The human form has been the centre of many pursuits, from art to science, individuals have strived to enhance the body and its capabilities. The results of these collective imaginings have been varied, from the experimental art of Stelarc, who continues fascinate and repulse, to the number of filmmakers who create the iconic cyborg characters that dominate our psyche.
In my research on the cyborg the most radical theorist I came across was Kevin Warwick. Warwick is a passionate scientist who strives to become a cyborg. He declares,
"If you are happy with your state as a human then so be it, you can remain as you are. But be warned – just as we humans split from our chimpanzee cousins years ago, so cyborgs will split from humans. Those who remain as mere humans are likely to become a sub – species. They will, effectively, be the chimpanzees of the future" (4).
To be honest I’m not sure what to make of this provocative statement as it seems so over the top. However to start with the difference between Warwick and other theorists such as Donna Haraway and Chris Hables Gray is that he perceives cyborgism as a choice (albeit it a forced one, as to make the ‘wrong’ decision ensures some form of doom!). Haraway and Gray argue that we already are already cyborgs due to the high interaction we have the technology that not only surrounds us but infuses with our bodies. The choice here is whether accept this ‘condition’ or not.
Although I have no idea what the future will hold for the human race, it is clear that there are many and varied ideas about which direction we are headed. In the case of Warwick, we could potentially be headed for a Terminator – esque world where humans are second to cyborgs. On the other hand those in the Haraway/Gray camp suggest that we are already cyborgs and that we need to accept that cyborgs are much more than military or capitalist machines. In this instance it is evident that an evolution of the human species is occurring, however it appears not be so dramatic.
Make of it what you will, cyborg or chimpanzee, choice or no choice, we do need to acknowledge the fact that technology has become an integrated part of our lives and holds a significant amount of power over our bodies.
Reference
Warwick, K. (2004) I, Cyborg Urbana, Ill: University of Illinois Press
Monday, October 18, 2010
Saturday, October 16, 2010
I Predict A Riot
Several weeks ago I was part of a riot, an online interactive riot that is. As a part of the Sydney Fringe Festival, the project Black Friday allowed history buffs and the curious to learn a little more about the Inner West’s dark past. In 1931 a bus full of police descended upon 143 Union St to enforce an eviction notice. This was at the time when many people could not pay their rent due to the hardships created by the Depression. As there was a presence of ‘Communists’ who allegedly encouraged forceful behaviour the eviction spiralled into a riot as a group of men had barricaded 143 Union St and began to throw missiles on to the police. Many of the men were seriously injured.
On the night of my experience I was armed with a GPS device and headphones. There was a map in which there were designated areas you had to visit. Once you reached these areas an historical video would play in which you could learn from those involved what happened. During your walk a narrative was spoken about the events of the day. However it wasn’t as simple to just walk from historical place to place. You were occasionally attacked by police, or collected comrades on the way.
Although not always smooth sailing during the experience (such as going off course), it was a really interesting and innovative way to learn about my local areas history. Rather than visiting a museum in which historical artefacts and stories are enclosed within a building that has no connection with the event you can actually get out there and visit the sites of relevance and have a more interactive and tactile experience.
This is an interesting example in which the reality and technology combine to create am interactive experience. In this instance the participant’s experience is of walking through a quite suburb of Sydney is mediated by the GPS device. In essence it is creating a new or ‘augmented’ reality for us, shaping our knowledge in a way that touring a museum could not. As Bolter and Grusin state, “virtual reality reforms reality by giving us an alternative visual world and insisting on that world as the locus of presence and meaning for us” (1999:61). Applying this idea of Bolter and Grusin’s to the Black Friday concept suggests that the video clips that inform us of the experiences of various characters become central to our understanding, rather than peripheral stories.
This ‘enhancement’ of experience is gradually proliferating society, with many examples of augmented reality infiltrating various industries. Examples include art (see Mob Lab’s work on Sculpture By the Sea) and real estate (System K in Japan). What we are witnessing now is a “distributed cyberspace” where the virtual and real worlds collide resulting in new perceptions (Bolter and Grusin, 1999:61).
Reference
Bolter, J. D & Grusin, R. A. (1999) Remediation: Understanding New Media Cambridge, Mass and London: MIT Press
Other interactive guides in Sydney - Razorhurst
On the night of my experience I was armed with a GPS device and headphones. There was a map in which there were designated areas you had to visit. Once you reached these areas an historical video would play in which you could learn from those involved what happened. During your walk a narrative was spoken about the events of the day. However it wasn’t as simple to just walk from historical place to place. You were occasionally attacked by police, or collected comrades on the way.
