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Re: MEMESIS - THE FUTURE OF EVOLUTION
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· · · · · · A E C F O R U M - "M E M E S I S" · · · · ·
· · · · · · · (http://www.aec.at/meme/symp/) · · · · · ·
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Well, at last we get to discuss the mystery of "memesis"!
Prior to writing my own statements to accompany my submissions for the
PrixArs Electronica I consulted 7 dictionaries in 4 languages to find out
more about the word "memesis". According to these traditional sources, it
didn't exist!
Being an artist with a background in cultural anthropology and specifically
cultural determinism in the arts and media, I wrote a statement around just
this concept, ignoring the elusive meaning of "memesis". I then had to
temporarily discard that topic in favor of some other points I wanted to make
and which, in the end, were completed satisfactorily, just in time to meet
the deadline.
I'd be quite happy to return to the subject in this forum as thus outlined by
Gerhard Stocker "the discussion is intended to probe specific segments of the
techno- cultural revolution against the background of the idea of a
"culturally based history of creation".
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Briefly, about the "idea of a culturally based history of creation.", I'll
summarize my view:
Art styles, movements or traditions reflect the cultures in which they were
created and they vary accordingly. Historically we identify past cultures by
the surviving art and/or classify historical periods according to their art
and style.
This identity is, of course, strongest during times of geographic isolation
and any cross-contact between cultures usually showed up in the arts and can
be identified as 'outside influence'.
Thus far, our contemporary cultures have maintained a certain discernible
distinction because, despite modern communication and some flattening of
differences, the arts have continued to enjoy a modicum of local focus.
However, the world wide web's exchanges of imagery (as well as ideas and
philosophical concerns) between artists is bound to 'influence' most
participating artists to some extent. Perhaps to a great extent, if we
routinely exchange imagery and keep apprised of one another's art efforts,
exhibitions and other activities around the globe.
But not everyone will be joining this global forum. Not for some time.
Hence we may be see the development of a different stratification in the
arts, along new divisions. Global rather than local among the electronically
linked, but still local and. hopefully even tribal, among those who are not
caught up in this web and are thus, still relatively isolated from the
leveling effect and more inclined to create art that reflect the concerns of
their own, still unique, societies.
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Meanwhile I am still interested in the roots of the concept of "memesis" and
I am still having difficulty with "the future of evolution". Perhaps it is
the English translation. "Die Zukunft der Evolution" somehow implies at least
an evolution of something! Of the memesis?
Ok, I'll join the discussion list!
Josepha Haveman, Berkeley
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