by the absorption and scattering of photonic signals, and how can this be represented through musical perfection and imperfection?