Although not always smooth sailing during the experience (such as going off course), it was a really interesting and innovative way to learn about my local areas history. Rather than visiting a museum in which historical artefacts and stories are enclosed within a building that has no connection with the event you can actually get out there and visit the sites of relevance and have a more interactive and tactile experience.
This is an interesting example in which the reality and technology combine to create am interactive experience. In this instance the participant’s experience is of walking through a quite suburb of Sydney is mediated by the GPS device. In essence it is creating a new or ‘augmented’ reality for us, shaping our knowledge in a way that touring a museum could not. As Bolter and Grusin state, “virtual reality reforms reality by giving us an alternative visual world and insisting on that world as the locus of presence and meaning for us” (1999:61). Applying this idea of Bolter and Grusin’s to the Black Friday concept suggests that the video clips that inform us of the experiences of various characters become central to our understanding, rather than peripheral stories.
This ‘enhancement’ of experience is gradually proliferating society, with many examples of augmented reality infiltrating various industries. Examples include art (see Mob Lab’s work on Sculpture By the Sea) and real estate (System K in Japan). What we are witnessing now is a “distributed cyberspace” where the virtual and real worlds collide resulting in new perceptions (Bolter and Grusin, 1999:61).
Reference
Bolter, J. D & Grusin, R. A. (1999) Remediation: Understanding New Media Cambridge, Mass and London: MIT Press
Other interactive guides in Sydney - Razorhurst
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Dangerous Ideas: Anatomy of a Cascade
Over the long weekend the Festival of Dangerous Ideas ran various sessions on topics that were controversial in society. I attended the Christian Lander session on ‘Stuff White People Like’. Lander is the successful blogger and author of Stuff White People Like. Although the conversation navigated its way through the issues of race, what interested me the most was the story behind Lander’s success. He is very specific about significant dates in his journey to success.
On January 18th 2008 Lander comes up with the idea and begins to blog. On January 28th 2008 he sends it to friends of his, and in turn they forward it on to their friends. As a result traffic to his blog increases. On February 16th 2008 he is contacted by a literary agent. Then on February 26th 2008 Lander is contacted by talent agents. Bearing in mind during this time traffics at the blog site still continues to grow. On March 31st 2008 Lander signs a book deal and given 30 days to write the book. On July 1st 2008 the book is released and on July 14th the book Stuff White People Like is a New York Times best seller.
This trajectory is very impressive, particularly at the speed that it all happens. It is possible to map this example of success through the framework of Duncan Watts’ theory of thresholds and cascades. Christian Lander may be viewed as the innovator as author of the blog (2003:235). Lander makes it clear that he is a node connected with few other nodes. When Lander initially forwards his blog to approximately 25 friends, or nodes, he notes that they are PHD students who have little influence, however they can be viewed as the early adopters (Watts, 2003:235). These early adopters are also weakly connected, however they do have bridges across to other vulnerable nodes in other clusters, in which they pass on the blog to. It is apparent that this process continues as the traffic at the blog continues to grow at a rapid rate. The ‘seed’ that Lander has planted sprouts and grows quickly into a strong tree as the blog transcends the blogosphere and becomes a book. Or as Watts describes it, the idea or innovation has percolated (2003:235). With the combination of the blog and book, this pushes the idea past the threshold and clearly cascades as it becomes a best seller on the NY Times list.
If you have a desire to view Christian Lander tell this story in his own words, here is a great video.
Watts, D (2003) ‘Thresholds, cascades and predictability’ in Six Degrees: the science of a connected age, NY and London: Norton, pp 220 – 252.
On January 18th 2008 Lander comes up with the idea and begins to blog. On January 28th 2008 he sends it to friends of his, and in turn they forward it on to their friends. As a result traffic to his blog increases. On February 16th 2008 he is contacted by a literary agent. Then on February 26th 2008 Lander is contacted by talent agents. Bearing in mind during this time traffics at the blog site still continues to grow. On March 31st 2008 Lander signs a book deal and given 30 days to write the book. On July 1st 2008 the book is released and on July 14th the book Stuff White People Like is a New York Times best seller.
