[-empyre-] untraced presence

[Shane Mecklenburger]

Can a presence have no trace?

The theoretical notion of an untraced presence is interesting.  It got me
thinking about whether it's actually possible.  I'm not convinced.  As a
test, I tried to imagine a good candidate for an untraceable, undocumentable
"presence".  Perhaps a single thought in my mind -- the kernel of an idea,
unelaborated & having just emerged -- and, for the sake of argument, let's
imagine I'm not capable of acting on it.

What I experience as an "idea" or "thought" is already composed of a network
of physical, chemical & electrical traces.  This mental trace-network,
experienced as a unitary "thought" or an "idea", subsequently generates &
influences countless other trace-networks.  Every mental event is already an
array of neural "documentation" which involuntarily influences other
trace-networks, ultimately influencing external actions at some minute
level.  

>From this point of view, the increasing proliferation of media traces we see
in the 21st Century can be seen as an externally visible representation of
the constant proliferation & remixing of mental traces & documents that has
been taking place ever since there have been thoughts.

Shane Mecklenburger
Assistant Professor of New Media
Department of Studio Arts
University of North Texas