Monday, July 20, 2009

Re: [Yasmin_discussions] ethnic cyborg

Roger,

Depending upon one's view of a cyborg, you might have already
contributed to Jorge's declaration of machine rights (DMR) near the
bottom of the following post:
http://estia.media.uoa.gr/pipermail/yasmin_discussions/20090712/000430.html.

I agree that many of the views of cyborgs posted are human-centric;
however, I don't find this so surprising---even Jorge's conception is
based on a passion for machines, which are human-made---at least in
their origin.

Also, there seems to be no shortage of art projects that invest
non-human forms with human characteristics. See Jason Van Anden's
"Neil and Iona" projects: http://www.smileproject.com/index.htm.

Eduardo Kac's "Edunia" project also emphasizes human beings, even if
the structure is a plant.

I noticed an exhibition that was inspired by Michael Pollan's "The
Botany of Desire." The exhibit, organized by Jodie Vicenta Jacobson,
is entitled "Implants" and appears to fall short in this review;
however, it has some interesting elements that could relevant to the
current discussion:
http://hungryhyaena.blogspot.com/2008/09/implant-at-ubs-art-gallery.html.

I have lost the reference for a young artist who takes photographs of
herself mending with nature in a kind embracing of botanical life and
rejecting of human consciousness, as we currently understand it. If I
can find the project, I will post it.

Maybe the central theme of this discussion, which hints at definitions
of form (cyborg) and difference (ethnicity), is really concerned with
what is valued and what might need protection.

Best,

Robert Thill


On 7/20/09, roger malina <rmalina@alum.mit.edu> wrote:
> Jorge
>
> I am not sure if i am ready to contribute to your declaration
> of machine rights, but it does raise the question of why cyborgs
> are often seen in terms of future evolution of humans rather than
> using other life forms as the starting point, or as you point out
> the devices themselves
>
> ramon guardans in his contribution to the darwin and the arts
> symposium in october
> :
>
> http://www.imera.fr/index.php/fr/flux-rss/110-22-octobre-colloque-qart-culture-theorie-de-levolutionq.html
>
> will talk about viewing evolution in terms of a plant centered view of
> succesful longevity
> on the planet- so that we should perhaps be looking at cyborgs in that
> context
>
> rob kranenberg in recent "internet of things" talks about indeed when
> human+ thing can be seen
> more as a symbiotic system neither of which can survive without the other
>
> http://networkcultures.org/wpmu/weblog/2008/10/02/book-launch-the-internet-of-things-by-rob-van-kranenburg/
>
> talks in detail about how we will start to co evolve with a vast array
> of 'things' in our environment
>
> The Internet of Things, Rob van Kranenburg outlines his vision of the
> future. He tells of his early encounters with the kind of
> location-based technologies that will soon become commonplace, and
> what they may mean for us all. He explores the emergence of the
> "internet of things", tracing us through its origins in the mundane
> back-end world of the international supply chain to the domestic
> applications that already exist in an embryonic stage. He also
> explains how the adoption of he technologies of the City Control is
> not inevitable, nor something that we must kindly accept nor sleepwalk
> into. In van Kranenburg's account of the creation of the international
> network of Bricolabs, he also suggests how each of us can help
> contribute to building technologies of trust and empower ourselves in
> the age of mass surveillance and ambient technologies.
>
> again it would be great to have examples of artists work that explores
> the issues
>
> roger
>
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