This trajectory is very impressive, particularly at the speed that it all happens. It is possible to map this example of success through the framework of Duncan Watts’ theory of thresholds and cascades. Christian Lander may be viewed as the innovator as author of the blog (2003:235). Lander makes it clear that he is a node connected with few other nodes. When Lander initially forwards his blog to approximately 25 friends, or nodes, he notes that they are PHD students who have little influence, however they can be viewed as the early adopters (Watts, 2003:235). These early adopters are also weakly connected, however they do have bridges across to other vulnerable nodes in other clusters, in which they pass on the blog to. It is apparent that this process continues as the traffic at the blog continues to grow at a rapid rate. The ‘seed’ that Lander has planted sprouts and grows quickly into a strong tree as the blog transcends the blogosphere and becomes a book. Or as Watts describes it, the idea or innovation has percolated (2003:235). With the combination of the blog and book, this pushes the idea past the threshold and clearly cascades as it becomes a best seller on the NY Times list.
If you have a desire to view Christian Lander tell this story in his own words, here is a great video.
Watts, D (2003) ‘Thresholds, cascades and predictability’ in Six Degrees: the science of a connected age, NY and London: Norton, pp 220 – 252.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Working the Network
When I walked into work the other day I was faced with many inspiring and encouraging sayings that has been plastered on the walls of our office. Many spouted the merits of working together as a team, however the one that caught my eye was the one on the back of the toilet door (yes the toilet door). It stated “All is connected… no one thing can change by itself”. This statement was accompanied by a picture of a row of dominos about to tumble.
This particular advice got me thinking about how I am connected with the people that I work with, what sort of ties exist and the consequences.
Our organisation is divided into departments and within those departments are units, and of course these are made up of individuals. By virtue of this design we naturally work closely with certain individuals, ie those in our unit. Thus it could be surmised that we are more likely to have strong ties with those we work with closely, forming a cluster of nodes. As a larger organisation it is possible that I will go for weeks without having any contact with certain individuals as we do not sit near each other and our work does not link on a daily basis. This work environment is completely different to my former work place in which it was quite small and I would see everyone everyday even if I did not have a work related task with them. I essentially was a node that had many weak ties. Now with the change in environment and new organisational structure I am a node part of a cluster of strong ties. The difference to my working life is evident as I no longer feel I have my ‘finger on the pulse’. Office gossip, for all of its good and evil, is one of the lifelines of office life. In this environment it no longer spreads like a ‘contagion’ (Watts, 2003: 221). As Duncan Watts notes, “… [networks] are locked into a kind of stasis, each node constraining the influence of any other and being constrained itself” (2003:241). This expresses exactly how I feel in the larger organisation, a node that is almost completely isolated from the other clusters, with no notion of what is going on with the other Departments (or clusters). Although this is slowly changing as ‘bridges’ are starting to form through the weak ties we are beginning to form with the other clusters. Thus in the future it may be possible the office gossip and of course any other innovations will move about with more freedom.
Reference
Watts, D. (2003) ‘Thresholds, cascades and predictability’ in Six Degrees: the science of a connected age, NY and London: Norton pp. 220 – 252.
This particular advice got me thinking about how I am connected with the people that I work with, what sort of ties exist and the consequences.
Our organisation is divided into departments and within those departments are units, and of course these are made up of individuals. By virtue of this design we naturally work closely with certain individuals, ie those in our unit. Thus it could be surmised that we are more likely to have strong ties with those we work with closely, forming a cluster of nodes. As a larger organisation it is possible that I will go for weeks without having any contact with certain individuals as we do not sit near each other and our work does not link on a daily basis. This work environment is completely different to my former work place in which it was quite small and I would see everyone everyday even if I did not have a work related task with them. I essentially was a node that had many weak ties. Now with the change in environment and new organisational structure I am a node part of a cluster of strong ties. The difference to my working life is evident as I no longer feel I have my ‘finger on the pulse’. Office gossip, for all of its good and evil, is one of the lifelines of office life. In this environment it no longer spreads like a ‘contagion’ (Watts, 2003: 221). As Duncan Watts notes, “… [networks] are locked into a kind of stasis, each node constraining the influence of any other and being constrained itself” (2003:241). This expresses exactly how I feel in the larger organisation, a node that is almost completely isolated from the other clusters, with no notion of what is going on with the other Departments (or clusters). Although this is slowly changing as ‘bridges’ are starting to form through the weak ties we are beginning to form with the other clusters. Thus in the future it may be possible the office gossip and of course any other innovations will move about with more freedom.
Reference
Watts, D. (2003) ‘Thresholds, cascades and predictability’ in Six Degrees: the science of a connected age, NY and London: Norton pp. 220 – 252.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
I'm Still Here
So the truth is finally out that the 'documentary' I’M STILL HERE featuring Joaquin Phoenix is a fake. Billed as documentary it follows Phoenix’s ‘retirement’ from a successful acting career to try his hand at music, more specifically to become a rapper.
