Re: [-empyre-] psychogeographies - opening statement

["Jordan Crandall" <crandall@blast.org>]

I am not sure if I got bumped off the list or if things have settled down.
This discussion is fascinating and I've been wanting to jump in and I hope
it's not too late. I've been thinking about the way that CNN has visualized
the weather during the war, and also that animated EarthViewer satellite
imagery that swoops us in from space (in the context of Teri's description
of the casting of the viewer as pilot) . We gleefully fly over Iraq as if on
a ride, as the weatherpeople sweep their arms about to the tune of their
flyovers, orchestrating the animations like conductors. Where are 'we'
supposed to be in these visions of mastery. It is as if by having ever more
sophisticated modes of visualization from the air we can somehow control
what happens on the ground; or that since 'precision guiding' works in terms
of missiles it would somehow work in terms of mappings .  Bunker-busters
penetrate into the earth as we try to push more deeply into/through the
image itself.  What resists ?  How incredible those sandstorms were that
shrouded the landscape in an orange haze and reduced vision to arm's length.

I have also been thinking a lot of Brett's description of the CNN feed at
the gas pump. How perfect to get the flow of oil, network,
and wind all in one place along with the struggles for their control .