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a kinder, gentler meme
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To: memesis@AEC.at
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Subject: a kinder, gentler meme
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From: roric@gate.net (Rose Stasuk)
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Date: Fri, 26 Jul 1996 08:04:41 -0500
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Sender: owner-memesis
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· · · · · · A E C F O R U M - "M E M E S I S" · · · · ·
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I think, a fair analogy can be made between the early 20th Century,
Futurists and the late 20th Century, computer cult-Digerati. Although the
former art movement embraced the Machine Age and the latter exploits the
Information Age, both are indicative of speed, noise (signal), machines,
transportation, communication and information. Coincidently, "javascript"
formulates the style of the current "art wiseguys"--a term used to describe
the Futurists aka the "caffeine of Europe".
This ain't no party-
There is reason for optimism. Like the industrial revolution, the digital
revolution offers empowerment to those with the means to participate.
Similarly the present upheaval induced by computer technology and
communication networks causes some of us to cope through denial, others to
seek legislation and still others to rush to accumulate the toys of the
age. These overreactions may be as indicative of our changing world view as
the flamboyant actions of the Futurists were to their situation.
This ain't no disco-
This century's first Futurist movement was spawned in reaction to the first
world war, as the German poet, John Huelsenbeck wrote in 1920, "We had all
left our countries as a result of the war...We were agreed that the war had
been contrived by the various governments for the most autocratic, sordid
and materialistic reasonsŠ"
Last Memorial Day I watched a TV news show that had a panel discussing why
Americans born after WWII had a very different sense of commemoration for
our war dead. The consensus opinion was that baby boomers would never know
the experience of the previous generation's single-minded purpose and
willing sacrifice because there hadn't been a war since, that could pull us
together as a nation. The Korean war was too vague. The war in Vietnam
lost. The Gulf war too short. Yes, they actually agreed that the Gulf war
had been too short to work it's magic cohesion.
One generation's experience may be another generation's history but what
goes around comes around and yesterday's fashion will be in vogue again. (A
case in point), Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated by Serbian nationalists
in the Bosnian town of Saravejo. Within a week of Austria's declaration of
war on Serbia--Russia, Germany, Belgium, England and Turkey had jumped in
to finish what remained of the old world order. I think that studying this
century's war history proves that making the world safe for democracy is
another way of saying economic opportunity.
This ain't no fooling around-
If the Age of Aquarius begat New Age, perhaps we are ready for a workshop
in Neo-Futurism or Dynamism of a d.o.g. (Dawn Of Global-awar-e-us).
Laissons faire l'Internet!
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Rose Stasuk roric@gate.net
(electronic bricoleur) +1 352 394 4627
Florida
(performance) EyeScream Jellyfish:
http://www.ucet.ufl.edu/~rstasuk/ej/frames.html - 25 Jul 96
(research) The Body Internet project:
http://www.ucet.ufl.edu/~rstasuk/intro.html - 17 Jan 96
(slides, vita) The Varo Registry Artist List:
http://199.4.94.46/registry/list.html - 28 Nov 95
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