Since its debut the film has attracted scathing reviews, from “insulting” to “sad” to describe its content. However in thinking about what can be described essentially as a mockumentary it is interesting to view it through the framework of simulacra.
Baudrillard discusses his notion of simulacra as nothing being authentic and simply a representation of reality. The argument can certainly be made that all documentaries, although they strive to represent and indeed give the impression of reality, are embedded with artifice due to various elements.
However in the case of I’M STILL HERE it’s a very mixed up, yet interesting example of simulacra. Ultimately, it is a depiction of a fictional reality, hiding behind the guise of a documentary. It’s a film of one man’s apparent self-destruction. But what it actually is, is the representation of a man’s self destruction as imagined by Joaquin Phoenix and Casey Affleck. The ‘signs’ to make it appear authentic are what gave it away as a fake. These signs were the use of unsteady camera angles or the fact that there are too many cameras (here’s Jim Schembri’s take on why it was fake). Clearly it is an unsuccessful attempt at simulacra as people recognised it as a fake.
Since its debut the film has attracted scathing reviews, from “insulting” to “sad” to describe its content. However in thinking about what can be described essentially as a mockumentary it is interesting to view it through the framework of simulacra.
Baudrillard discusses his notion of simulacra as nothing being authentic and simply a representation of reality. The argument can certainly be made that all documentaries, although they strive to represent and indeed give the impression of reality, are embedded with artifice due to various elements.
However in the case of I’M STILL HERE it’s a very mixed up, yet interesting example of simulacra. Ultimately, it is a depiction of a fictional reality, hiding behind the guise of a documentary. It’s a film of one man’s apparent self-destruction. But what it actually is, is the representation of a man’s self destruction as imagined by Joaquin Phoenix and Casey Affleck. The ‘signs’ to make it appear authentic are what gave it away as a fake. These signs were the use of unsteady camera angles or the fact that there are too many cameras (here’s Jim Schembri’s take on why it was fake). Clearly it is an unsuccessful attempt at simulacra as people recognised it as a fake.
Living in the City
After a long day at work I begin the arduous walk along William Street in Woolloomooloo up to Town Hall. I, along with many of my colleagues dread this horrid walk as you are battered by strong winds, created by the straight road lined by large buildings. You battle the traffic as you dare to cross the many roads when the red man attempts to stop you in your tracks for 5mins at each intersection.
This is just one section of the city of Sydney that suffers from this problem, making it an unpleasant experience for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians alike.
In thinking further about the structure of Sydney, it’s amazing to think how the make up really does effect the way we live our lives and how it can effect our emotional state. I will walk along the side streets that run parallel to William Street to avoid it. I will avoid public transport due to the tardiness and overcrowding.
Although we may view all this as a set of unrelated events it may be argued that this is a physical network that we participate in everyday. We travel from A to B via various modes of transport with some form of interaction occurring with fellow commuters. Over the last few years the City of Sydney Council has recognised the importance of this network in the city and have taken steps to make it a more pleasant experience. An extensive network of bike paths are being built to encourage more to hop on their bike, hopefully easing traffic congestion and promoting the less polluting mode of transport. Urban regeneration projects are beautifying public spaces such as parks, and utlilising previously unused spaces.
Hence the city is attempting to not only make the network more efficient, but also more aesthetically pleasing, thus encouraging people to perhaps interact more. In the seminal book Life Between Buildings: Using Public Space (1980) by the Danish architect Jan Gehl he outlines the importance of encouraging social activities in the city. The key to this is the design and architecture of the city. Gehl writes, “One can take occasional walks, perhaps make a detour along the a main street on the way home or pause at an inviting bench near a front door to be among people for a short while” (1980: 19). The point is that these networks and patterns of architecture and transport truly do impact on the way we live our lives in that space and beyond.
The current state of my commute home does not encourage this at all, but who knows, perhaps in future years it will be the case.
Reference
Gehl, J. (1980) Life Between Buildings: Using Public Spaces. Melbourne & NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold.
This is just one section of the city of Sydney that suffers from this problem, making it an unpleasant experience for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians alike.
In thinking further about the structure of Sydney, it’s amazing to think how the make up really does effect the way we live our lives and how it can effect our emotional state. I will walk along the side streets that run parallel to William Street to avoid it. I will avoid public transport due to the tardiness and overcrowding.
