[-empyre-] Re: empyre Digest, Vol 29, Issue 8

[Alan Sondheim <sondheim@panix.com>]

A couple of things, and please forgive me for not following this closely; 
I've been dealing with a lot of personal trauma. Anyway, how do you fit 
Bruce Sterling's recent book into this (or don't you)?

Second - I'm not sure I'd object to infotainment or entertainment, etc. in 
relation to surveillance technologies; the Net itself was developed as we 
know out of military contracts; television connects to WWII radar 
technologies, and so forth. So at least for me there's something proble- 
matic in not using something because of genesis or other uses - or feeling 
the need to use something only in relation or at least mentioning the 
relation to genesis or other uses. To use the technology as entertainment 
doesn't negate the other uses, or do injustice to their injustices. In 
other words, does all art have to reflect its political-sociological- 
militarist-etc. origins? It worries me when there's an implied 'should' in 
all of this. But again I may be missing the point and will draw back into 
lurk mode.

- Alan


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