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INFOWAR: Re: what happened, why?
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ARS ELECTRONICA FESTIVAL 98
INFOWAR. information.macht.krieg
Linz, Austria, september 07 - 12
http://www.aec.at/infowar
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"What has pushed us-this population of hackers and computer geeks, artists and
musicians, scholars and philosophers-to the outer rim of human existence that
we feel the need to declare the virtual as home? What is going on that we
insist that cyberspace be the one place free of "them." And for that matter,
just who the hell are "they" that we despise so much?"
We were spoiled.
Originally it was an elite space for academics, scientists, government.
The interface was ugly, but the content had weight and style.
Then it opened up to the masses. Money grubbing traders in the temple of
academe!
Problem is that the tackiest money grubbing activities are taking over the
space to the extent that it is crowding us, simple individuals, out. Or it is
out-shouting us.
Charges go up, the expense goes up, the wait gets longer, our eyeballs tire of
blinking away the garishness before we even reach the information we seek.
What happened to the quiet research-library atmosphere? The monastic silence
of the old internet? I think we are paying a huge price for democracy and
capitalism, (we always have but never looked it in the face before!)
Despite the official rhetoric, we like our elitism. We like what it gets us:
exclusivity, a quiet channel like a quiet library or even monastic space for
learning and thought. A channel with content rather than noise.
We all know about avoiding gray noise. Now we also need to avoid the overly
colorful, garish noise.
Actually we need this if we're ever going to think things through. At least I
do. So I am moving to a quieter place. I already avoid media that are
dominated by commercials and throw away (recycle) junk mail unopened. Such a
waste of materials, time and energy!
If I can dodge the worst of the barrage, I might even get to paint again!
Josepha Haveman
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