[-empyre-] the drone of metaphor and representation

[ryan griffis <grifray@yahoo.com>]

> As it stands the project exists in the realm of metaphor and
> representation.  I think it would be great to extend it beyond that
> space either through tele-performance which is suggested by the
> interaction presented on the website, or to enact a series of
> performances in which a spontaneous audience might be allowed to 
> control
> the LowDrone.  This might be something similar to the Institute for
> Applied Autonomy's graffiti writer in which pedestrians could write
> their own messages using the remotely controlled graffiti vehicle and
> therefore enacting a form of civil disobedience.
> ricardo

i also found the Low Drone extremely funny and a challenging idea. i 
wonder about the desire to enact a functional tactical media in this 
case however... not because i don't find the IAA's work (and other 
similar efforts) critically effective and interesting, but i wonder 
about the need for "realization" of the technology in all cases. i 
think of Alex Rivera's other well known project (were you part of this 
too Angel?), the Cybracero http://www.cybracero.com/ . and also some of 
the actions of other tactical media practitioners like the Yes Men. The 
impact of cybracero for me was that it didn't require any technological 
spectacle to create the suspension of disbelief. the theatrical (and 
tactical) moment came out in the form of a believing disbelief... 
"What? are you kidding me?!" predicated on an acceptance of it as 
somehow real in the face of apparent unlikelihood. maybe this goes back 
to our discussions about the network and locality.
the audience is one predicated on a certain distance - a mediated 
distance - from the site of supposed contact. we can fall for the 
cybracero hoax because we're already so disconnected from the realities 
of food production (and by direct connection, the physical sites of 
production). but it reveals that distance (between audience and 
site/prodcution) once it's revealed as a hoax - which depends on the 
practice of a media bound by principles of fact checking and 'truth.'
i'm not saying that technological manifestations of tactical media 
aren't great and useful, but that it can also include mechanisms that 
play on our desires/beliefs about 'functionality' from a critical 
perspective.
just a thought...
best - ryan