Microcosms
The platonic concept of a systemic connection between our individual being and the world as a whole has shaped the contours of mysticism, alchemy, philosophy, aesthetics and the arts throughout history. Even though in classical thought, a microcosm is primarily defined as a self-enclosed and monadic sphere, it is imagined to have a crucial relationship to the outside. This interaction has been described either as a homologous relationship between internal patterns and outside forces, or alternatively, as one in which a system follows its own logic independent of the outside.

The model of the microcosm has gained new relevance in the current modes of globalization. To counter the homogeneity implied by their global geo-economic operations, multinational corporations are more than willing to present microcosmic identities as possibilities of individualistic escape. What critical potential does the idea of the microcosm hold in this realm? Does the opposition between a global enclosure and microcosmic systems still offer a productive line of thinking, or is the global/local dialectic defunct? How have art and architectural practices participated in staging or undermining the idea of microcosm and its associated ideologies throughout history?

Contributions from all areas, including but not limited to scholarly works are welcome. Possible topics could include but are not limited to:

• Historic and philosophical models of microcosms
• Framing of microcosms in various political and cultural theories
• Autonomy of the artistic sphere
• Theories and practices of subcultures and counter-worlds
• Problematization of the local/global opposition
• Cocooning: mechanisms and codes of exclusion and inclusion
• System and parasites
• Architecture, art, and other socio-cultural fields as monadic and/or heterotopian practices

Contributions should not exceed 2,500 words in length. Submissions are due Monday, February 28th, 2005. Please send materials or correspondence to Mechtild Widrich (contact information provided below).

thresholds is the bi-annual critical journal of architecture, art and visual culture of the department of architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. thresholds invites submissions, including but not limited to scholarly works, from all fields. thresholds attempts to print only original material. Text must be formatted in accordance with The Chicago Manual of Style. Spelling should follow American convention and quotations must be translated into English. All submissions must be submitted electronically, on a CD or disk, accompanied by hard copies of text and images. Text should be saved as Microsoft Word or RTF format, while any accompanying images should be sent as TIFF files with a resolution of at least 300 dpi at 8" x 9" print size. Figures should be numbered clearly in the text. Image captions and credits must be included with submissions. It is the responsibility of the author to secure permissions for image use and pay any reproduction fees. A brief author bio must accompany the text.