Although we may view all this as a set of unrelated events it may be argued that this is a physical network that we participate in everyday. We travel from A to B via various modes of transport with some form of interaction occurring with fellow commuters. Over the last few years the City of Sydney Council has recognised the importance of this network in the city and have taken steps to make it a more pleasant experience. An extensive network of bike paths are being built to encourage more to hop on their bike, hopefully easing traffic congestion and promoting the less polluting mode of transport. Urban regeneration projects are beautifying public spaces such as parks, and utlilising previously unused spaces.
Hence the city is attempting to not only make the network more efficient, but also more aesthetically pleasing, thus encouraging people to perhaps interact more. In the seminal book Life Between Buildings: Using Public Space (1980) by the Danish architect Jan Gehl he outlines the importance of encouraging social activities in the city. The key to this is the design and architecture of the city. Gehl writes, “One can take occasional walks, perhaps make a detour along the a main street on the way home or pause at an inviting bench near a front door to be among people for a short while” (1980: 19). The point is that these networks and patterns of architecture and transport truly do impact on the way we live our lives in that space and beyond.
The current state of my commute home does not encourage this at all, but who knows, perhaps in future years it will be the case.
Reference
Gehl, J. (1980) Life Between Buildings: Using Public Spaces. Melbourne & NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold.
BloggingHeads in the Network
The blogosphere is a vibrant and interesting source to tap into various perspectives on all sorts of topics. In particular there are many political blogs that discuss topics from various points of the political spectrum. Although blogs allow for some form of discussion it is rather limited. One particular example that takes discussion and interaction a step further is Bloggingheads.tv. Bloggingheads is described as a ‘diavlog’, that is dialogue in the similar style of a web blog, but with the participants skyping. The interesting aspect of this particular form of communication is that it melds the culture of academia and debate with the vloging/blogging tools of the internet. It allows for two individuals to discuss/debate a specific topic, and viewers can comment.
At a time when the younger generations are accused of being apolitical this is an interesting tool that suggests otherwise, and has the potential to reach people internationally, it is an opportunity to view and participate online in a community.
In considering this tool in regards to network theory, it does allow for individuals who perhaps could not normally enter into a constructive debate due to location. Essentially Bloggingheads.tv has created an online community of people who may not necessarily hold the same values of political beliefs, however share the value in constructive debate. It is a new public sphere, as envisaged by Jurgen Habermas, online. This point is discussed succinctly by Varnelis and Friedberg in their article Place: Networked Place. They note that “… the public sphere was not so much a physical place as a discursive site in which a literate public could conduct rational and critical debate” (2008: 13).
This notion of the discussion being the focal point rather than the space is an interesting point as it links into the idea that a community is now built through similar interests rather than location. As Keith Hampton suggests, with the introduction of the internet into everyday life similar interests can influence the community a person joins more than their physical location (2004: 218).
Bearing this in mind Bloggingheads has the potential to spark more widespread debate and thought about the topics discussed as it is not in one location but all throughout the world and its network is growing all the time.
References
Hampton, K. (2004) ‘Networked sociability online, off – line’ in Castells, M. The Network Society: a cross – cultural perspective. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, pp. 217 – 232.
Varnelis, K. & Friedberg, A. (2008) ‘Place: Networked Place’ in Varnelis, K. Networked Publics. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press, pp. 12 – 28.
At a time when the younger generations are accused of being apolitical this is an interesting tool that suggests otherwise, and has the potential to reach people internationally, it is an opportunity to view and participate online in a community.
In considering this tool in regards to network theory, it does allow for individuals who perhaps could not normally enter into a constructive debate due to location. Essentially Bloggingheads.tv has created an online community of people who may not necessarily hold the same values of political beliefs, however share the value in constructive debate. It is a new public sphere, as envisaged by Jurgen Habermas, online. This point is discussed succinctly by Varnelis and Friedberg in their article Place: Networked Place. They note that “… the public sphere was not so much a physical place as a discursive site in which a literate public could conduct rational and critical debate” (2008: 13).
This notion of the discussion being the focal point rather than the space is an interesting point as it links into the idea that a community is now built through similar interests rather than location. As Keith Hampton suggests, with the introduction of the internet into everyday life similar interests can influence the community a person joins more than their physical location (2004: 218).
Bearing this in mind Bloggingheads has the potential to spark more widespread debate and thought about the topics discussed as it is not in one location but all throughout the world and its network is growing all the time.
References
Hampton, K. (2004) ‘Networked sociability online, off – line’ in Castells, M. The Network Society: a cross – cultural perspective. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, pp. 217 – 232.
Varnelis, K. & Friedberg, A. (2008) ‘Place: Networked Place’ in Varnelis, K. Networked Publics. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press, pp. 12 – 28.
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